The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-25

~.aa,oxs or rHts BopY At WILMINGTON,
- rAruoLIc CHAPLAINS YoR gBE
rsSv--srgkcR or Mr.. xEHEr--ExrUIsIox
~ rux yxsuurS PROM EaANcE--REsoLu-
13Oxs or MR. REDpy.
fw,.minxscn Ew{y Evening. raursdsyl
The president was Instructed 10 cable TO
,bo Pope, and the following cablegTam was
.srhe j. C. B. r., in convention Assem-.
Ma hoo your Holiness blessing on its de.
alterations. A. NJ. KELLEY, President"
CATHOLIC cHArLAixs IN THE Army AND SAvY.
President Kelley then arose TO reply TO
uot s:ion from one OF the delegates. He
ss;d AZ ibe last Convention was instruct
"a n anpoipt q committee 10 mcmoria'ize
are President Of the United States TO take
s,,rh stems as would effect the appointment
~ Catholic chapIains In the army and navy.
Fxamiuasiou OF the statutes showed me
that The President has no power IN this
matter; but, as the Convention Is aware,
4 movement had been In progress Tor some
time 10 obtain from Congress such legisia.
tion AZ will enable the President TO do this;
and. in conformity with The spirit OF my
iSstructions, circulated petition which
was addressed 10 the President, but
really intended for Congress. AS soon
as / received the signatures OF the
societies thereto, 1. went to washington
and spent a day and a half there In futile
effort to get an audience with the President,
who was very busy, II being near the END OF
a session of Congress. After 10y return
from Washington received a letter from
him Informing me that the matter hsd Deen
referred TO the Secretaries OF War and Navy.
Any one who gives such attention 10 th's
matter rs / have done VIII al once come 10
the conclusion that the evil Is one not easily
remedjed. Under the system OF our Church
pojjty. where each priest Is stationed IN
certain diocese, II is almost impossible to
furnish Catholic mnistrations TO the army
eycept M fixed posts. Without some ar
rapgement that the bishops may make 1t Is
almost impossible to provide rowing army
With Cathotic cbaplains.
The difficulty is even greater with respect
10 the navy. The chief difficulty In both
army ana navy, however, under the existing
law, Is that all the chaplaincies are filled, and
none OF the present cbaplains can be re-
moved, except on the preferment OF charges.
There Is but one Catholic chaplain in the
army and navy OF this country. commu'
nicated with our bishops asking them to
pojnt out q way OF exit from this difficult
ty--bow, should Congress allow the APP
pointment Of Catholic cbaplains, they
might be appointed-but have received
40 written answer and only one orally. the
latter from priest in my own parish, Rev.
Father Janssens, OF Richmond, who has
been miuistering voluntarily among the
crews OF monitors stationed in the neigh
borhood. He told me that he saw no fair
prospect in the existing condition OF things
OF doing any more than be was doing, ana
Of having law passed allowing The bishops
of neighboring parishes where naval vessels
are stationed TO detach priests Tor such SER
vice.
Having communicated with the Secreta-
fles of War and Of The Navy, and seeing
these practical difficulties in the way,
thought bad nearly exhausted the posi-
bfljfies OF this service. IL occurred TO me,
however, that might go step further and
.eudeayor TO ascertain from the Catholic
members of the Union and the clergy OF
this country a way out OF this difficulty.
Therefore I prepared and published the
substance OF my report In the I. Z. B u.
journal. suggesting that attention be called
10 this evil.
A great deal Of discussion followed, some
delegates holding that the matter having
been brought by the President to the atten-
ton Of the clergy, it would be presump-
tuous In lsymen TO aeiate its consideration.
On the other band. Father Tanning, speak
ing for the clergy, said that they are anxious
that this subject shonld be agitated by the
laity. The following resolution, offered by
I. q. Hpzzard, OF Philadelphia, was finally
adopted:
Resolved, That a special committee be
formed, to consist Of the president, secre-
tary, and clerical delegates to this Conven-
ton. to consider and report on the most
feasible plan 10 their judgment to secure
the appointment OF Catholic clergy In the
army and navy OF the United States.
An amendment 10 the resolution, in'
structing the committee 10 report during
the present session Of the Convention, was
also adopted.
President Kelley said that he would state
on his own authority that he believed the
difficulty OF getting The matter before Con-
gress was attributable to the fact that the
country is on the eve Of an election, aud
neither party wished to commit itself TO
anything which might serge as the handle
TO weapon for its opponents.
A delegate said that the agitation OF this
subject has already worked one good re-
sult-tbe appointment of q Catholic chap
lain for the Soldiers Home in Dayton,
Ohio.
A supplementary resolution asking Con-
gress to take steps looking TO the appoint
ment OF Catholic chaplains was accepted
and referred to the Committee on Resolu-
tons.
EXPULSION OF JEsUIrs.
j. v. Reddy, Of Richmond, Va, offered
the following preamble and resolutions:
Whereas an unjust and unholy persecu-
ilon has been inaugurated against the mem.
bers OF the Society OF Jesus and other re-
ligious institutions in France, thus affecting
he whole Catholic world; therefore be 1t
Resolved, 1, That we desire to express
our deep sympathy with the Jesuits OF
France in the persecution under which they
are now struggling, and TO protest, in The
name Of religion and justice, against the
great wrong done to those faithful servants
OF the Church in raking up against them an
edict obsolete for over two hundred years,
"A. - lc..st.r,cex tho Catholfoe oe Eranaa nj