The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-05-28
MAINE SOLDIERS HOME.
A COmrade Wants the System Of Religious
Services Changed.

To THE EDITOR: Among the noblest bene-
factions of our Government are the National
Homes for disabled soldiers and sailors. While
these Homes are properly under military super
vision, they are intended to furnish the in
mates with all the advantages which are en-
joyed in civil life with as little of the irksome
discipline of military life as is consistent with
their orderly management. The Eastern Branch
OF the National Soldiers Home is at Togus,
Me-, and an excellently conducted Home it is
under its efficient Governor Gen. Luther Ste
phenson jr There is a full military band, a
large billiard hall, bowling alley, a reading
room, and library well supplied with books
| and periodicals. and large amusement ball for
the pleasure and diversion of the inmates.
Regular religious services are also held, and it
is in connection with these services that the
management of the Home seems very inconsis-
tent with the benefcent intention of the Gov
eminent. As Americans we permit eStab-
liShed church to tax US, no creed to enSlave u.s.
We do not hold that one set of religious belief
is exclusively true, and yet at TOgus the entire
Protestant service is restricted to one form
that of the Episcopal Church; but more than
three-fou of the Protestants in this Home
have been accustomed to the Congregational
form of worship, and for obvious reasons fail to
find either pleasure inspiration or consolation
under the Episcopal form.
Last October Gen. Stephenson invited four
clereymen of different denominations to take
charge of the religious services of the Home,
each month in turn, three of them being of
churches observing the Congregational form of
worship and the fourth of the Episcopal Church.
Under this arrangement, during the ministra-
tiOn of the clergymen representing the COngre-
gational form of worship, the attendance almost
quadruped and there was marked improve
ment in the daily conduct of the veterans
This arrangement proving eminently satisfac
tory not only to the inmates of the Home, but
he nffna =
deep feeling of dissatisfaction now that change
has been made, the Board of Managers having
appointed the Episcopal clergyman (who is
particularly dull and undressing the sole
Chaplain, and the question is asked why when
the Government can without any additional
expense furnish religious instruction to all
classes, it should impose upon the great ma
jjority that which is repugnant to them. There
are not more than 20 inmates of the Home who
are adherents of the Episcopal Church, and the
larger number of those who have been brought
up under other forms of worship regard it as
great injustice to be thus deprived of congenial
religious services. Why should form of wor-
ship be imposed upon these soldiers which they
dislike? Is this the way to interest them in
religion and improve their minds and morals?
They were manned and disabled to establish
the principle OF free government and to redeem
others from the curse of tyranny, and is their
right to worship God according to their own
consciences to be disregarded and they them
selves be made the victims of an exclusive sys-
tenn of faith? In restricting the form of wor-
ship to that of the Episcopal Church, the Board
of Management necessarily commits wrong by
infringing upon the rights of those who do not
believe in that form. Whether they are to
blame depends on their means of knowledge
and the fairness with which they use them. 1t
is to be hoped that the facts of the case being
brought before their attention, they will take
immediate steps to restore the arrangement
which was proving so beneficial and satsfac-
tory to the parties most concerned.-SIMPLE
JUSTICE, Augusta, Me.