The National tribune., 1889-01-17
CHAPLAINS.



brief visit to their former home in Washington.
1t viii be remembered that DR. Newman was
the Pastor Of the Metropolitan Methodist EMS
cOpal church here where Gen. Grant and fam
lily attended and is also the church where Mrs.
Logan WOrships
4 reception was rendered the Doctor and his
wife, under the auspices Of the Church Lyceum,
which has made such a fine showing in social
circles.
The large and beautiful church was overflow
ing with distinguished friends. who had come
to extend their hearty congratulations to the
hOnored ex-Pastor and his wife. The scene
witnessed was exceedingly brilliant, and viii
long be remembered by those who participated.
An elaborate repast was served, consisting Of
all the delicaeies.
DR.. Newman may appropriately be known az
the GAR. Bishop OF the M. i. Church, as it is
generally conceded that his election to the
Epi5cOpacy was brought about By the united
support of the delegates to the General Con-
ference who We're GAR. men, and who, re-
membering their early drill, stood s0lidiy ia
rank for the Pastor Of Gen. and Mrs Grant and
Of Gen, and Mrs. Logan.
The old veterans are potent in ecclesiastical
as well as in political fights, for they can elect
President as well as a Bishop.
1t is said that there were about 156 members
of the late General Conference who were GAR
men. When IL is remembered that the basis Of
representation to this General Conference is
one delegate to each of the Is ministers of the
Local or Annual Conference, who are supposed
to send their leaders or best men to this Con-
gress OF preachers, the striking significance
OF the remarkable veteran showing becomes
plca5ingly apparent
The NJ. q. Church South also contains amongst
its best-known aud bestowed pastors a number
of ministers who are known by their military
titles. earned by actual service in the COufed,
crate armies. Amongst these are DR.. LaveFts,
u
and DIR. Bail, while one OF the Bishops served
as Major. This applies also to the other de.
nominations, North and South.
It must be admitted that q good soldier who
has turned preacher should be earnest aud sim
cere in his calling. but whether a preacher
makes good soldier Is one of the few things
about war TIE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has not
discussed fully. Oae naturally wonders what
became Of all the ChaPlains. that they are not
heard from. They were certainly not all killed
In action. Did anyone ever see a Chaplain, ex-
eePt in his cosy quarters with the AtjutaHs. in
camp? The first year Of the war, or la new
regiments the Chaplain made as conspicuous
figure oil dress parade as the Drum Major
i remember seeing some fancy inspection
Paradss on Sundays while the weather was
good and there happened to be some ladies
visiting headquarters, IN which the Chaplain
aud Drum Major figured in quite effective style.
The long line Of 10 com panies, Of 100 men each
standing at paTade-Test, their heads uncovered
and bowed the jluuty little fatigue caps placed
on the muZzle OF the muskets, while the Chap
lain read prayed feIyeutlyl Then the full
brass band played, with pathOs that I shall
never forget, that old hymn that is sung ia
heaven, " Old Hundred" Even the Portuguese
hymn or dead march at a grand military
funeral could not BE- more effective than this
sc-He near Harper's Ferry, under the shadow
u the quiet Virginia Mountains, Just on the
flla
which to many poor fellows was not only the
Rub.c0n, but the river Of death and oblivion.
There are many amusing stories told about
our Chapi@iIs also. Is We al know, his duties
became merely nominal and his time was
mostly occupied in efforts to prevent falling
frOn grace in the wicked society of his mess.
On the march his principal business was TO
loan his horse to some tired or lazy line officer
and il camp he was the postmaster and general
/ letter-WTiEer for the boys.
Gen. \. F. Banks tells q good story Of the
Chsplaiu's trials md Vicissitudes, the truth of
which l can vOueh for; but the clever General
does not locate this Chaplain where he belonged
in the Army of the Potomac. While in Winter
quarters our love letters came regularly, and
were nearly always ineIosed in illuminated
red, white and blue envelopes, illustrated by
flags with Union notices. cannon belching
forth fire with the cannon ball still in sight in
I the northeast corner of the envelope. The gun
nCrS, neatly dressed and standing TO attention.
were in another corner, while over the limited
I space left was to be written the name OF the
soldier, his company, regiment, brigade, diyis-
iOH corps and army.
The Chaplain, as the postmaster, was the most
important man in the regiment; but when on
/ the march the mails become mighty irregular.
1t was during one of these frequent changes
/ of base that our mail service became sadly de-
moralized, and for days the Chaplain hadn't
| a single letter TO deliver to the hundreds Of
/ callers. The opportunities Of the soldiers anx-
/ iOus TO hear from their best girls became so
/ great that even the Chaplain lost his patience.
/ He had but one answer TO perhaps a thousand
/ callers with the same question each day. No
/ letter. l do not know anything about the
\ cause of the failure of the mail"
/ He had repeated this stereOypted phrase so
/ often that his friends began to fear his brain
would be affected, and advised him to write out
/ a notice with the information and post it out
side of his quarters, that all might see it. He
/ accordingly procured a cracker box lid, and
with a bit of a charcoal wrote: The Chaplain
I does not know anything about the mails and
nailed ii TO tree and retired to seek rest in the
I quietness of the mess, who played poker all
I night. Some wag coming along, noticed the
/ sign, and also the piece of charcoal, and added
! a few words of amendment to the Chaplain 5
I notice And don't care -" 1 have seen
I and laughed. with hundreds Of others, at that
! bOard.-O. X.