The sun., 1890-01-23
THE hRnrr oH1P1hExa



ana corps 0rGsaisatisn Proposed.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-Ihere are now thirty
post ohaplains in the army, authorized By the
act OF March 2, l849. and four roglmental chap
lnins, one for each Of the colorod regiments
the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and the Twenty
fourth and Twenty-nfth Infantry-authorized
By the act OF July 28, 1885, These thirty-four
oftcers rank az Captains OF infantry. Score
tary Proctor called attention In his annual re-
port to the fact that the number OF chaplains
was less than one third that Of the Garrisoned
posts, and suggested that some provision might
be made for engaging the services OF clergy
men TO supply the lack:
There are at present lie pos.N 70 that large
Der OF soldiers are compelled to be without religious
instruction In view Of policy OF the department
to concentrate the troops in larger posts this evil will
rapidly diminish II Is to be regretted however that
OF the several duteH deyovinE upon the Government
Tor the education and improvement OF lite soldiers this
most essential element OF all should be even temporarily
neglected
"It would bs impossible at this time TO cay what
ohanEeA II any will be permanently needed. In the
present trAnsory state therefore, would only
mend that the department bo empowered to provide
for religious instruction at posts where there Ia chap
lain, py the temporary employment OF clsrEymon and
that an appropriation bo made for that purpose"
But there 10 some disposition to reorganizo
prescribed qualifications for appointment
The Senate may now reject unfit nomination.
but political influence or personal lobbying
may destroy this safeguard. In some in
stances chaplsins have been appointed when
30 advanced in years that after comparative
ly short service they went upon the retired
list under the age restriction. with three
fourths pay to the end Of life. One or two
cases Of this sort under the Hayes Administra-
tion attracted general attention and comment.
In another instance an army chaplain was
court martialled on the charge OF duplicating
his pay: and the effect upon those who were
subject to his ministrations can be imagined.
That there are worthy and excellent chsplains
In the service is conceded but there are differ
ences In capability and In devotion to duty
among ohaplains as among other army officers.
and 1t is suggested that their appointments
should no longer be matter Of personal selec-
tion without the regulations accompany wing the
apRointments OF other officers -.
somewhat .amnslnely Illustrated W6on The he
chaplain OF oolored regiment stationed In
teach in . Tennesseo college. The statute
prssoribes that this instruction shall be In
military nl science and tactics That he consld-
as to merit appointment over regular line
otdesr is hardly to be supposed. he made the
associqtine with young men, o.. his own race
he gould get desirable recruits for the colored
h9s do sh bSan RRSd h
application WAS made when the Washington
authorities were wondering what, could be
the troops rather than to send them elsewhere.
Several bills have been introduced into tho
os p ST Sne snS
measure has proposed graded corps, to consist
Of twenty senior chapains, thirty, chaplalns,
and allowance respectively Of Major. Captain.
and First Lieutenant OF Infantry. To their
liGious denominations which is notstho prac-
iss would be irSnsisrrsd to This IS corps. p with WITH
the act Promoton would be By Is seniorlty, 1s and
for any. original appointment to the lowest
dent would convene an examining board to be
composed OF the commander Of the post need
RSo Should Be- ar Of the
BILE Of the same religious denomination as the
candidate. or Of a denomination assimilating
examination prior to promotion. and no ap-
pointment or promotion would be lawful except
on the accommodation Of the majority of such
is that every candidate for appointment as as:
sistant chaplain must be under ,28 years Of
qualified for his duties. He would be eligib bic
to ths grade 9f chaplain after fve years service.
have rs to me Been PIE bsore
Congress for this purpose. II must be said,
however. that their draw backs. In the view OF
many people, outweigh their advantages, The
aim is to have nearly every post supplied with
o chaplain, which would be practicable under
such scheme, considering that the proximity
OF some posts. like those In New York harbor,
for example. would require but one chaplain
for several gar sons. But Congress might hes
ttate to authorize SO large an increase. from 81
to 100 besides, any project Of denomina-
antagonisms that might be hard to reconcile.
The recent letter OF Con. Schofeld to Senator
Plumb indicates some of the existing difficult
ties. It is o familiar experience that religious
exercises may be conducted In tho army by
others in the intervals of chaplains visits.
and whore there is no chaplain at all. A navy
chaplain may be on the flagship at foreign
eel detailed from the squadron for special'duty
will take chaplain along with 1t. The smaller
forts. in like manner Garrisoned by perhaps
fifty or q hundred men, cannot expect the CON
slant presence ofa chaplain. Besides. Us gem
eral rule the forts arc near settlements which
ters. of various denominations With the
gradual concentration Of troops, however, in q
much smaller number OF forts an effort will
probably be made to give chaplain to each,
and meanwhile Secretary Proctor's suggestion
for temporary assistants may be taken up.