The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-14
UNCLE SAINTS SKY PHO rs.
His Few Chaplains Who Are Not Over.
worked in Their Pro fession.

LOLl lIlt New L EA sun.
Sky pilots are scarce in the United
States navy, and their position is some
what curious, as the paid official chap
lains of a government that maintains no
state religion, and has neglected to nut
God into his constitution. The number
Of chaplains on the active list is twenty
three, four with the relative rank of cap
tain, seven with that of commander. as
many with that of lieutenant, and five
with that Of lieutenant, junior grade.
The chaplain longest in the service was
appointed in 1863; the latest addition to
the corps of chaplains received his com
mission last year. The appointment Of
Chaplains in the navy is in the hands of
the President. The nominee may be of
any sect. and those chaplains now in the
service are of many denominations. There
was for time no Roman Catholic in the
list of chaplains, but somebody COM
planned that Roman Catholic sheep in the
navy were thus unshepherdcd, and the
President appointed a priest of that
church to chaplaincy. He is now es-
teemed in the navy as conscientious
pastor.
IT must be owned that the articles Of
war take no special pains for the naval
chaplain and his duty. The official pro-
vision is that the commanding officer,
weather and circumstances permitting,
shall cause religious services to be per-
formed on Sunday, and all on board ship
are earnestly eXhOrted to attend. Only
the apprentices, however, are required to
attend service. To them the government
stand in loco PARENTS, and takes upon it.
self, to some extent, even the cure ofther
souls. AS matter Of fact the naval
chaplain usually has small congra-
Cation. The services ordinarily follows
quarters The ships bell is tollod in
true e ,cle fiastic9l fashion, and those who
have assembled for quarters may or may
not find it convenient to remain and hear
service. Few ships carry chaplains. As
rule only the tlagships are thus equipped.
Tho Charleston, the Philadelphia, the
Baltimore and the Chicago each has one,
and one is usually assigned to each of the
training ships, in view of possible peril to
the young souls there assembled. One IS
assigned to each naval stated, usually
with quarters on receiving ship.
There is no officially prescribed form
for the service aboard ship but simple
ritual is usually adopted even by those
chaplains whose denominations make no
provision for such form. Or course,
Roman Catholic or an EpiscOpalian chap
Jain follows as near as may be the ritual
OF his own church. Prayer books, bymnals
and the like aids to worship are provided
by the government. 1t is usually possible
TO obtain from the band and the crew On
board a flagship a highly effective choir,
and this sometimes helps to draw others
to the service. The chaplain wears ab
service whatever is the proper apparel.
AT ordinary times he wears either SIM
pie uniform prescribed by the government
or the clerical garments usual to clergy
men of his denomination.
The chaplain has some scmi-Official
duties for which his profession IS sup
posed to be peculiarly fitted He cheers
up the hOmeSick, writes letters for sUcn
of the crew as cannot write, serves out
good counsel to the erring, and does what
ever else seems proper and needfu'
Some naval chaplainS are genuinely use
full men. Their influence for good IS lciJ
throughout the ship, and they are held IN
attectiOnate and respectful regard by an
on board. The posi-, however, is a dlla-
cult one. The chaplain messes IN inc
ward room, and must take things there
as he finds them The ward room OF an
American man-of-war is usually well
ordered place, where no sensible man is
likely to meet with aught TO offend ms
ScnSiDilitieS, but the inmates Of the Wafd
room have their own standard OF CONDUCT
aud they win not submit to other
irksome restraints than those
imposed by naval regulations Inc CnIP
lain who cannot so adapt himself to MS
surroundings as to avoid creating an I'M
comfortable sense of restraint among ms
shipmates is likely to be unpopular. On
the other hand, the chaplain who seehS
to iugratiate himself with the ward rool
by altogether ef1acing his cloth is hhey
to lose the respect Of his shipmates' re
must be neither prig nor loosc-like, anu
while maintaining the dignity ana Pr
matically blind and deaf to some things
that the parson ashore could no. pass
over in silence.
The chaplain's rank, like that OF tAo
staff is purely relative, and he is not au-
dressed by military title. He receives
what Is termed longevity pay For lHo
first FIVE years OF his service his ply ~
$1,000 at sea, 81 900 ashore, and SoOo uu
leave or on WAITING orders. After hFe
years his pay is 500 per year more.
Capt. Ciippeuon, British consul az Ph"'.
Pm #.