The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-02

General Passenger Agent. Savannah Ga.
'HEO, D. KLINE, General Superintendent
j. G. SHAW, Travelling Passenger Agent.
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which has no regular chaplain, or at a
naval hospital or shore station. He is
permitted To conduct services according to
the methods recognized as proper by his
church. At the same time, he must af-
ford all facilities to other clergymeu who
may be allowed by the captain to visit the
ship for the purpose of preaching or Civ
lug religious instruction. If a Hebrew
rabbi comes aboard with that object in
view he must be welcomed.
SOMETHING OF TEACHER, TOO.
The chaplain may form Sunday school
classes on board ships, with the captain $
! approval. He must not push his religious
instruction where it is cot wanted, but
he may proselyte privately as much as
he likes. He is required to visit the
sick frequently. Under the direction of
the commanding officer, he supervises the
! teaching of the boys and such of the
sailor men as desire to learn reading,
writing arithmetic and geography. He
must report to the captain at the end of
each week what has been taught and
the progress made by each pupil. On
shore stations he has otter nothing to do.
Rev. Henry B. Hibben. lately de-
ceased was on duty for long time at
the Washington navy yard. Having
nothing else to occupy himself with, he
was instructed by the cOmmandant to
write history of the yard. The volume,
which contains much interesting matter,
will soonn be published by congress
Every man on board of a modern war
ship is supposed to be fighter. The
naval chaplain might be called upon by
the commanding officer to pass ammuni-
tion or even help in handling a gun,
a at, a
aid the wounded. While performing di-
vine services he wears the vestments of
his church. At other times he is clad in
uniform Of black with shoulder straps
having crosses as part of their design.
There are two Catholic priests in the
navy. The sailors are largely Catholic.
But no attention whatever is paid to such
matters in the appointment of chaplains
or in their assignments to duty. 1t is re
qured that candidate for one of these
positions shall be not under 81 years of
age or over IS. The examination is ply
steal only.
NOT POPULAR IN THE NAVY.
A chaplain on board ship takes his
meals with the wardroom mess. He may
say grace before meat if the officer who
happens TO be caterer does not object 1t
is unfortunately fact that chaplains as
rule are not very popular in the navy.
II is easily understood that clergyman
finds himself in rather an anomalous posi-
ton among lot of young officers in the
wardroom Some of them are apt to be
more or less ribald, and there is much of
the merriment in which a minister of the
gospel cannot well Join. On the other
hand. to sit apart and look solemn is I'M
desira BILE. A chaplain has been known TO
spoil all the fun of mess Directing TO
smoking and causing the withdrawal of
that privilege from the wardrOom by the
captain. On the other hand there are
good fellows in this branch of the service
who take things as they find them, and
take as large a part in the amusements
on board and ashore as is permitted to
| them by the cloth they wear.
Orthodoxy cuts no figure in the chap
laiucy business. No chaplain in the navy
or army has ever been tried for heresy.
There would seem to be no good reason
why women should not serve capably as
army chapiains, but they are not possible
in the navy No woman is allowed on
board of a seagOing ship of war, except as
visitor. This is new field, by the way,
for the woman's rights movement TO en-
ter. When tarragut visited Europe on
the Wabash, after the close of the late
war he could not take Mrs. Farragut
with him. She was obliged to cross the
ocean on mail steamer.
A COURT MARTIAL REQUIRED.
A chaplain may be dismissed from the
army or navy like any other officer. Even
the President of the United States, how
ever, cannot deprive him of his commits
sion without court-martial AS might
be imagined, Uncle Sans chaplains have
rarely got into trouble. One of them was
permitted to resign few years ago on &C
count of immortality, which the Secretary
of War thought it undesirable TO adver-
tise by holding an open court ana publish
lug the facts in general orders for the edi-
tication of the entire service
Congress employs two chaplains. Each
of them receives 5000 a year, which is
fairly good pay for short daily prayer
during sessions. The chaplain Of the
House of Representatives is Edward b.
Bagby His predecessor III that position,
William II MuDurn. is now chaplain of
the Senate. He is bllnd The Rev Mr.
NIilburn may be considered the most dis
tineuished chaplain ia the government ser
vice He IS certainly the most famous
Though the place of chaplain in the House
is in Politics, he kept it through changes
of control in that body partly on account
OF sympathy with his physical affection
Objection was sometimes made to his MN
istration on the ground that his prayers
occasionally had political bias, which
was considered hardly fair
Representatives and senators in con
grtss who are clergymen are invited now
and then to offer prayer, relieving The
regular chaplain of this duty Senator
Kyle and DR. Everett are examples Any
clerical relative Of a senator or represent
alive who may happen to be in Washing
ton at any time is apt to be invited TO Of
ficiate as matter of compliment. The
father Of Mr. Dolliver did 50 only the
other day.
Ii has been frequently proposed that
chaplains in the army and navy should be
done away with IL is charged that they
are of no practical use and that their
places are snecures which would be the
best abolished However, the weight of
public opinion seems to incline 10 the con
clusion that the twin services are rather
goddess anyway and are none the worse
tor little religious supervision.
For over Fifty Years.