The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-02
GOVERNMENT CLERCYNEN.
A Life Position Just Found for Con-
gresham SpTinSer'S Son.
Chaplains on the Sea and Land-Good
Pay and Little to Do, With Never
Amy Trials for Heresy-Pedagogue
as Well as Ministers.

my AI1dAS 1OA AAGI65
as Well as Ministers.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch
Washington, June 3.-Congressman
Springer has found an easy berth for his
son in an army chaplaincy There is as
much pressure for places of this sort as
| for any of the minor Offices in the gift of
the President Great mum bers of clergy
men are always anxious to get an oppor-
i, porUurity to serve Uncle Sam profess
sionally. To that end some of them give
up rich and prosperous parishes, though
why is mystery. Apparently the al
most universal appetite for place-hunt-
ing seizes them.
The United States army has "a chap
| lains stationed at forts all over the coun-
try. Seven of them are Baptists, are
Episcopalians, II are Methodists, are
Presbyterians, is a Congregationalist,
l is Lutheran, l is Christian and 2
are Catholic priests. The question of de-
nomination cuts no figure in this branch
of the service. Appointments are always
made by favor ard without any regard
whatever for the religious demands of
soldiers and officers. Four of the chap
lains referred to are regimental chap
lains, attached to the four colored regi-
ments, two of infantry and TWO of cav
| airy. Three of these men are negroes.
THE RANK OF CAPTAIN.
The pay of wly-commissioned army
chaplain Is 81, $50 year, to which 10 per
cent is added for each hve years of ser
vice. He has always the relative rank of
| a captain of infantry. After retirement
he receives three-fourths of the nav of
| that rank. No age limit restricts APP
pointments A clergyman may enter the
service atwthe age.of >63 years and IL
months, retiring few days later with
the rank and pay of captain. 1t will be
seen that a chaplain is actually much bet
ter off than line officer, inasmuch as he
does not have to go through long years of
service for slow promotion. Like a cap
tain, he is entitled to commodious quar-
tiers, at government expense, comprising
five rooms.
A chaplain in the army is not obliged
to fight under any circumstances. He
has no arms. His uniform is a plain
black frOck coat buttoned to the neck
with nine black buttons, It is prescribed
that the buttons shall be in front to but
ton the garment up behind would not be
consistent with the regulations. This,
with black hat serves for both undress
and full dress. The chaplain has charge
of religious matters in general
at the post where he is stationed He
enters in book all marriages, baptisms
anu lQueFdlS az WnlCD he OIDcldbeS. inns
book is a part of the records of the post
and is regularly inspected. In addition,
he superintends the instruction of en-
listed men and children at the post. He
is a school TEACHER as well as a clergy
man.
sEGTs ARE NOT RECOGNIZED.
1t is quite as likely as not that the reli-
giOuS views of the army people at the
post will not coincide with those of the
chaplain in matters of detail governed by
sectarian prejudice. His assignment to
duty has no reference to that considera-
ton. AT post where Presbyterian
sentiment prevails Catholic priest may
be on duty. However, nobody who does
not wish to do SO is obliged to attend
divine service. Even the common sol
diers and sailors of the United States
cannot be subjected to compulsion in this
regard
Before the war pious commanding off
GERS at certain forts compelled all non
church-going soldiers to spend an hour
or more every Sunday in listening to the
reading of the regulations and articles Of
, war. This was in effect a punishment
and it has been done away with. SINH
larly, Admiral Godon used 20 force sailors
who did not attend divine service to toe
a plank for awhile.
An act of congress passed in 1888 created
the Office of post chaplain and school
master" The appointee was neither en-
listed nor commissioned. The pay at
tached to the position was raised from
time to time until ii reached $lO0 month,
to which rationS were added In 1867
congress made the chaplaius commits
stoned officers and gave them relative rank
as captains
MrsT BE IN GOOD STANDING.
They are obliged to pass only physical
examination. but it is required that they
shall be regularly ordained cergymen in
good standing in their denominations.
Young w. X. Springer, the congressman S
son, was ordained as a Methodist minis
ter Two months ago. He is % wears old
For some time past he has been clerk of
his fathers committee on banking and
currency in the House. at 81 a day
An appointment as chaplain in the
United States navy is even more deSir-
able than in the army. II is likewise
life position, equally sinecure, and much
better paid. The naval clergyman dur
ing his first five years of service gets
- 800 per annum while at sea, q, 600 on
shore duty, and 81 800 on leave After
five years he receives 81 500 at sea, 81 800
on shore and II 900 on leave. There is no
further advance in salary.
On being retired he draws for the rest
Of his life Is per cent. of his sea pay of
-, 500 year 1t will easily be seen that
these places are among the most desira-
bic within the git of the government.
There are twenty chaplains in the navy
now. According TO law the four oldest in
the service have relative ranks as cap
tains the next seven as commanders, the
next seven as lieutenant commanders or
lieutenants while the rest have no rank
The duties of a chaplain at sea are by