The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-09-07
UNCLE SANS CHAPLAINS.
THE CHURCH MILITANT ON LAND
AND SEA.

4
places as chaplains as for any
of the minor Offices in the
9 gift of the President Great
numbers of clergymen are always
anxious to get an opportunity to serve
Uncle Sam professionally.
The United States army has thirty
four chaplains, stationed at forts all
over the country. Seven of them are
Baptists, nine are Episcopalians, eleven
are Methodists, two are Presbyterians,
one is CongregRtionalist, one is
Lutheran, one is Christian and two
are Catholic priests. Four of the
chNplains referred to are regimental
chaplains, attached to the four col
ored regiments, two of infantry and
two of cavalry. Three Of these men
are colored.
The pay of newly commissioned
army chaplain is $3.50 a year, to
which ten per cent. is added for each
five years of service. He has always
the relative rank of q captain of in
fantry. After retirement he receives
three .fourths of the pay of that rank,
No age limit restricts appointments
A clergyman may enter the service at
the age of sixty-three years and eleven
months, retiring few days later with
the rank and pay of captain. 1t will
be seen that chaplain is actually
much better off than line officer, in
asmuch rs he does not have to go
through long years Of service for slow
promotion. Like captain, he IS en-
titled to commodious quarters at Gov
eminent expense, comprising five
rooms.
A chaplain in the army is not
obliged to fight, under any circum-
stances. He has no arms. His uni
form is q plain black frock coat but
toned up to the neck with nine black
buttons. This, with a 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 and funerals
at which he oficiates. This book is q
part of the records Of the post, and is
regularly inspected. In addition, he
superintends the instruction of enlist
ed men and children at the post. He
is o school teacher as well as q clergy.
man.
1t is quite as likely as not that the
religious views of the army people at
the post will not coincide with those
of the chaplain. At a post where
Presbyterian sentiment prevails a
Catholic priest may be on duty. How
ever, nobody who does not wish to do
so is obliged to attend divine service.
Even the common soldiers and sailors
of the United States cannot be sub
jected to compulsion in this regard.
An act Of Congress passed in 1888
created the Office Of "post chaplain
and schoolmaster," The appointee
was neither enlisted nor commissioned.
The pay attached to the position was
raised from time to time until it
reached 500 q month, to which ra-
tions were added. In 1867 Congress
made the chaplains commissioned Of
fcers aad gave them relative rank as
captains. They are obliged to pass
only physical examination, but it is
required that they shall be regularly
ordained clergymen in good standing
in their denominations.
An appointment as chaplain in the
United States navy is even more de-
sirable than in the the army. It is
likewise life position, equally a sin
ecure, and much better paid. The
naval clergyman during his first five
years of service gets $4,000 per annum
while at sea, $4,000 on shore duty, and
$1,000 on leave. After five years he
receives $4,000 at sea, $4,000 ashore,
and $1,000 on leave. There is nc
further advance of salary. On being
retired he draws for the rest of his
life seventy-fve per cent. of his sea
pay of $1,000 a year. 1t will easily be
seen that these places are among the
most desirablein the gift of the Gov.
ernmenr. There are twenty chaplains
in the navy now. According to law
the oldest four in the service have
relative rank as captains, the next
seven rank as commanders, the next
seven as lieutenant commanders OF
lieutenants, while the rest have nc
rank.
The duties of chaplain at sea are
by no means arduous. He must per-
form divine service on the ship al
such times as the captain may pre-
scribe; also, he may be detailed t.
duty on board of vessel which has
no regular chaplain, or at nava
hospital or shore station. He is per
mitted to conduct services according
IN tho methods raoopnizad nc ,,roDay