The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-12-12
CI4ERGYMEN IN THE ARMY
Uncle Sans Chaplains and Thor
Regiruents.
They Arc Commissioned tho Samo as on.
GERS and Arc Governed by Strict Mill
tary Regulations - Not Re-
Qu,red to Fight.

tary Regulations - Not Re-
qu,red to Fight.
The United States army has thirty
four chaplains, sta toned at forts all
over the country. Seven OF them, says
the Chicago Times, are Baptists, nine
arc Episcopalians, eleven arc Metho-
dists, two are Presbytcrians, one is
Congregationalist, one is Lutheran,
one is Christian, and two ORC Catho-
lie priests. The question of denomina-
tion cuts no figure in this branch of the
service. Appointments are always
made by favor, and 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 reg
iments, two Of infantry and two cav
airy. Three of these men arc negroes
The pay OF newly commissioned
army chaplain is one thousand three
hundred and fifty dollars year, to
which ten per cent. is added for each FIVE
years of service. He has always the
relative rank Of captain Of infantry.
After retirement he receives three
fourths of the pay of that rank. No
age limit restricts appointments. A
clergyman may enter the service at tho
age Of sixty-three years and eleven
months, re tiring few days later with
the rank and pay Of a captain. 1t will
be seen that a chaplain is actually
much better off than to go through
long years Of service for slow promo
tion. Like captain he is entitled to
commodious quarters at government
expense, comprising five rooms
The chapla in in the army Is not
obliged to fight under any circum-
stances he has no arms. His uniform
is plain black frock coat, buttoned to
the neck with nine buttons 1t Is pre-
scribed that the buttons shall be in
front; to button the garment up be-
hind would not be consistent with the
regulations This, with black Int,
serves for undress nd full dress The
chaplain has charge Of religious mat
ters In general at the post where he Is
stationed. He enters In book all mar
riages, baptisms and funerals at which
he ofaciates.
An act Of congress passed In 1898
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 1t reached one
hundred dollars month, to which rar
tions were added. In 1857 congress
made the chaplains commissioned OFF,
GERS and gave them relative rank as
captains. They are obliged to pass
only physical examination, but 1t Is
required that they shall be regularly
ordained clergymen in good standing
in their denominations.
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 am-
munition, or even to help In handling
gun. However, his duty would ordi-
narily be to aid the wounded.
There arc two Catholic priests in the
navy, The sailors are largely Catholic,
many Of them being Irish, French and
Italians.
A chaplain on board ship takes his
meals with wardroom mess. He may
say grace before meat if the officer who
happens to be caterer does not object.
It is unfortunately fact that chap
lains as rule are not very popular In
the navy. It is easily understood that
q clergyman finds himself in rather On
anomalous position among a lot OF
young officers in the wardroom. Some
of them are apt to be more or less RI
bald, and there is much Of the merri-
ment in which a minister Of the gospel
cannot well join.
The percentage Of Catholics among
sailors In the United States navy Is
growing rapidly less on account of the
policy which now prevails OF enlisting
Americans in preference to foreigners,
A visitor on one Of our warships Is
astonished to hear strange languages
spoken by a majority Of the bluejackets
on board.
A chaplain may be dismissed from the
army or navy like any other officer.
Even the president Of the United States,
however, cannot deprive him OF his
commission without o courtrmartial.
AS might be imagined, Uncle Sans
chaplains have rarely got into trouble.
One of them was permitted to resign
few years ago on account OF immoral
ity which the secretary of war thought
it undesirable to advertise by holding
an open court and publishing the facts
ia general orders for tho edifcation OF
the entire service.
EuROPE'S IMMENSE WAR FUNDS