Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-09
A r MY CHAPLAIN ST
Many Applicants for the Vacancy That
Occurred in the Corps Saturday.
A Characteristic Letter From Gen.
Sherman on Those Who Desire
Such q Position.

A vacancy occurred In the army Satur-
day. for which over one hundred duly or
dained ministers of the Gospel have been
patiently waiting for long time. 1t fs
occasioned by the compulsory retirement
Of Post Chs plain John D. Parker. by OPP
Grafton of law on account of age. Chap
lain Parker Is now at San Diego, Califor-
MIA, where he has been on sick leave for
several weeks. He is native OF New
York, but was appointed to the army from
Missouri in July, 1882.
Applications for appointments of this
kind are more numerous than in the case
of almost any other office within the gift
of the President, and it is said that he is
subjected to more importantly on their
account than in any other class of APP
pointments. including even the highly de-
sirable places in the pay departments of
the army and navy, which are similarly
open to civilians. Chaplains. who are ir-
reverently termed ''sky pilots" by soldiers
not having the fear of God before their
eyes, occupy u dignifed and honorable po-
sition in the service and usually have very
easy and congenial employment. They are
appointed for life and are retired on three
quarters pay. The law provides for thirty
post chaplains and four regimental chap
lains. OF this number three of The chap
lains (regimentaD are colored. The legal
quota was full until Chaplain Parker re-
tired. and there appears to be most I'M
seemly scramble for this vacancy. The
pay of a chaplain is IL 800 per annum, with
an increase every five years until 1t reaches
81, 100 The retired pay ranges from sl,35O
to 81 $50 year. according to length of
service.
1t Is learned on good authority that the
existing vacancy will not be filled for sew
eral weeks at least, inasmuch as Secre-
tary Lamont does not propose to bring
the matter to the Presidents attention
until he returns to the city from Gray
Gables in October. There is no special oc-
casion for haste in the matter, and it Is not
believed that the service will suffer any
lay. The views of many army officers in
regard to the unusual persistency erinced
by applicants for appointments as chap
plains is shown In a letter which was writ
ten to an applicant by Gen. William T.
Sherman in July, 1882, while he was in
command of the army. with headquarters
at Washington. The views of that rugged
cid soldier were expressed With unusual
bluntness and vigor, notwithstanding which
they are generally shared by Iearly all
the officials of the army.
The letter. which has never before ap-
peared in print, is as follows (the name Of
the recipient being omitted:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
THE UNITED STATES,
WASHINGTON, D. c., July &C. 1882.
Ny Dear Sir: Yours Of the oath is re-
will make his application to the Secretary
Of War for chaplaincy in the army and
send me his papers, l will indorse and lay
them before the Secretary for the action Of
the President, who alone always makes
these appointments.
I never give original letters to the Pres
ident or Secretary of War, because 1t would
be wrong for me to do so, as they might
refer several applicants to me for selection,
and 1 would seem to be committed to the
one holding my letter. 1 think there are
several hundred applicants now, each one
of whom Is stronger in the faith than st.
Paul, AMI most of whom, before appoint
ment are anxious to be martyrs; but once
appointed and confirmed, they object to our
frontier posts because they are ill-adapted
for raising large family of small children
OF course, the whole system as now is a
farce, and meant to be SO. If Congress
wanted the army to have the influence of
religion 1t would allow the commanding
officer of each post remote from civilization
to hire and pay for a minister while en-
ployed, like surgeons. OF such posts there
are nearly hundred, whereas the chap
lains are limited to thirty-say. half of
whom are sick, or don't like the isolation
Of Texas, Arizona, &c. OF course there
up as soon as the telegraph announces a
death-there are no resignations-and so
greedy are the applicants that they will not
even wait tor the funeral
If your brother wants to join In this
scramble to become martyr. let him send
me his papers, and I will see that they are
filed; and then let him have some Senator
ident the moment he learns a chaplain is
lin extremis."
GslgnedD W. 7. SHERMAN.