The morning times., 1895-09-29
PRIESTS ON WAR VESSELS
Three Catholic Fathers Appoint
ed by Two Presidents.
TARS CALL THEM SKY PILOTS
The Law Provides for the rAppoint-
ment of Twenty-four Chaplains.
Cleveland Was the First of All the
Presidents TO Select "a Catholic and
Harrison the Next.

There are now three Roman Catholic
chaplains in the United States naval serv-
ice, the recent appointment of Rev. John
P. Chidwick in that capacity to the battle
ship Maine being the third. Two of these
were appointed by President Cleveland and
the other by President Harrison.
These two Presidents, whether by acci-
dent or design, have appointed a number
of Catholics which is about in proportion
to the ratio of Catholic population Of the
United States. The law specifies that there
shalIbe not more than twenty chaplams
on the public armed vessels OF the Navy.
ope-eichth of the twenty-four are now
Catholics which is about the ratio OF the
Catholic to the non-Catholc population.
The law for the appointment of chaplains
in the Navy was passed in 1906 and is con-
tained in section 1895 of the statutes, which
reads as follows:
'sThere shall be in the Navy, on the public
armed vessels of the United States nactual
service not exceeding twenty-four chap
lains, who shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent with the advice and consent of the
Senate. Section 1896 provides that the
chaplain shall not be less than twenty-one
nor more than thirty-five years of agea the
time of his appointment.
Section 39T says that every chaplainshau
be permitted to conduct public worship ac-
cordine to the manner and forms OF the
church of which he may be member
THE FIRST APPOINTMENT.
From 1906 to ssS when President Cleve-
land first recognized the propriety, II such
1t were, of appointing Catholic to one or
these positions, is long historical distance
He made the appointment when he was GO
ing out of office.
President Harrison probably thought that
1T was q good thing to go on record in the
same way, and he appointed Catholic
chaplain and now President Cleveland
has raised Mr.. Harrison one and there is
notelling how many Others willbeappointed.
A Times reporter went up TO the Navy
Department the other day to find out " hat
was the special reason for the appointment
of Catholics after so many years of non
recornition; in fact nearly ninety years
The reporter was referred to the bureau
of navigation for this information and
every other on the subject of chaplains.
The clerk, who was acting for the chief,
said that according to his information
there was no religion in the matter at all.
In fact he said the constitution is very
plain ON that subject and the statutes do
not and W ould not make any discrimination
This clerk was asked if it did not
strike him as being something of a novelty
in the history of the service.
Not at ALL" he said. IF no appoint
ments had been made until 1888 by Mr..
| Cleveland it was high time that it should
be done"
After disposing of the subject in this.
summary and philosophical manner the
| clerk furnished the reporter with all
the law on the subject, as above given.
The chief clerk of the Navy was then
applied to, but he said he did not known
| anything about the matter. he referred
the Times to Private Secretary Finney.
| This gentleman referred to certain books
which contain all that is of interest as TO
| these complaints of whatever creed or
race. The book, of course, did not throw
| any light on the personal or political rea-
sons which prompted the Presidents to
suddenly begin the appointment of Catholics
| to these positions tow ards the close of the
century
| One interesting thing about the chap
| lains is that the first four senior chaplains
have the rank of captains in the navy.
The next seven have the relative rank Of
commander; the next seven have the rank
of lieutenant commander, and the others
are without relative rank.
There is an impression that the position
of chaplain is q soft snap. To the un-
initiated his position would appear to
vfv,
for the living at stated times and to be
on hand In case of storm to keep her
afloat by the power of prayer.
AS to the stated times that is the fact
as the chaplain Is required to hold ser