Evening star., 1896-11-28
OPPOSED BY PROTESTANTS
Proposed Erection Of a Catholic Chapel at
West Point.
Troublesome Question Before the
Recalled for Consideration.

Secretary Lamont has a troublesome
question under consideration in regard to
the proposed erection Of a Catholic chapel
on the military reservation at West Point
N. Y. The Military Academy has a large
garrison of regular troops, many of whom
are members of the Roman Catholic
Church. The nearest church of that de-
nomination is at Highland Falls a small
village some little distance from the post
In order to better accommodate the Catho-
lie soldiers at the garrison application was
made recently to the Secretary of War for
permission to erect a temporary chapel on
the government reservation.
The request went through the regular
routine, and finally, upon the recommended
ton Of the superintendent of the academy
and report from the judge advocate gen.
eral to the effect that there was no legrl
objection to the desired privilege, Secretary
Lamont granted a revocable license for a
temporary chapel. While this action de-
lighted the Catholics, 1t provoked the op-
pc sition of some of the evangelical
churches in New York city and elsewhere.
Among the leaders of the opposition was
Rev. II. S. Macarthur of New York city.
He publicly stated that he would oppose the
construction of any church edifice the
military reservation at West Point to be
used for anything save an unsectarian wor-
ship of God.
According to his statement, there are
services he'd for the benefit of the STU
dents and soldiers at the post by the reg
ular army chaplain stationed there, and up
TO this time there had never been any at
tempt to establish denominational church
there. In his opinion, such attempt
would be violation of the spirit of the
Constitution assuring every man the right
to worship God according to his own con-
science. DIR. Macarthur has received the
support of other clergymen In his oppos-
ton to the project and the result is that
a petition has been drawn up protesting
against a continuance of the Permit.
Meanwhile work was begun under the
permit. and excavations were made for the
foundation walls Of the chapel. These
preparations were on a large scale and in
quiry developed the information that it
was proposed to erect a structure at an es-
timated expense of $1D,Ww. The military
authorities were somewhat surprised at the
extensive character of the operations, and
the matter was again brought to the at
tention of the Secretary OF War, with the
result that he has recalled the permit for
further consideration. 1t Is said at the
War Department that there is no ques ton
of religion involved in the matter, the sole
question being to the propriety OF the
outside parties Of such an expensive build
ing under i temporary and revocable IL
cense.
The reason given for the construction of
substantial edifice was that il was re-
garded as a proper recognition OF the per-
init of the Secretary of War for the use OF
such an important military post. There is
nothing unusual, 1t is said, at the War De-
partment, in the location of small churches
on military reservations, and there is a
fine Catholic chapel on the reservation at
Fort Leavenworth. Kan. 1t has always
been the policy of the War Department to
assist rather than to interfere with the
worship of God by the soldiers, regardless
of religion or creed.