New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-07
SOME LEGISLATIVE CHAPLAINS.

The inquty OF some legislators Is only
cquaed by the "uniquity" Of some legislative
chaplains. Take Oklahoma. for instance. 1t IS
the common impression that in that young and
aggressive Territory the material overlaps the
spiritual and that outside of the churches. which
are not numerous as yet, the exercise OF prayer
is somewhat neglected. But that must be
mistake; for in the Legislature there Is provision
for two chaplains, one for the Council and one
for the House; and the members of the Legis-
laturc-not without good regard the
opening prayers Of these gentlemen among
the most remarkable products of the legislative
session. The absence for day Of three or four
legislators would excite no comment; but il
chaplain is absent members look at each other
with blank faces and exclam, Great Scott.
How are we goin to open up without a
'preacher?"
At the beginning of the present session the
Council In spite OF its free-silver majority. elect
ed the Rev. Mr.. Gold as lts chaplain. But for
some reason he never turned up, and the Rev.
Mr. Jones was asked to act as chaplain pro
tenn. AS chaplain Mr.. Jones adopted the policy
Of lndOrslng each morning everything that the
Senate had done the day previous, and every
thing that he thought 1t was going to do on the
day in question. This style of prayer was well
calculated to commend Mr. Jones to the Sem
ate IL not to the Almighty But once In a while
it led the faithful chaplain into trouble. Occa-
sonally 1t happened that the Senate reconsid
cred some measure previously passed by it and
indorsed in prayer by Mr.. Jones. In such cases
Mr. Jones showed that he could reconsider just
rs well as the Senate, and he ut once thanked
the Lord for the measure as amended, though It
might be an exact reversal Of something he had
thanked the Lord for the day before. This
might seem trfe inconsistent but 1t showed
on the part Of the chaplain n submission to
higher power beautiful as it Is rare. Alto
gether. the Senators are ready to bless the ext
gency that gave them Mr.. Jones as their chap
lain.
Some little time ago the Rev. Mr. Newman
the chaplain Of the House, was absent on ac-
count Of illness. AS 1t would never do to begin
business without opening prayer. Tom"
Doyle, OF Noble County, one Of the greatest
minds in Oklahoma, moved that the Rev Mr.
Cheeseborough. n coored gentleman, be made
chaplain pro TEN. Mr.. Cheeseborough he de-
clared, was, next TO Bishop Brooke, the best
theologian In the Territory, and ought to be hon
ored by the Legislature, If not as a chaplain. at
least as a page. He was made chaplain pro
tenn, but to the disgust of Mr. Doyle, was not
allowed to pray even once, although he came
each morning prepared TO offer prayer that
would reach the Great White Throne in two
jerks Of a lambs tail" This was n bit of race
prejudice that was not worthy Of the House.
1t was alleged by some legislators that Mr.
Chccscborough's personal appearance WIS too
darncd funny for chaplain But that objcc.
ton is pucrilc What was the matter with shut
ting their eyes:
But the Rev. Mr.. Newman. the regular chap
lain of the House, is the nan who seems most
iully TO deserve place In the front of the pro-
cession. Indeed he may truhfully be called
lin dandy chaplain. to adopt a bit of YER
nacuar common in the West. 1t Is said that
ne mas been Il little jealous Of Chaplain Jones
ana determined To deliver n prayer the other
morning that would set the House wild with en-
ihllslasm. That he must have done so will he
admitted by every one who reads his effort
which was follows:
Lord look down upon us and guide orr foot
steps from the pitfalls which hem us in This
town Is full of pitfalls. Look after the members
OF this honorable body. o Lord and konn ther,
true ana decent Keep them from the saloons
ana dens or EVIL; and, Lord, keep an eve on tho
newspaper reporters. and see that they act right
eously ana write righteously. Help the suffering
Subans good Father, and prompt Congress TO
disregard an unholy Presidents mandates and
give succor to the afflicted people on that isle
Ana. % Lord. hear us now. smile on us and keen
and protect us from the gangrened corrunt in
iuences and sway Of Buzzards Bay Give us
prosperity and blmetallism. Speed this assem-
bly, in its work Amen
And yet there are eviLmInded people who want
to have the office Of legislative chaplain abol
ished.