Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-18
TIE YOUNG CHAPLAIN.
A Revival Among the Cadets at West |
Point.
From Christian Work.

Point.
From Christian Work
One night in 1926 a clergyman was taking
tea with John C. Calhoun, then Secretary
of War. Suddenly Mr.. Calhoun said to his
guest:
will you accept the place of chaplain
and professor of ethics at West Point? If
you will, l will appoint you at once
The clergyman was Charles P. McIlvaine,
then but twenty-five years of age, and sub
sequently known as the Bishop of Ohio"
He accepted the appointment because West
Point then had an unsavory reputation.
There was not a Christian among officers
and cadets. Many of them We're skeptics,
and the others were cooiy Indifferent to re-
hgion- he vas received rs gentlemen re-
CeiVe a gentleman, but one showed the
least sympathy with him as a clergyman
For months his preaching seemed words
spoken III the air. His first encouragement
was an offensive expression.
He was walking home from church one
Sunday few feet in advarce of several
officers. ''fre chaplain's preaching IS get
ting hotter and hotter" he heard one of
them say.
In a few days he received another bit of
si:couTe cement He was dining with
Company at the house of an officer "A
lieutenant a scoffer, hurled a bitter sneer
at cierSymen. The chaplain left the table
The officers threatened to send the leuten-
ant 10 Coventry If he Gid not apologize
He called and asked the chaplain's pardon.
Another officer took offeEse at one of the
chaplain's sermons and wrote him a bold
avowal of skeptical opinions.
The chaplain. seeing in these incidents
evidence that the chronic Indifference was
giving way to opposition, persevered But
opposition was all the encouragement ha
received during the year. Not Il cadet had
VISITED him or even sought his acluain-
t&nce.
Brt one saturday, TIE Only day the cadets
We're allowed to visit an officer without spe-
cial permission, one of the most popular
of the cadets knocked at the chaplain's
ccor He wished to begin the Christian life
:heT and there, and asked for counsel In
q day or two another cadet called on a
similar Grand; then another ard another
Then several officers came. y meeting for
prayer was appointed twice week II was
the first public prayer meeting held at
V est Point Officers and cadets crowded in.
though all who came professed thereby 10
begin . religious life. At first it required
as much courage to enter that room as it
6idsto lead q forlorn hope.
One Of the cadets was I-eon;das Polk af-
terward bishop OF Louisiana. Intelligent
heightened ard commanding in person. he
WIS the conspicuous cadet. Seeing that il
was his duty 10 make a public confession
of his faith in Christ, he asked for bap-
tism.
After haptizing him the chaplain made =
brief address, closing with a charge to be
faithful Amen responded Polk in a
voice that rang through the church. The
amen vas from the heart. Immediately
the baptized cadet became a missionary to
his comrades.
A solemaity pervaded the academy during
Ire remaining TWO years that this clergy
man served as chapiain Half the CORPS
became Christian men. Several of them,
leaving the army, were promoted to the
ministry. Many of these who entered the
army rose to eEirence. They adorned their
p, ofession and the Christian religion.
This era In West Point was created
through divine aid by young man who
! simply did his duty patiently and left the
result with GCd.