River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-10-21
THE YOUNG CHAPLAIN.
An OId-TIme Revival Among the Ca
Diet. mt West Point.

One night in 1925 = clergyman was
taking tea with John calhoun, then
secretary Of war. suddenly Mr.. Cal
hOun said 20 his guest:
"Will sou accept the place Of chap
lain and professor Of ethics at West
Point? If YOU will, / will appoint you
81 pncc."
The clergyman VAS Charles l.. Me
Tivaine. then but - years Of age, and
subsequently known a. the Bishop of
Ohio" lie accepted the appointment
because West Point then had an un-
savory reputation. There was not "A
Christian among officers and cadets.
Mnny of them were skeptics, and the
others were coolly Indifferent TO re-
igion. He was received as gentlemen
receive gentleman. but no one showed
the least sympathy with him as a clergy
man. For months his preaching seemed
a. words spoken in the air. His first
encouragement was an offensive express
sion.
lie was walking home from church
one Sunday few feet in advance of
several officers. The chaplain's preach
ing Is getting hotter and hotter" h.
heard one of them say.
In few DAYS he received another bit
OF encouragement. He was dining with
a company at the house of an officer.
\ lieutenant. a scofTer, hurled bitter
sneer at clcrgymen. The chaplain left
the table The officers threatened to
send the lieutenant to Coventry" if
lie did not apologize. lie called and
asked the chapiain's pardon.
Another officer took otfense at one of
the chaplain's sermons and wrote him
a bold avowal of skeptical opinions.
The chaplain. seeing in these Incl
dents evidence that the chronic indif-
ference was giving way To opposition,
persevered. But opposition was all the
encouragement he received during the
ear Not cadet had visited him or
even sought his acquaintance.
But one Saturday, the only day the
cadets were allowed to visit an officer
without special permission. one of the
mos: popular of the cadets knocked AZ
the chaplain's door. He wished TO be-
gin the Christian life then and there,
aud asked for counsel. In day or
two another cadet called on a similar
GRAND: then another and another.
Then several officers came. 4 meeting
for PRAYER was appointed twice week.
II was the first public prayer meeting
held at West Point. Officers and cadets
crowded in, though all who came pro-
fessed thereby TO begin religious life.
vt first il required as much courage
20 enter that room as il did 10 lead a
forloTn hope.
One of the cadets was Lconidas Polk,
afterward bishop of Louisiana. Intel
lisent. high-toncd and commanding in
person. he was the conspicuous cadet.
seeing that il was his duty to make a
public confession of his faith IN Christ,
he asked for baptism.
After baptizihg him the chaplain
r,.Gde a brief address. closing with a
charge TO be faithful. amen" re-
s,onded Polk. in a voice that rang
through the chu.ch. The amen" was
from the heart. Immediately the bap-
TIED cadet became a missionary 20 his
comrades
\ solemnity pervaded che academy
during the remaining two years that
this clergyman served as chaplain Halt
the corps became Christian men. Sew
eTal Of them. leaving the army. were
promoted 70 the ministry. Many OF
those who entered the army rose 10
eminence. They adorned their profess
sion and the Christian relic "a
This era IN West POI a was created
through divine aid - a young man
who simply did rs duty patiently and
left the result with God.--Christian Al
Work