The Portland daily press., 1898-07-09
THE TRIALS OF THE ARMY CHAPLAIN.

THE TRIALS OF THE ARMY CHAPLAIN.
His Religious Duties Are the Least of
| hose Imposed Upon Him.
| (Letter from Tampa in the New York
| Tribune.)
| AS is the case with his brother in civil
| life, the army chaplain finds actual SER
vices the smallest part OF his duties. The
regulations prescribe that each regiment
shall have an opportunity on Sunday to
attend divine worship, but the chaplains
find much to do all the seven days of the
week. In the first place there are often
affairs of the regimen to be looked after.
Tradition associates the chaplain with the
postmastership; if he doesn't always at
| tend to all the details of this place he
may exercise q general supervision. In
the hospital he can be of the greatest SER
vice. Days are dull and hours are long
to the poor fellows stretched on cots there,
and the presence and conversation of a
kindly clergyman may be substantial
| aid to cOnvalescence.
just how much good the chaplain can
do depends not only on his desire to be
helpful, but on his knowledge of human
nature. Soldiers are no more religious
than other folk; perhaps they are no less
SO either, but they don't fancy having
the gospel poked at them at the end of
stick. In fact religion is one Of the last
things the chaplain should talk about.
First of all he must show himself SYM
pathetic friend of the soldier. The right
sort of chaplain is soon appreciated by
| the men.
In the beginning, however, it would
not always be easy to get on good terms
with the privates in the regular army
were it not for the chaplain's rank. He
has a captains commission, and this
compels @ certain respect and attention.
What would be looked upon as an intru.
sion on the part of On ordinary clergyman
meets with at least passive submission
when the man of cloth is an officer as
we'll. Thus discipline is at the bottom
of the chaplain's original reception at the
hands of the enlisted men. OF course this
is onlyi at first. If he shows himself a
| good sort of fellow, who talks about the
ordinary affairs of camp or post life, and
! not always about the Bible, he is in time
in position to do the particular work
| which is the prime object of his calling.
! A chaplain can get along with doing
| little II he cares to, and the office is
Tiled with different kinds of men. A
jealous one, whose sy1npethies are keen
and broad, can find an occupation for ey-
cry hour of the day. The hospital comes
in for good part of his time, If it is only
to cheer up the patient with his conversa-
| tion. Those who are too i'll to read for
| themselves he entertains with q neWspa-
per or book; the Bible ii it seems desira-
| BILE. He reads their lett ers to them and
writes replies. In time of battle his nat
urai function is to aid in bringing in the
wounded and in caring for them.
There are also well men who need the
chRplain's voice of encouragement. Some
| are homesick even in the regular army
this ailment is not unknown. The bra
cling up OF o frank talk with a minister is
often remarkable. Courage is also in
stilled by him. They are q cur ious study,
these parsons They say they didn't want
war, but now that it has come they be-
| lieya in hard fighting. No officers chafed
more under the delay in starting the 9th
army corps for Santiago de Cuba than
these same chaplains. Yet they are all
men of peace-all. When fighting begins,
| however, many back bone will have been
sitffened by their warlike words and
spirit.
In the regulations general control of
the post schools is also given to the chap
lain. He may not do the actual teaching,
| but he exercises a supervision. The gov
ernment offers facilities for enlisted men
who want to improve their minds. Read
ing and writing are taught those who are
| ignorant of them; these are all men of
long service, as the qualifications of re-
cruits have for some time included GER
tain amount of education. Priyates who
can read and write may wish to learn
more, and instruction is given them.
Some study to be able to pass civil SER
vise examinations, and thus to improve
their condition when their terms expire
All such men of ambition should receive
from the chaplain encouragement and ad :
vice.
relatives write to the chaplain asking
him to look after one young man or
another or to inquire after his health and
what treatment he is receiving. The
minister is apparently looked upon as a
bureau of information for the regiment.
Perhaps he is regarded as a man Of much
leisure, being free from SO many parish
duties, SO letters pour in for him on all
conceivable subjects One chaplain not
long ago wrote SO replies to inquiries in
| one day. A letter commencing to the
chanl aims attention some beloved son OR
brot her involves a call on the man and
an invitation to him to visit the chap
lain when in trouble of any kind. Thus
acouaintances are established, and the
way is paved for soothing, comforting
land encouraging talks.
Gifts for the soldiers are usually dis
tributed by the chaplains. Some volun-
teer regiments have received supplies of
stationery, stamps, reading matter. deli
oacies and other remembrances from
friends at home, which the chaplain is
called on to deliver. In the list New
4 York DIR. Van De Water Ia also in charge
Of the officers Emess. Sometimes regi-