The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-27

South. was e wise a Catholic, N also
was Major Genera Gibbon. commander
Of the 24th army CORDS at he close OF
the war. Both were ready at any time
TO aid me In my chaplain's work.
1T was easy to conduct religious
services in the rooms where I was a
prisoner with other officers I'm Rich
mond Jail. Columbia. and 1 led In pray
er every evening n conducted a serv-
ice. with preaching, every Sunday. As
a friend outside suggested to me. there
was his advantage in preaching In
prison, ] was sure OF my audience
All must attend and % could leave
before the service was over Bun com
pulsory attendance does MOI In Itself
secure profitable religious services. In
Columbia Jail there we're. In Other
rooms and in adjacent buildings. en-
listed men. both OF army N navy,
who could not be eache from the
officers rooms. I therefore asked per
mission OF the confederate authorities
u hold a Sunday service for their ben
eft in the Jail yard. Consent was CIV
en- on condition that ] would not refer
either In prayers or remarks. to mat
ters in contest in war. OF couse.
I scceded to this requirement. for OF
our mems loyalty and patriotism I
had no doubt or fear. n ~thencefor-
ward i held weekly service there as
well as inside. The first Sunday 1
preached to my new congregation In the
jlii yard 1 stood OF the jail steps. while
the post c~ommandant stood back or
me: and one OF his soldiers stood. with
fixed bayonet. at my left hand on the
steps to punctuate a sentence In case
] should ouc on forbidden topics. II
anything could keep q preacher within
the bounds OF strict orthodoxy In his
pulpit utterances. IL would be such for
midabie heresy hunters a. these At such
a time. But I wa found 20 be safe 20
far. n soon b members OF the SON
federate guard who were not Just her
on duty. - well a. friends OF the com
mandant from outside. were attentive
listeners to the preaching Of q prison
er to the prisoners"
There II an interesting chapter on
the kind OF that were preached
In order to unite the spirit OF the army
at the moment-to curb II or TO direct
Il. This was at times dinicult. when
the men. many OF them drafted and
only half hearted In the cause af best.
we're constantly hearing OF new trials
TO be encountered. receiving news OF
the draft riots or Of encouragement
or disagreement among the managers
Of the war. II all shows with what a
restrained determination the struggle
was conducted on both sides. how much
doubt there raj As to b fnal out
come. In what desperate straits the
nation was. Incidentally II causes one
10 realize more than do the average
histories what an insignificant holiday
affair our last war has been In compar-
ison and what agonies OF suffering and
OF doubt and shame we have escaped.
But all OF this relating to sermons
and the difficulties under which they
were sometimes preached Is little more
than introductory. for this seems 10
have been the least Of the duties Of the
chaplain. who in the civil war touched
the life of the soldier at every point.
The most interesting parts OF the
Memories relate to other things seen
and lone by the chaplain-the hospital
work. the effect of letters from home
on the men. the effects Of rest and In
action. prison life. temptations TO dis
lsyalty. lapses OF courage In brave men.
curious failures Of health or ability or
PATRIOTISM from sickness OF a kind not
DOWN In the medical books. and which
must have been akin TO the ncstslg1a
u our soldiers Of to-day: General Grant
as a chaplain Knew him: some intimate