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

tles- The only sPcchC utterance on
this point IN the articles OF war was
that a chaplain could be court martial
ed like any other officer in case OF
misdemeanor. With the formation of
the great volunteer army OF the United
States the regimental chsplaincy
INTO prominence. In the lack
OF specific regulations as to rank. uni
form and duties of a chaplain. great
variety Of these particulars naturally
showed itself Many new chaplains
adopted the ordinary uniform Of a
captain of cavalry. with the shoulder
straps. sash and sword included. In
a humber of instances the position was
given to an irreligious layman, as a
mere matter of favor to a friend Of
commander. Soon. however,
congressional enactment measurably
righted in~congruities. II was required
that a chaplain be a duly authorized
clergyman OF a religious denomination:
that his rank should be that of captain
without command n that he mould
be borne on the field M stan rolls
next after the surgeon. who ranked as
a major.
TT was stiil, however. an open ques-
ton as to what precise service a reg
mental chaplain could perform to best
advantage. and who was best htted
for tina service. There were many APP
plicants for this position. who were
duly authorised clergymen. yet who
were not in demand in parishes where
they were Familiarity known. and who
did not make good chaplains when APP
pointed. There were others who were
well fitted for excellent work I'm pulpit
and parish at home. who were poorly
fitted by their experience and train
ing for the peculiar demands of army
life In camp and campaigning. Yet
- --a-2 --s
quickly adapted themselves. to the new
state of things which the army life
opened up during our civil war. and
they became representative regimental
chaplains. There was a place and a
work for these men, and they found and
filled IL. The position OF the regimental
chaplain was unique. He was a COM
missioned officer. yet without COM
mand. No question OF relative rank
brought him into rivalry with any
other officer. He could be welcomed
alike by a major general or by a sec
ond lieutenant without the fear of any
seeming inconguity of association. II
only he had the power OF making him
self personally or socially agreeable or
useful. Yet he could be among the en-
listed men as one entirely with them
In sympathy. without any thought on
the part of either that he was stepping
Oul oI his SpDttt VI tfDrclik lnt hlC
which divided commissioned officers as
a class from enlisted men as a class"
1t may be imagined that with this
state of affairs there were many unex-
pected experiences in pulpit and pas
toral work. many TRANCE calls which
met the regimentsl chaplain suddenly
and for his action, in the face Of which
there was no precedent
~ AT -n.xrHaa w~h4ah ADslNtnfA1
as a chaplain" says DIR. Trumbull,
was just before I Joined my regiment
in the field as chaplain OF the 10th reg
ment of Connecticut volunteers. 1t
a in The rendezvous camp OF a new
regiment at Hartford. Both regiment
M chaplain were raw as to service.
A small table had been borrowed from
a neighboring house and set In the
open air on the parade ground as a
reading desk for me. A nag was
thrown over 1t. On this rested a large
Bible and hymn book. As I took
my place behind il in he presence OF
the assembled regiment j saw that an
pack OF cards was on the Bible,
as II I'm mischievous desire to test the
new chaplain. Without being disturb
ed or annoyed 1 quietly gathered up
the cards and put them out Of sight,
saying In a low tone OF voice to the
SoActttA VIM " - az ~,
are trumps to-day M l have a full
hand My next formal service as a
chaplain was in the small close cabin
of a rolling propeller OF Cape Hatteras
on my way to join my regiment in New
Berne. N. e. Attendance at chapel
service was entirely voluntary In OUT
regiment. There were regiments where
the commanding officer required at
tendance at the church service on Sun
40 We nv ushaFa he ordered ont the reg
iment for such service, but i preferred
to leave officers n men entirely free
to attend or remain way, as they
were inclined. In special cases, when
my commander desired to have me ad-
dress the men on a particular subject
of importance 10 the discipline or NOR
ale of the command, he ordered out
the regiment to be preached to In the
chapel; but that was an exceptional
case.
"A lieutenant colonel who commanded
the regiment for a time after my join
ing II, had been trained in the English
army, and was a soldier In the Crime
an war. Although not a religious man.
he came to value highly the influence
OF a chaplain and OF religious services
on the soldiers. as soldiers and as men.
He wished me to lead In prayer at the
close Of daily dress parade, and / was
kiad W w ~ rms was IoAtt ~
ent matter from enforced chapel at
tendance. 1t was a recognition Of the
chaplain's place and work in the regi-
ment as a regiment. M IL marked the
regiments recognition of God as over
all. Its influence proved beneficial n
effective in the regiment and beyond
II. In performing this service 1 took
my place, in chaplain's uniform, at
dress parade. as at review. next to the
surgeon, on the right OF the line. With
the oficers / advanced to the front,
at the close of parade, when We pre-
scented ourselves to the colonel. In
stead of dismissing Us at that time, he
said: Take your places. gentlemen,
for prayers At this the line OF officers
divided in the center and passed right
and left to the rear Of the colonel. and
faced toward the center OF the parade
ground. The orderly sergeants of the
two left companies wheefed their com
panies and brought them Into place
facing inwards, as the two sides OF a
hollow square. Of which the remainder
~ tho raOfm9nt WAS the third side and