Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-07-05
RIGGING CHURCH."
Divine Service as Conducted on United
States WRrships.

States Warships.
When there is seen flying from the
gaff of a United States man-of-war a
small, white triangular peunant bear
ing on its field blue Greek cross
near the pike or halyard it is signal
that divine service is being held on
board. ''Rig church!" is one of the
regular naval orders, issued usually
at about 1890 Sunday morning.
Church is "rigged" in various places,
according to the construction of the
vessel and according to the weather
conditions. If the day is fine and
not too cold the quarterback will prob
ably be selected, although in some
ships it is customary to hold the SER
vice on the forward part of the gum
deck. In stormy weather the berth
deck below is used, where the men
may be under shelter, though they are
more cramped for room.
Assuming that the service is to be
held on the quarterback, the arrange
ments for it will proceed about like
this: When the bugler gives the
signal the "church ensign" is hoisted
to the gaff and some of the men, un-
der the direction of IN officer, bestir
themselves briskly in making the SIM
pie preparations which are necessary.
A table OF desk covered with the
American flag is placed at the end Of
the quarterback for the chaplain. A
few ward room chairs are brought up
from below and ranged along the star
board side, where the officers are to
assemble, and benches or capstan bars
resting on buckets make seats for the
crew on the port side.
The orgau-for every ship that has
chaplain is provided with al instru-
ment of this nature-is put in q con-
venient place. If there is band, and
its services are desired, few musi-
clans are selected and stationed near
by. Then the ships bell is tolled fer
about FIVE minutes, giving the officers
and men, wherever they may be on
board, sufficient time to assemble, If
they are SO lncllned.
The boatswain may call down the
hatchway, "silence, fore and aft, dur
ing divine SERVICE" but it is we'll
understood by the entire crew that the
ship must be quiet now for about
three quarters of an hour. Finally
the bell stops, the captain, after q
glance around, makes sign to the
chaplain that all is ready and the SER
vice begins.
How it is conducted depends upon
the denomination to which the chap
lain belongs, and various sects are
represented among the naval clergy
men. The singing. accompanied by
the organ, which is played either by
an officer or some musician among the
crew, is generally fine. The men en-
Joy it and their voices ring out strong
and fresh in the open air.
During the prayers they are re-
quirel to removd their caps, but
throughout the rest OF the service
they may remain covered. When it is
over, the order to "Pipe down!" is
given and church is "unrigged. !"
Sometimes an evening service is also
held, but this is not the general GUS
tom.
Attendance at church on the war
ships is, of course, not compulsory, but
the officers are expected to attend by
way of furnishing an example, and
most Of them usually do, accompanied
by perhaps about half the crew-some-
times more aud sometimes less.
In action the chaplain's duties are
with the sick and wounded. Occasion
ally, however, his aid has been re-
quired at the guns, and in many in
stances the chaplains have proved
themselves heroic fighters as we'll as
good preachers. In the old days OF
the navy the chaplain wore the full
Uniform of his rank lieutenant, lieu
tenant commander, OF commander =
but it is now customary for him to
wear suit of black or the regulation
costume of whatever church he rep
resents, sometimes with the insignia
OF his rank upon his sleeve.