Evening star., 1899-04-01
RUTH KIMBALL GARDINER.
RIGGING CHURCH.
divine Service as Conducted on
United States Warships.
From the phfIadaInbya Tgnas

Divine Service as Conducted on
United States Warships.
From the Philadelphia Times
When there is seen flying from the gaff
OF United States man-of-war a small.
white triangular pennant bearing on its
field blue Greek cross near the pike or
halyard it is a 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, ac-
cording to the construction of the vessel and
according to the weather conditions II the
day Is fine and not too cold the quarterback
will probably be selected, although in some
ships it is customary to hold the service on
the forward part of the gundeck. In stormy
weather the berthdeck 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 arrangements for II
will proceed about like this: When the
bugler gives the signal the church ensign"
is hoisted to the gaff and some of the men,
under the direction of an officer, bestir them
selves briskly in making the simple prepa-
rationS which are necessary.
A table or desk covered with the American
flag is placed at the end of the quarterback
fer the chaplain. A few ward room chairs
are brought up from below and ranged
along the Starboard 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 organ-for every ship that has chap
lain is provided with an instrument of this
nature-is put in a convenient place. If
there is a band, and its services are desired,
a few musicians are selected and stationed
near by. Then the ships bell is toled for
about five minutes giving the officers and
men, wherever they may be on board suffi-
cient time to assemble, If they are so IN
clined.
The boatswain may call down the hatch
way, Silence, fore and aft during divine
servicer' but it is well understood by the
entire crew that the ship must be quiet now
for about three-uuarters of an hour. Finally
the bell stops, the captain, after a glance
around, makes a sign to the chaplain that
all is ready and the service begins.
How it is conducted depends upon the de-
nomination to which the chaplain belongs,
and various sects are represented among the
naval clergymen. The singing. accompanied
by the organ, which is played either by an
officer or some musician among the crew. is
generally fine. The men enjoy 1t, and their
voices ring out strong and fresh in the open
air.
During the prayers they are required to
remove 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." Some
times an evening service is also held, but
this is not the general custom.
Attendance at church on the warships 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-sometmeS more and sometimes less
But by no means all the ships of the navy
are provided with chaplains. For the sixty
or more war vessels now effective for serv-
ice there are fewer than thirty chaplains,
or less than one for every two ships. They
are attached to the largest and most i'm
portant vessels, where their ministrations
may reach the greatest number of persons.
A queer incident happened a few years ago
when one of the modern cruisers was put
into commission. 1t had been intended that
1t should carry chaplain, but when the
officers quarters were completed Ii was
found that his room had been entirely over
looked. No accommodation for him thus
being available, the ship put to sea without
chaplain. and did not have one for at
least two years.
In action the chaplain's duties are with
the sick and wounded. Occasionally. how
ever, his aid has been required at the guns
and in many instances the chaplains have
proved themselves heroic fighters as well as
good preachers. In the old days of the navy
the chaplain wore the full uniform OF his
rank-lieutenant, lieutenant commander, or
commander-but 1t is now customary for
him to wear q suit of black or the regula-
ton costume of whatever church he repre-
sents, sometimes with the insignia or his
rank upon his sleeve.