New-York tribune., 1901-03-18
ARMY CHAPLA1NS.
FIVE HUNDRED CANDIDATES FOR TWEEN
TY-THREE PLACES-ASSIGNMEN
To REGIMENTS.
To REGIMENTS.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSE-l ]

(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUSEl
Washington. March 1.-THE spiritual welfare of
the army is Just now giving the authorities much
concern. Statesmen particularly sohcitous about
the matter, for the Army Reorganization bill pro-
vided for twenty-three additional chaPlains. with
mounted captains pay and emoluments. and no less
than five hundred superannuated or otherwise un-
appreciated preachers are after the pleasing life
tenures a mixed military and religious career is
supposed to offer. Fortunately the army already
has thirty-four chaplains. and urtil recruiting pro-
ceeds more rapidly and the ranks OF the new regi-
ments begin to fill up there is great hurry about
making the selections The President for this
con may not make the appointments until the lat
ter part of the present week. and in the mean time
he is not lacking in cOpious advice on the merits
and persuasive powers of the candidates Hereto
fore the post chaplains have numbered thirty and
the regimental chaplains four the latter being
groes attached to the four colOred regiments. the
9th and 10th Cavalry and the 24th and 25th Infantry
The 10th Cavalry is at Manzano. Cuba, it's chap
lain being William T. Anderson: the other three
regiments at Manila. George Prioeau being the
chaplain OF the 9Th Cavalry and Theophilus c. Stew
ard being with the 18th Infantry. The chaplain of
the 24th Infantry. Allen Allensworth is at Fort Nc
Dowell California. where there is only artillery
detachment but he will go to the Philippines
or on the retired list. The army law abol-
ished the antiquated system post chaplains. and
provided that each regiment of infantry and cavalry
should have it's chaplain and that the artillery
corps should have twelve chaplans. distributed so
far possible among it's 156 batteries The engi-
neer and signal corps and other the service
were ignored. either because they were superior TO
the necessities of chaplains clearly beyond
redemption In general orders issued by Adjutant-
General Corbin. who is directly in charge of this
branch of the military establishment. the thirty
post chaplains have been assigned to regiments as
follows:
George Robinson. to the 1st Infantry at Manila:
John B. McCleery 10 the 18th Infantry Van
e souyer Barracks; 0rvile ]. Nave, to the Sd In
lery Corps Joseph A. Potter. to the 4th Infantry at
Manila Manila Brant G Hammond. to the 9TH Infantry at
Mia; Charles c. Pierce. the 11th Cavalry at Fort
Infantry Fort sReran aoI Ge6bas 59 te Be an
man, to the 2Sth Infantry at Vancouver Barracks:
Charles W Freeand. to the 9Th CaVary at at Manila
james W. HilIman' 10 the 18th Infantry az az Mania
Ruter w Springer, 10 the 4th Cavalry AT Manila;
R. Groves to the 1ith infantry a: Mana; samuel
n EEL 10 the 7th Cavary at Havana Charles s.
a to to 5 The 2S Infantry at Man Msq oa Bernard
h:aska: Halsey Gavitt to the 18th Infantry at
Maria; Joseph H. Sutherland. . the 18th Infantry
J2np A. Randoiph. tc the 6th Infantry at Manila
Rowland 5. :7Irhols. to the 9Th Cavalry at Fort
Myezi Virgin 2: Edmund =. Easterhrcok TO the
18th Infantry Manila. Ctiver e. Miller &c the
Artillery Corps.
This arrangement leaves seven vacancies 10 MI
IN the artillery arm eleven In the infa1sy and nine
IN the cavalry No man over forty years old will
potnteeS Will be sent 10 rhe philippines CEe Vart-
religious denominations actively pressing
claims for recognition. and contest is being
made CacGuai Gibbons came TO Washington
Gently 70 present the candidacy OF several Catholic
priests He saw the President and told Of the
qualifications Of eacn aspirant- Chaplain appoint
Tnents no. subject to examination, or perhaps
there would not be much of a rush for them.
II IS personal and political influence that generally
tells. Among the applicants are twenty colored
cleTgymen. OF whom is now messenger at
the War Department
The majority Of these aspirants Baptsts, al
though the War Department in designating chap
lains has heretofore proceeded on any theory
OF maintaining percentages Of denominations. and
makes appointments rule regardless OF the de-
nomination OF the applicant Practically all the
denominations represented among the chap
lains of the army and ravy. though the proportion
OF Roman Catholics has always been small In
making selections for the places IL is thought
that the President viii endeavor 10 divide the list
far as practicable among the leading religious
denominations. OF those now in the army there
are four CatholicS-F. ]. VatJmann one OF the old
est on the active list and now in the Philippines;
= J. Hart, F.. ~. Fitzgerald and W. D. Mckinnon.
OF resbyteranS there six, Christian one. Ep1s-
copal four MethOdst EpiscOpa! eleven Baptist two;
Protestant Episcopal six. Congregational one and
Lutheran one. Among the new appointments may
be coOred men. as it IS intended 20 raise two
OreQT regiments