Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-21
OUR NAVAL CHAPLAINs.
rev. Dr.. strobriage Denesnces tn
uRfatr Treatment They Receive.

WV ~ ssFoprsagc DenoUmCes the
uHsstr Treatment They Receive.
At the recent New York Methodist
preachers meeting the Rev. @. II.
Ssrobridge. ID. D.. OF Stamford, Conn.
read strong paper on the unfair treat
ment accorded to chaplains In the
United States navy and criticised se-
verely the abuses to which they are
subjected.
The pay OF a chaplain is $4,000. with
*l09 ration money. This is his salary,
however, only when he is at sea. When
detailed for shore duty, bis support is
reduced to $1,000, and waiting or
ders' is $1,000.
When he is on shore duty, he Is
obliged to rent and furnish q house or
apartments ut high rates in some CITY.
so as to be near to his place OF duty,
and all our naval stations are at places
where the living is costly. But the
other officers who sit beside him at the
table on shipboard, when they are de-
tailed for shore duty, have sumptuous
houses of ten and twelve rooms lavish
ly furnished provided fer them in the
navy yard at the expense Of the gov
eminent. Not only in their support,
but also in their dress. the chaplains
are oppressed by an odious distinction.
Three years ago a board was ap-
pointed to devise uniform for the
chaplalns- This board consisted of two
distinguished line officers and three
chaplams. One OF these chaplains
was the only one of the twenty-four
in the navy who opposed the use of a
uniform. He brought in a minority re-
port to that effect. The majority re-
port advised the adoption Of fair and
reasonable uniform. The secretary of
the navy accepted the majority report,
and yet he was apparently so infiuenc-
ed by the minority report that he mod
lied the recommendations of the ma
jority report to such a degree as to rem
der them largely nugatory.
AS result of this action of the sec
rotary the chaplains were given a sat
isfactory service uniform, but on dress
occasions they are compelled to wear
single breasted, long tailed, shad bellied
frock coat.
On account of this grotesque garb the
chaplain is ignored at all official or
dress functions among the officers
whether at home or abroad.
Because this uniform of the chaplains
is so essentially, indeed so absurdIy.
different from that worn by the other
officers one Of our most highly esteem
ed chaplains was ordered below decks
by his admiral at the opening OF the
German canal at Kiel when Emperor
William was passing and reviewing
the ships assembled there. This dis
graceful incident became known
throughout the service. II Is true that
the navy department reproved the ad-
miral. but that could not undo the
wrong inflicted upon the chaplain.
When the great land parade was given
In New York IN honor of Admiral Dew
ey and the nation was thus expressing
Its Joy in the return OF the brave war
rior and it's gratitude TO God on account
Of the victorious war, not a single chap
lain had part in the parade either as
participant marching on foot or as a
member OF the naval service riding in
carriage. and why? Simply because
the uniform was not presentable.
Congress should Immediately increase
the number OF chaplains. The present
figure. twenty-four, thought to be
enough when our naval force was 5000
men, is not sufficient with the navy
now grown to $4,000. The result OF
this lack is that at present there are
several OF our larger ships at sen with
out chaplains, although one OF our lead
Ing admirals says this never should be
so, and some of our shore stations are
also without any.
a crying demand today is that a bu-
reau for the chaplains be organized
within the navy department. Every
other corps is thus provided for. The
chapiains have never had an Official
head from their own number, as is the
case with ali the other departments.
For instance. at the head of the sur
geons Is surgeon. at the head OF the
paymasters is paymaster, at the head
of the naval constructors is a naval
constructor, but over the chaplains is
placed not chaplain, but an admiral
OF the line, perfect gentleman, OF
course, and competent disciplina-ian,
but Of necessity out OF touch with the
chaplains In the tastes and feelings pc
culiar to their profession.