Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
SOLDIER PREACHERS
Proposition to Give Some
Rank Of Major.
THEIR QUEER DUTIES
MANY UNDER FIRE IN OUR RE-
CENT WARS.
Have Proved Their Courage in Time Of
Danger-Stories Of Self
Sacrifice.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star
Our f1fty-six army chaplains are the only
commissioned officers in the military or
naval establishment to whom no promotion
can be given for heroic conduct or unusual
devotion to duty.
The military committees of Congress now
propose to promote fifteen Of these soldier
preachers to the rank of major and the
remainder to that of captain, mounted"
TO compensate for this increased pay 1t is
further proposed by the House committee
to admit all new chaplains only to the rank
or nrst lieutenant. mounted All chaplain
majors must have served ten years as chap
la1n-capta1ns and the latter seven years as
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
All army chaplains-the youngest and the
oidest-now have the rank of captain, I'M
mounted young dominic who has Just
taken orders receives his commission know
ing that after he has grown old in the
service he will have no higher rank, no
matter what courage or self-sacrifice he
may show. His entrance salary is 81 800 a
year, and to this is added 10 per cent
increase every five years of service up to
twenty. Thus he may look for 81, $50 but
no more, whereas his brother divine in civil
life may have dreams Of $4,000 or $4,000
call some day; of bishopric If he be Epis-
copalian or Methodist; of perhaps an arch
blshopric or cardinalate, If Roman Cath
Ole
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Fourteen of our army chaplains are
Methodists, twelve Roman Catholics, eleven
Episcopalians, eight Presbyterians, four
Baptists, two Congregat ionalists, two Luth-
Grams, one Unitarian, one Dutch Reformed
and one Christian" Four are colored
brothers-all Methodists but one. Baptist.
One chaplain is assigned to each regiment
of infantry and cavalry and its equivalent
in the artillery.
In the War Department is kept register
where applicants for chaplaincies place
their names When vacancies occur the
President selects those who may be ex-
amined. To be eligible each must prove
that he is under forty years of age a citf-
zen of the United States, q regularly or
dained minister in good standing with some
established denomination. He must submit
to severe physical examination; must APP
pear absolutely nude before board Of off,
GERS. He is examined also in English gram
mar. composition. writing, spelling, ele-
mentary arithmetic, geography, history
physiology, hygiene, international and con-
st1tutional law. The extent Of his educa-
ton, his pastoral work rs a clergyman and
his experience as teacher If he have any
figure In his general average. If he passes
he Is commissioned by Gtfe President and
his name is sent to the Senate for con-
hrmation. Passing this last step he is
sworn In as regular officer Of the army
who, must be saluted bydall of his Interiors
At the age of sixty-four he is retired for
life on three-fourths of his salary.
Title-and Uniform.
He Is addressed always as chaplain"
never as captain" Hills dress" uniform,
In which he Is ordinarily seen, is like that
of other army SofficeRs,eSsave that the
shoulder straps are adorned with plain
Latin cross instead of any insignia of mill
tary rank. and that thea stripe on eachi
outer seam of his trousers is of black braid
His full dress" uniform, more clerical than
military, Is plain black frock coat with a
single row of black buttons, black trousers
with the braid aforementioned. With these
best clothes he wears no shoulder straps
or other emblems of rank. He is entitled
also to wear the khaki and white duck
uniforms prescribed for other staff officers.
Upon these appears his regimental or corps
device. supplemented with a pendant cross.
With his dress and full dress clothes he
dOns black felt military hat of the Grand
Army style. with black and gold cord tied
about 1t. With his khaki white uniform
he wears the usual service cap, and looks
the part of soldier from head to foot, save
for his lack of arms, conspicuous in all of
his modes of dress.
No arms of any character can be borne
by army chaplains of any country subscrib-
ing to the Geneva treaty, while at war with
a civilized foe. Under that convention the
chaplain's uniform designates him as
non-combatant, and If found armed within
the enemy's lines he can be hanged as a
spy.
Varied Duties.
Preacher, lawyer, teacher, Sunday school
superintendent, post treasurer, superiptend-
ent of bakery, morgue superintendent and
register of births, deaths and marriages.
These are some of the roles assigned to
the army chaplain. 1t is prescribed that
he shall hold religious services each Sun
day; shall perform burial services over the
dead of his command; shall give instruction
In the common English branches of educa-
ton to the enlisted men of his regiment;
shall visit the sick in the hospitals and the
prisoners in the guardhouse.
His religious duties are not denomina-
tional. Early in the last century attend
ance al the Sabbath service was compul-
sorry. This requirement was abolished years
ago in the army proper although at West
Point a cadet is still compelled to attend
church-either Catholic or Protestant-as a
military duty. or sign certificate formally
setting forth that he Is not a Christian
Before the civil war, but after the compul-
sorry attendance regulation became dead
letter, commanding officers at certain forts
compelled all non-church-g to spend an
hour or more each Sunday in listening to
the army regulations and articles of war.
1t is told of the great English commander
Admiral Gordon. that he inflicted the or
deal of "toeing. the plank upon all sailors
who refused to attend divine service
The army chaplains Sunday school work
is optional, but his function as superin-
tendent of the post schools is prescribed.
and dates back to 1888, when Congress Gre
ated the Office of post chaplain and school
master" The first appotntees were neither
enlisted nor commissioned. They are often
referred to as contract chapIains'' 1t
was not until 1867 tfConRress made all
chaplains commissioned officers and gave
them their present rank. Previously they
drew various Salaries their pay being
raised to 500 month, with rations. prior
to their beng commissioned.
As Defendants Counsel.
At courts martial it usually falls to the
army chaplain to serveFas counsel for the
accused. In the old days he was available
as a member of such a. tribunal. and one
tells me that he has In his time been de-
tailed as Judge advocate, or prosecutor, a
task which he felt to be- utterly at variance
with his every function as a minister to the
suffering.
1t is the rule for chaplain to be appoint
ed treasurer of his post position which
involves the charge Of the post bakery. He
also enters in a book which forms a part
of the post records all marriages, baptisms
and funerals at which he off1ciates. When
he visits the sick in the hospitals and the
prisoners in the guardhouse he brings them
reading matter, cheers them with comfort