The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-07
Army and Navy Chaplains.


A woefully neglected branch OF the
navy-and the same observation holds
good in regard to the army-is the corps
of ehaplains. There is more or less of
prejudice against elergymen in the mill
tary-naval establishment.
One view which can be appreciated is
that the religious worker has no place
among those engaged in such desperate
strife as is involved in modern warfare
On the other hand. the chaplain is much
more. if he is good for anything at all,
than a preacher. His duties, II he per-
form them faithfully, are not confined TO
the delivery OF a Sunday sermon and the
conduct OF weekday prayer meeting
II he be a good chaplain, with an under
standing Of his power for influencing en-
listed men. especially. he fnds much TO
do not set down in regulations and not
prescribed in any book OF the church.
The difficulty has been In getting cler-
gymen Of this type. those who are not
glad to get into the military-naval serv-
ice for the sake Of the steady income, the
uniform they may wear. and the title they
may adopt The ideal chaplain is of much
value at an army post and on board a
war ship.
In recent years the seandalous political
influences in the appointment Of chap
lains have been ignored. and the recon-
mendation Of the church authorities has
controlled the selection of chaplains
There has been. too. an examination TO
determine individual fitness; so that the
undesirable ones who formerly sought
the army and navy as refuge find no
opportunity 70 palm themselves off as
chaplains.
If there are TO be ohaplains. the ques-
ton may very well present itself why
there should not be enough in that corps
of both the army and navy TO meet the
situation at garrisons and on shipboard
in a way which is adequate TO the needs
and beneficial In fits result 1t is worth
remarking. in this connection. that dur
ing the recent European cruise of the
midshipmen from the Naval Academy the
three battle ships constituting the practice
squadron possessed only one chaplain.
During most Of the trip. at least, two
vessels were without the services OF a
chaplain. II chaplains are of use. and
there seems TO be no doubt of the use
fulness OF the competent chaplain. they
would assuredly appear TO ind a field
worthy Of their labors on board a ship
the personnel Of which is made I'D of
youths who are under training for ca
reers as commissioned officers OF the
navy. They might very we'll be With
drawn from other vessels or from shore
duty in order TO meet this peculiar con-
dition.
1t is to be appreciated that interest in
chaplains may easily go TO the extreme
Of partiality. such as carrying out the
idea which has been expressed by some
chaplains that their corps be superin-
tended by a chaplain general Of ex-
allied rank and that a chaplain be added
10 such a highly technical body as the
General STAFF of the War Department, or
tothe extreme of folly Of accepting the idea
TO compel all officers and enlisted men To
attend divine service, as has been urged
- some jealous chaplains. There ought
10 be enough chapains to do the useful
work which the conscientious minister or
priest in the corps finds no difficulty in
discerning. And there ought to be the
greatest care in the selection OF the
chaplains of the army and navy.