The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-01-14
ARMY CHAPLAINS.

ARMY CHAPLAINS.
In this issue we publish letter
from an Army Chaplain which de-
serves serious consideration. The re-
liability of it's statements is beyond
question: the writer has given many
years service as an Army Chaplain and
speaks with authority born of expert
ence in regard to the matters therein
touched upon. His words carry
weight and should be taken into con-
sideration by all who have at heart
the welfare of Americas Catholic Sol
diers and Sailors.
We are not unaware of the fact that
a Catholic Chaplain in the American
Army has unusual opportunities to do
good The soldiers are not obliged by
law to attend religious service, as
English soldiers are, and hence, I'M
less the Chaplain shows a personal
interest in each member of his flock.
there is danger that the number Of
those who stay away from the fold will
be not inconsiderable. The agencies
that strive to allure the Catholic soldier
from the Church are ever at work;
and unless opportunities of attending
Mass and living in Catholic atmos-
phere be placed within reach, he usual
ly follows the line of least resistance
and becomes Indifferent to the claims
of the Church to which he belongs.
During the past decade of years,
Regimental Chaplains have, as a gen.
eral rule, taken the place of Post
Chaplains, that is, the Chaplain has
been attached to particular regi-
ment and moved from place to place
with it, according as the agencies of
the service required it's transfer from
one post to another. Consequently,
when the Regimental Chaplain is a
Protestant, the Catholic soldiers at the
post where the regiment is stationed
are deprived of an opportunity to full
fill their religious duties unless a
priest of the diocese in which the post
is located is deputed by the Bishop to
look after their spiritual need, or I'M
less they attend Catholic Church in
parish or city contiguous to the
barracks. In many cases this involves
hardships and inconvenience which, be
it said in all praise, some of the Cath
Ollie soldiers gladly undergo Sunday
after Sunday.
The regiments stationed at Fort
Smelling, near st. Paul, have not had
Catholic Chaplains appointed by the
War Department since the abolition
of Post Chaplaincies. But they have
not been neglected on that account,
Archbishop Ireland has detailed one
of his priests to minister to their
spiritual needs and to do for the sol
diers, as far as circumstances permit
what a regularly-appointed Chaplain
would DO. At the present time, the
Rev. James G. Donahue, City Mission
airy of st. Paul, has charge of Fort
Smelling. Sunday after Sunday he
journeys thither, celebrates Mass
breaches, teaches catechism, goes
among the soldiers exhorting, reprov'
ing, striving in every way to help
them overcome the temptations which
too often beset them. The authorities
at Fort Smelling have commended his
zeal and have afforded him every as.
sistance in his work.
1t is true that the Protestant agen.
cies referred to in the letter of an
Army Chaplain are at work among
the soldiers at Fort Smelling as else
where; but the vigilance of Father
Donahue makes their work less harm
full in it's influence on Catholics. But
however jealous a priest thus commits
stoned to look after the spiritual wei
fare of the Catholic soldiers in 9
neighboring post may be, he needs
helpers to obtain the best results. II
our Catholic people would only show
a fraction of the interest displayed by
non-C Catholics in the American soldier
they could do untold good for the cause
of religion. The soldiers need books
and literature; they need more rein
ing influences brought into the atmos
phere they breath; they need, above
all else, the sympathy and encourage
ment which flow from a comprehen
sion of the difficulties and dangers
that too often strive to allure then
from the path of rectitude. No more
worthy work could be taken up By
philanthropic Catholic laymen thar
that of lettering the conditions O.
those who serve the country in time
of need. Would it not be mos
worthy object for some good Catholi,
organization to take up? The one tina
suggests itself, because of it's capabil
ity Of accomplishing the best result!
in this regard is the Knights of Co
lumbus. Here is fruitful field TO,
Catholic social endeavor.