The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-02-28
written Specially for The Catholic
Bulletin.

Bulletin.
There are, at the present time, six.
teen Catholic Chaplains in the Uni.
ted States Army, and six in the Navy,
making a total of TWENTY-FIVE in both
branches of the service. These
priests have been loaned by their
respective Bishops to the Govern
ment for the purpose of looking after
the moral and spiritual welfare of the
large number of Catholics in the
Army and Navy. Aside from their
Commanding Officers, they are also
under the special care Of the Ameri-
can Archbishops, who in turn entrust
the selection of new candidates, and
the supervision of those already ap-
pointed, to the Rev. Lewis ]. O'Hern,
C. S. p, of the Apostolic Mission
House, Washington, D. G.
Father O'Hern is the successor, in
this work, to the lamented Very Rev.
A. P. Doyle, Rector of the Mission
House, who passed to his eternal re-
ward August 9th, 1912.
1t was on motion proposed by
Most Reverend John Ireland, Arch
bishop of st. Paul, that the American
Catholic Archbishops, at a regular
meeting of that body held in Wash
ington, appointed Father Doyle to be
their representative at the National
Capital in all Chaplain matters.
Archbishop Ireland being well and
favorably known in army circles, per-
sonally introduced Father Doyle to all
the prominent officials of the War De-
partment, and thus facilitated his tax
ing up the work at the beginning.
The appointment was most fortunate
one, for Father Doyle threw himself
into the work with characteristic fer
vor, and in a short time the whole
country was alive to the fact that the
Catholic Church was not properly rep
resented in the Chaplain Corps of
the United States Army and Navy.
President Roosevelt was his close
personal friend, and, realizing the in
justice, offered the Catholic Church
at once, through Father Doyle, six
new Army Chaplaincies. Even with
this increase, there is still shortage
of Chaplains due the Catholic Church,
according to the statistics Of the
Worlds Almanac.
According to it's figures, we are en-
titled to 26 out of the authorized to,
tai of "a Army Chaplains. AS a mat
ter of fact, we have only 16
According to the same authority
the Catholic Church is entitled to 10
Navy Chaplains, out of an authorized
total of "a. At present, she has only
6, leaving a shortage of due her.
Appointment of chapIains.
The life and work Of Catholic
Chaplain is but little understood both
by clergy and laity alike. In fact
it is safe to say that almost nothing
of their duties and obligations are
known to the world at large.
For appointment as a Chaplain, a
priest must first obtain the written
consent and appreciation of his Bish'
op, and then make proper application
to the Government officials, accom-
panied by letter from the represen
tative of the Catholic Archbishops in
Washington, stating that he is an
approved" candidate. Otherwise, un
der the present arrangement, no at
tention is paid his communication.
The Revised Statutes provide that
no person shall be appointed Chap
lain until he shall furnish proof that
he is a regularly ordained minister
of some religious denomination, and
in good standing at the time OF his
appointment. This being sat1sfactor
lily done, he must pass physical
and mental examination,-both being
extremely difficult and must satisfy
the Government that he is sound in
mind and body,-fit to be a commits
stoned officer.
According to the present regula
tions, no person shall be appointed
Chaplain in the Regular Army who
has passed the age limit OF 40 years
On appointment, he shall have the
grade, pay and allowances of first
lieutenant, mounted, or $4,000 a year
until he shall have completed seven
years of service. and thereafter the
pay of a Captain, or $2,4OO year.
Promotion to Rank Of Major.
After ten years service he becomes
eligible for the rank of Major, with
a salary of $4,000 a year, but this
grade is conferred only on those who
have seen distinguished service, and
is limited to fifteen in the whole
Chaplain Corps.
Rev. Timothy P. O'Keefe, q. 8. A.
senior in grade of the Catholic Chap
lains, had this distinguished honor
conferred on him March 22nd, 1912
Father O'Keefe was originally ap
pointed from the District of Columbia
on the recommendation of His Emi
nence, James Cardinal Gibbons Of
Baltimore. He has served in all parts
of the United States and the Philip
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