Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-02-26
UNCLE SA N. ESQUIRE
chaplains in Congress.

known as Kansas and left the question
Of slavery to the citizens of these sec
lions. This measure naturally re-
pealed the Missouri compromise act
and the nation was stirred as 1t had
not ben in previous decade. During
| the time the bin was pending the min
listers of the north petitioned and
memorialized congress asking It to
stand firm against the repeal OF the
compromise. About this time there
alsa> was strong agitation in religious
circles against the running of mail
trains on Sunday and this too was the
cause Of a petition to congress signed
largely by ministers. The two things
led to an assault on the clergy it be-
/ ing aimed to direct the rcbuke at the
profession thru the removal of the
chaplains Of the house and the senate,
those serving with the army and those
stationed with the various Indian
agencies, in fact all the spiritual ad-
visers in the employment of the, gov
eminent. Many eminent men aroused
by what they deemed unwarranted in
reference on the part of-the clergy
lent themselves to the attack. mas
much as the contention of the agita-
tors was based on two clauses of the
constitution one, that no religious.
test shall ever be required as Qualifica-
ton to any office of public trust I'M
der theI United States" and the other,
that congress should make no law re-
specting the establishment of religion,
the matter was referred to the house
Judiciary committee and this body In
scathing denuncia ton of the enemies
of the clergy adversely reported
against efforts to GUST it's chaplain.
The senate followed the house commit
tees lead. Since that time there have
been no determined efforts to under
mine the chaplains in congress, and in
fact they have become as much q part
of both houses as any other officer.
Their tenure generally is more secure
than that of others for the very SIM
pie reason that they are often selected
despite their political affiliations and
many times continue thru under diff
ferent administrations.
This is particularly true of the Rev.
Henry Noble Coyden, the present blind
chaplain of the house, and of the Rev.
Forrest J. Prettyman, chaplain of the
senate. Both men have served under
republican and democratic administers
tons and their continued tenure is
tribute to the men personally.
The Rev. Mr.. Couden, we'll. past three
score land ten, has served the lower
house since 1895. When boy he en-
listed and served in the civil war
where he was blinded in battle. He
later studied at the Ohio school for the
blind and graduated from the divinity
school of ST. Lawrence University.
The Rev. Forrest j. Prettyman first
served the senate as :chaplain' at in
frequent intervals during the tenure of
the Rev. w. H. Milburn. DR.. Milburn
served seven terms in the house before
going to the senate. During the Sec
ond Mckinley administration the Rev.
Mr.. Prettyman was regularly selected
for the place and served the full term.
When the democrats came into power
under the Wilson administration Rev.
Mr.. Prettyman was again chosen for
the place.
( The Rev. Mr.. Prettyman is grad
uate Of Emerson institute in Was hing.
ing. st. JOINTS College. Annapolis, Nd,
and holds a post graduate degree from
Washington ana Lee University. HeSis
70 Methodist wlfAe the aRev. Mr.. Cou-.
den is Universalist. Is