El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-09-03
Remember The Chaplain
(BY H. S. H.

When religious organizations begin planning the upft
Of the soldier they usually forget the chaplain entirely
In considering work of evangelizaton they ordinarily pro
though with the basic thought that there is
religious influence eevatlng moral influence IN the
army.
The decision Of the pastors Of Ell Paso that denomna
tonal work in army garrisols camps cantonments
would be unvse almost profess properly made,
all the because every regiment has its chap
lain who doing good TO his men and Tor his men
than outsider could do An exception must be made
Of the 7. NJ C. A. which organized almost within the
army has great number Of young especially trained
for the work. and has, finally large amount of money
available
Some civilian pastors believe the Of army chap
lans rather perfuncto They are too apt to believe
preacher becoming chaplain and officer loses
religious ambition and content to draw his salary
his uniform enjoy his official distinction and do
work than he must remain in the good graces Of his
colonel and the department
That may be true in some instances, for
the world over and less energetic than others
More observation Of army chapains here the Dor
der the past several years, however, inevitably
lead the conclusion that they Just earnest Just
energetic Just deeply religious ministers Of the gospel
their brethren in civil life.
Necessarily they work differently in the army than in
civil life. They associate with young and to enjoy
the confidence Of young must be young themselves
They find It does good continually TO exhO their men
to religion They achieve best results indirectly and often
by service rather than by prayer preaching They
bankers for the soldiers write letters for them, act
postmaser, advise them when advice Is asked help TO
smooth difficulties which soldier may become in
vOved organize entertainments operate motion picture
shows the sick OffCae at weddings and funerals and
lastly, hold church Church services mentioned
last because when chaplain has the respect and
afectiOnae regard of the Of his regiment through
hepfulness days the week. they the ready
to heed his spiritual precepts Sunday and try to live
up to them In the weekdays following
Evangelism in the camps unnecessary. The best that
civilian church organizations do to help the army to
the churches pleasant and homee places for soldiers
who like TO downtown services aid IN recreation
work downtown support the Y. N. C. A. literally as
possible help keep the moral atmosphere Of the towns up
department standard and offer the regmental chap
ains such help they may, from time time require
The question arises whether American soldiers will be
cold diet when they reach the trenches
whether Ike the British and French, they viii be given
the rum ration" before going over the top"
American troops abroad are to be equipped with 100000
pocket Bibles Owing delays in manufacture, there is
present doubt whether they also viii be equipped
with rifles.
Foreign dispatch says he Germans tired of being
killed. That's where P. Villa has them beaten He has
been killed eight ten times with kick to the
papers.
There Is this to be said for Nj Hearst If he runs for
office he his newspapers VIII make things interesting
for the opposition