Evening star., 1918-08-11

s. M IS @ ,XQ
HAVE A WIDE r ANGE OF ocCUPA'
months service with the American
expeditionary forces, brings several
facts to light upon the subject of
modern military chaplaincy. Chap
lain Doherty is a Regular Army chap
a member Of the general headquarters
chaplains' staff. which has direction
OF the assignment and work OF all
the chaplains with the American
Army abroad. Chaplain Rollins Is
chaplain of the 1O1st Infantry and
to win the croix de guerre.
Il
The duties Of q military chaplain.
while mainly religious-and this in
life than the routine of an average
minister's work would ever dream of.
according to Chaplains Doherty and
Rollins.
The moving pictures and other en-
tertainments are frequently under the
management of the chaplain. Where
that Is not the case he can exercise
a voluntary or actual censorship
regarded as a contribution to the
morals of the troops. An unclean,
show will so get into the thought of
many men that 1t is impossible for
the officers to get normal results out
of their training during the follow
ing week or two.
The motion-picture machine and
often owned nv the chan.
lain, churches or friends having given
them to him for regimental use. II a
library is not otherwise provided, the
chaplain is now officially In charge
one. He Is at home with books and
magazines, and knows how to get the
chaplain is now officially in charage
of the library of every ship. He
handles the money for the purchase
of books and papers. The chaplains
on some of the battleships print mag
azines which contain several attrac-
tive articles of general value. as well
as items of interest to the ships COM
pany.
Persons who insist that chaplains
should confine themselves exclusively
to religious work would unintention-
ally destroy the influence Of these
men. 1t Is not unusual for the chap
lain abroad to have a special building
or a tent in which his religious or So
cial work is housed. The same audi
torium serves as meeting-house and
a moving-p picture hall; the same plat
form as a pulpit and a minstrel stage;
the same office as information head
quarters and confidential counsel
room. One of the chaplains in the
service of the American Army has
erected five such buildings at place
convenient to his scattered groups OF
men.
lures on social hygiene. and when he
becomes acquainted with Army life.
lectures on discipline, giving talks to
new men, with suggestions as to now
they may best At into the service. The
statistical record Of the regiment Is
lain, thus being afforded an oppor..
tunity for unusual helpfulness gained
from intimate knowledge of individ-
uals.
The American Army overseas In
cludes many men who do not speak
the English language, many who are
illiterate, and many who have no
knowledge of the common branches.
Often it devolves upon the regimental
minister to teach the foreigners, serv-
ing as soldiers under the Stars and
Stripes. at least a working knowledge
of our tongue. They teach the hit
crate to read and write. and instruct
in the simpler grade those who have
not enjoyed schooling.
One man now In the chaplaincy OF
the American expeditionary forces
starred for his college In base ball
and track. He has been put In charge
Of the athletic and recreational life
Of the troops. This has been done
( in several other cases. One chaplain
not long before enterting his present
work, had flattering offer to &c
with one of the major leagues as a
pitcher. In some cases they oversee
the boxing bouts and keep the art
manly. Military service In French
camps is no place for a minister from
a non -combatant denomination back
home in the states. because boxing is
encouraged for Its value In increas-
ing bayonet skill.
We might say that chaplain's
work in Army or Navy Mt this time
is measured largely by Its social ex-
preston. The government and the
military consider the chaplain valu.