Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-11-15
OVER THE TOP WITH TROOPS
Besides Ministering to the Spiritual
Needs Of Soldiers, the Chap
Iain's Place is Wherever
His Men Are.
F'rom the Committee on Public Informa-
ton. Washington. d. c.
BY a UNITED STATES ARMY CHAP
LAIN.

a chaplain's duty 10 oversee the dis
positions of his mobile flock, as wei
as their souls, minds, amusements
morals, correspondence, and reading
matter. He must go from the boxin,
ring to the hospital, and from the the
alter to the guard house. He is in jai
oftener than any other man in the
service. But. II his work Is well done
he Is there none too often to suit the
men.
Last January General Pershing sent
a cablegram to the secretary Of war
asking that the number Of chnpiaful
In the army be Increased for the war
to an average Of three per regiment.
His cablsgram reads. In part. ~ fol-
lows: %. IS. / believe the per
sonnet Of the army has never been
equaled. and the conduct has been
excellent. but to overcome entirely the
conditions found here requires forti-
tuds born Of great courage and lofty
spiritual ideas. Coun..ng myself re-
sponsible for the welfare of our men
In every respect. 1t IL my desire to
surround them with the best influence
possible. In the fulfilment Of this SOL
emn trust. II seems wise to request the
aid OF the churches from home. :"
The chaplain IL a commissioned Off
Ger, starting with the rank of first
lieutenant. He is always an ordained
clergyman who has had practical ex-
perience as pastor before entering
the army. The different religious
bodies are represented In the chap
laincles in numbers proportionate to
the number of adherents of the diff
ferent denominations in he country at
large. Each is privileged to conduct |
religious services in the manner pre-
scribed by his own church. But, when |
that has been said, have expressed /
all the denominationalism that there is
in the army. Ia this as in many other
respects the army has set an example
to civil life, for il has learned the
needlessness and waste of many sec
tartan lines in the face of human need.
Chaplain an Information Bureau.
Some people have the idea that all
n chaplain has to do is conduct re-
Iigious services. At other times they
think of him as enjoying a life of com
plete relaxation. The utter mistaken
ness of this notion becomes evident
ifter the briefest survey of the tasks
assigned to a chaplain.
For one thing, he is the information
bureau for his regiment. Ii a soldier ,
wants TO know a street address, tele-
,hone number. or train schedule, he {
,oes to the chaplains office. If he /
wants right information on current l
opics he calls on the chaplain and |
SKIS him If he has any late magazines I
II newspapers dealing with the ques-
ion. On some of the battleships the
avail chaplains put out periodicals for
he men. Some OF these magazines are !,
eaily excellent productions. r
Then, there is the whole problem of c
ducatlon. II there are men In the 4
sgiment lacking In necessary educa- n
on the chaplain IL expected to or. J
lhise classes In the common branches, q
, that they may improve themselves y
log thoes ltneA mako themselves - :.
ors ueefA 70 their cuuatry. and >,
1gAtsa thstr owu futusA IT, ohAp- /.
~ frslusatiy givss Lectures b - m
v1tS - dlee1pains and ~ rslae1sn r.
0oraA eiAnl1ness - health ga -. ~
sosy. He ks>Us . rvcord e al tAs d
n - 49, eozss Into ths servica, -. r
ading tAsfP RAMA homu addrsoa. o
At a KIN sdueAtton. and othsr
,mA
The ehaplsin's day includes plenty :.
humorous Incidents. A fellow chap d,
%. now on duty at one Of the base ac
spitals, tells an amusing story Of jai
king to an italian who had been re- we
1tly injured. The man listened at do
'tively. his great brown eyes nxed Su
the chaplain's face. The padre did bel
knew that the injured man was an 20
liam and spoke little English, uo
ugh soldier In the United States 10,
ny. After suggesting little prayer Ella
chaplain added carelessly: sec
1t makes no great difference be- a
zen us, but what is your doo
sd7" SAX
Religion in HE Foot go 49,
he Injured man still looked ear Dial
tly upward, and the chaplain re- wh
ted his question. The soldier TO
ght only the questioning information
flashed brilliant smile.
Oh. eet ees In my foot!" he said. -
IN explanatory tone, and immedi- jail
y pulled back the covers OF the ind
displaying much bandaged limb. One
he chaplain must be good mixer tary
! Is especially necessary because mort
8 much concerned with the recrea- ~.
al life OF the men. He must be ca
9 OF participating actively In man.
'orts and of organizing such games ~.
'ill appeal to the tastes OF all the ana