Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-07-14


send their boys into the ministry feel
ing that these boys will be reasonably
safe in case of another call TO arms.
But those that have seen the church
functioning on the firing lines conf
IDENTIFY predict that the theological
schools will face NO recruitment prob
lem for q totally different reason
the Chapiains win have shown that
the ministry 10 still Q mans job. 1t
IL no uncommon experience for men
under arms to say that their thoughts
have been turned already to the min
istry because Of the degree of devo-
tia they have witnessed by their
sides.
The story Of the tender impulse of
the Rabbi-Chablain who raised a
Crucidx to the lips Of q dying Cath
clio soldier has been told many times
and has caused hearts to beat little
faster. There In another story, not
quite so familiar, but even more stir
ring. It concerns Chaplain who saw
wounded man In No Mans Land.
Against the advice Of officers near
him. the Chaplain went to save the
man. He crawled on his stomach,
but was seen by Q sniper and, as he
bore the man to his own lines, was
shot dead. The man was brought In.
He was quite conscious.
who brought me here?" Was it
Chaplain" he asked.
Yes he was told. land the Chap
lain was shot"
II know it, said the soldier. "Tell
me what his church was. That's the
church for me-"
Applications Numerous
Thoughtful men in the ministry
sensed the possibilities of the Chap
laincy- and flooded the War Depart
ment with applications for commits
sions. The eagerness Of ministers to
enter the service proved an embar-
rassment to the War Department,
which, in It's tables Of organization,
contemplated no corps OF Chaplains
and therefore had no organization for
studying the qualifications of the APP
plicants. The work Of choosing the
Chaplains was entrusted to q commits
sion representing all the churches,
and this commission, recognizing
the possibilities of the Chaplain's Of
fee, determined to recommend only
the very best OF the candidates. 1t
was realized that the men who were
to serve with the troops must have
soldierly qualities Of loyalty, deter
mination and bravery. It was recog-
nixed. too, that II they we're to prove
effective they must be men Of ability.
But the great prerequisite was a faith
in their own preaching. Theirs was
to be NO occasional touch. They were
to be brought into intimate contact
with the men under arms. They must
literally share their lives with those
men. It is an axiom that the way to
know q man 10 to live with him; and
among the soldiers 1T Is an axiom that
q fraud can be detected In q moment.
The Judgment of the soldiers is un-
erring in the matter of mans sim
cerity. If he breaches a mere for
mula, the men know 1t. If he does
not believe what he breaches, he can
not make the men believe it. If he is
absolutely sincere. the men recognize
his sincerity and honor him for it.
The Chaplain's position in q regi-
ment or with any unit of soldiers is
what he makes It. He Is commits
stoned in O certain grade; but his
rank is relative-that is, he Is with
out command: and in this he differs
from any other ofHcer except the dem
tist-and the dentist has weapon Of
command. There are few prescribed
duties for the Chaplain; and many of
these are gradually being assumed by
other officers as the army is being
specialized. But there is no reason
why a Chaplain should not be busy
every moment of the day, and be busy
in work of service.
He meets the men as recruits, in
structs them in their relations towards
the system of discipline. He visits |
the sick. He keeps open the lines Of
communication that lead to the home.
He counsels with the prisoners and
frequently acts as counsel for them
in courts-martial. He does all this in
addition to the pastoral work OF
very large parish, for he must view
his regiment az a parish: and this
inclades preaching not twice week,
but sometimes twice day. He must
have q lively faith and lively way OF
expressing his faith. The demands
upon his energies are tremendous.
VirIIe Faith Demanded
And all this work must be done
with the understanding that the men
under his care are preparing for .
situation in which they may be called
upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.
In the words Of DR.. McComb. it is the
duty Of the Chaplain to preach to his