The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-03-12
CHAPLAIN SMITH
GOES TO KANSAS
Former Windham County
Man Transferred to Dis
culinary Barracks
ONCE PASTOR OF
HALIFAX CHURCH
Also represented That Town in Legis-
lature-Eas Had Wide Experience,
Including Service in Philippine
Goes from Camp Wheeler.

Chaplain Samuel J. Smith, who has
,he rank of major, formerly pastor Of
the Baptist church in Halifax and rep
rcsentatiyc from Halifax in the legis
laturc Just prior to entering the army,
has gone from tine sth field artillery
at Camp Wheeler, Macon, Ga, to the
,h1plaincy OF the United States dis
cipliuary barracks III Fort Lcavcn-
worth, Kan. An article in Stray Shots,
q monthly publication at the barracks,
entitled The Prisoners New Friend
and written by Ralph +. Rudesil. one
of the editars, reads as follows:
"smcr our last issue of Stray
shots there has come into our midst
ar officer, VINO, because Of his practi
cal sympathy and ideas Of reformation
Together with an earnest interest in us
who are confined here, has become en-
dearcd TO the hearts OF the men. This
aliieer-Naier Samuel j. Smith. chap
laiu sth tcld artillery, arrived here the
early part of December ~ assume the
duties Of chaplain Of the disciplinary
barracks
Major Smith cutreed the service
some seventeen wears ago As chaplain
and duriug his entire service has been
one of the most poplar chaplains in the
army. Wherever he has served We
! hear Of the wonderful good he has ac-
/ complishcd among men. Three tours
of the Philippines has given 70 him the
ability To encourage men who are fac
/ ing seemingly uncomfortable hardship9
a qualification which especially fits him
for the Zig work he has TO do here,
To Chaplain Smith the detail TO work
her" was "a bitter sacrifice, like every
ie,har blue hlooded NAN he longed to
4 serve with the troops who are now fac.
ing the nation : crisis over there.
Bat the chaplain was not man who
would cry over such appointments
Kh4t with Isespilc on .hisa,n" fH'taeA ee
his new duties with zeal that was as
toniShing. In sgch q short time as h,
has been here. ordinarily chaplain
would hardly be acquainted with tn,
men in such an institution Is this, bu
| somehow Major Smith has already VOL
| the confidence OF every man in In
| barracks with the result that althoug
| mcfcly prisoners, every man is hi
| friend.
| "Chapiair smith 5 ability as a speak
| 'r is rarely duplicated by army chap
lains. From the time he starts hi
service until the benediction IS sale
he attention of every man is he'll,
| Jews, Catholics and Protestants alih,
i lie Is also noted lecturer having d,
= livercd addresses of great importanc
in almost every part OF the couutr!
He is the national chaplain of the Vel
. Grams of the Foreign Wars, havin
: been reelected for the twelfth time {
: this Office OF honor.
During his stay at Camp Robin
. son, Sparta, Wisconsin, Major Smit
. built a large amphitheater with a sea
: ing capacity Of about two thousand, q
> outdoor moving picture place and
. library for the men of his regime
: without one cent from which TO pu
= chase the material Nevertheless
I. duplicated this same feat at Can
i. Wheeler, Macon, Georgia, with abs
: lutely 40 funds whatsoever.
. The following article, clipped fro
. The Macon (GaJ News, will tell us
: little further Of Major Smith S po
: ularity among men. The review Civ,
= in his honor is the first time in the hi
. tory of the army that this mark OF /
spcet has been given to q chaplain:
: - Major Samuel J. Smith, W.
: known in army circles and nation
: chaplain ef the veterans of forei!
. wars, was the guest of honor at pas
= ing review of the FIRST battalion OF /
= regiment the Eighth field artillel
/. Friday morning ~ Camp Wheeler.
. 'Thc review was mark Of !
: 5peet for Major Smith by the men
: the battalion before his departure f