South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-13

cross. hanging before the altar. the
ships bano rendering the music. the
ships quartet leading the singing.
and every bit Of space crowded with
men. In addition 20 church mem
bers. there are many men who 90
70 church at sea who never cross d
church's threshold at home. because
II IS something different" because
il IS a change. In this lies an op-
portunity.
And again comes the opening 70
bring men 20 a recognition Of
Christ's claims upon them. in the
knock on his stateroom door. Men
come 10 the chaplain in time or
trouble. because they face a punish
ment for drunkenness. OF they are
tangled Up IN a misunderstanding
with a buddy" or with ore Of the
officers. or there is a personal prob
lem that has reached It's crisis. or
a letter from home brings its wor-
lies. The condolences arising from
these personal conversations prepare
the soil for planting the seed Of
better life.
Through the services. the sacra-
ment of the altar. the Bible class
and personal contacts. the chaplain
develops the specifically religious
phases of his work. If however, he
feels that his duties have been &C
complished when he has done these
things his work fails. If he views
his work In this way. he breaches
20 but a handful. He wins the per-
Sonal confidence of but a very few.
lie totally misses those who refuse,
at first, to respond 10 the religious
appeal. and perfectly fulhlls their
estimate that he is an appendage 10
the ship, chiefly useless. He fails
to soften the abnormalities of sea
life, and does not make it easier
for his crew TO face the temptations
OF liberty" He does not embody
that spirit of service which. by our
Lords own example. seeks out men
where they are. and ministers to
them from many angles.
The chaplain, as a minister Of
Christ. should go aboard to touch
the whole round of. life there. He
arranges a moving picture program
for sunday night after the sing
of hymns, as well as weekday even
ings, since Sunday evening hours
when unoccupied can be just as pro
ductive of foul talk and gambling.
as idle hours on a week day. He
arranges and promotes boxing tour
naments under proper supervision,
that the ship may have Saturday
afternoons OF relaxing sport. He
himself takes part in the stunt
night" programs. when he gathers
together all kinds of miscellaneous
talent. that the homesick men have
an evening forgetful Of the long in
tervening distance. He takes hours
every day TO edit a ships daily news
paper, in order that he may an
nounce his daily program, discuss
and innovate improvements for the
crew, develop an esprit de corps,
and give many a good laugh over
the humorous cartoons.
He sees that the ships libIN~y is
catalogued, and open regularly. He
buys beginners French" for one
man, New Higher -1'gebra" for
another who will soon Ike an ex-
animation for a higher dting, and
The meaning of Prayer for a mess
attendant VINO has just made tho
Christian decision. Trip after trip
he places aboard scores of moving
picture films, being careful to sec
that William Hart and Dug" Fair
banks are not among the missing.
lie buys dozens of song-slides for
half hour sings before the movies
begin. He knows how the boys en-
joy il when he hears them call out
Again" after singing a favoritt
chorus.
He develops a ships quartet to
assist at the Sunday services, a Cur
rent Events club which appeals -
a group aboard, and lectures by
army officers returning from France
always draws a large percentage OF
the crew. The monographs must
be kept in good condition, and new
records placed aboard for them as
we'll as for the player-piano.
His mingling with the crew /
out many a petty griev- |
H. NTH Of