The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1944-05-11
Watt NJ. Cooper Describes
Chapel Built In New
Guinea

Washington, D. c. = The Cen
eral Commission on Army and
Navy Chaplains, Washington, D.
c., has received an interesting &C
count from Chaplain Watt M.
Cooper, U. S. N. R., of the erection
of a chapel in the jungles of New
Guinea. Chaplain Cooper, who
spent his boyhood in Graham,
North Carolina, was graduated
from the local high school and la
ter from the University of North
Carolina. He served as Student
Pastor of the Presbyterian church
in Chapel Hill, N. c., later became
principal of the high school at
Blackey, Kentucky, and after
completing his Theological cours-
es at Yale Divinity School, became
pastor of the Presbyterian church
at North Wilkesboro, N. c. Mrs.
Cooper is the daughter of Mrs.
j. c. Gambill and the late DR..
Gambil, of West Jefferson.
Chaplain Cooper spent four
months on Woodlark Island be-
fore being stationed at an advance
base in New Guinea. Of the man
ner in which the 'Seabees" built
the Chapel in the jungle, Chaplain
Cooper writes:
Among the first permanent
buildings to go up at this advanc-
ed base in New Guinea was the
Seabee Chapel. No sooner had
the camp site been surveyed and
the first roads cut through the
thick brush by the bulldozers than
work was begun on the church.
Slabs were soon obtained from the
sawmill, posts and rafters were
cut from small saplings, palm
leaves were brought in from the
cocoanut groves and work was be-
gun. Within two weeks the first
service was held an din another
two weeks the building was dedi-
Gated. The construction was car
ried on in spite of frequent air
raids and unfavorable weather.
1t stands today, a beautiful gem
set in the jungle, and it is a trib-
ute to the religious faith of all the
men of our unit.
''The men who built this chapel
are members of Naval Con-
struction Battalion. For the most
part, they are older men, the av-
erage age being thirty-three. Most
of them have families and are well
established in their trades back
home. They have brought into
the service of their country many
useful and outstanding talents.
For instance, one of the men is an
artist of several years experience.
It was he who painted the picture
of Christ that hangs above the al
tar. An imaginative carpenter
made the 'stainglass' window out
of jungle vines and two Aussie
raincoats. A landscape gardener
set out the shrubs around the
church. A tinsmith made the
lanterns from tin cans, and cab
met maker designed the altar.
There were very few men in the
battalion who did not have some
part in the building of the chapel.
Many men gave willingly of their
time and labor after regular hours
of work. One party made a trip
to bombed mission point and on
their return surprised the Chap
lain with a beautiful church bell.
The bell now hangs in the tower
and will be preserved for the mis-
sionaries when they return to take
up their work,
''The interest in and the attend
ance at the church services out
here in the jungle is most crafty
ing. Each Sunday the church is
crowded and on most Sundays
many have to stand. Recorded
church music goes through the
camp by loudspeaker and the
Protestant service is broadcast
each Sunday over the radio. Men
on ships and in isolated outposts
have reported listening in at reg
ular intervals. Many of these
men come to the services when
they come into port. There have
been many public professions of
faith recently. Last Sunday a