Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-04

mentS of the commission was
read to the gathering by DR..
Fred S. Buschmeyer. its chair
man, who presided at the dinner.
LAS they have promoted the
spiritual welfare Of our citizens
before, during and after their
service in the armed forces. the
General Commission has added
strength to our Nation at home
and abroad" the Nations Chief
Executive declared in his mes
sage.
CONGRATULATIONS for the work
you have accomplished and APP
probation for your continuing
help in this vital area"
Three Areas for Help
Brig. Gen. Cyrus A. Dolph, III.
Deputy Director of the Joint
Chiefs of staff. told those pres
ent the commission can help the
armed services in three impor-
tant areas--in character deyel-
opment; in education, particu-
! larry about American democracy.
and in military preparedness, by
teaching the servicemen the rea-
a sons for fighting when it was
necessary to do so.
1T is in these areas that We
must seek the solution" Gen.
Dolph asserted. The problem
is not one for the military alone
=. In the war for the minds of
men, moral character. will and
spirit is important. The churches
give their youth the means to
develop such q. character as to
enable them to resist their
enemies"
DR.. Samuel McCrea Cavert Of
New York. executive secretary
In the United States. World
Council Of Churches, looked back
on the chaplaincy in the armed
forces and pointed out four diff
ferent attitudes of the churches
toward the chaplains.
Era Of indifference
Before World War I, there
was an era Of indifference on the
part of the churches" DR.. Ca
vert recalled. "At that time.
chaplains often got their ap-I
pointments because they had
some political influence and
were able to get a Congressman
to nominate them.
Then came the organization
Of the General Commission and
with it the chaplains no longer
we're the forgotten men. They
were now accredited by the
churches and achieved an ade-
quate status necessary to carry
out the high task entrusted to
them"
DR.. Cavert then pointed out
that World War I a reaction OF
cynicism and establishment
set In. Many church leaders
wanted to take the chaplains ou+
Of the services and in It's place
provide civilian ministry to the
servicemen.
Starting with World War II,
we come to an era of consider
able support of the chaplains by
the churches" he declared. THE
churches now see the chaplains
as ministers who follow their
ministry in the armed forces
rather than in civilian life"
DR.. Eugene Carson Blake of
Philadelphia, president OF the
National Council of Churches.
outlined three imperative relig-
ious needs now emerging in the
armed forces.
Outside Of Pattern
The f1rst Is large, relatively
permanent military establish
ment which does not follow the
regular military establishment
pattern" DR.. Blake explained.
1T is by and large a citizens
army. Then we have today a
married Army. Navy and Air
Force to an extent few people
would have thought possible a
few years ago. This means the
churches have the responsibility
Of making the base chapels a
home church.
Finally. we now have q mill
tary establishment all over the
world. This Is something new for
Americans. Military posts every
where makes the pastoral obli-
cation Of the churches more i'm
portant. 1t is quite clear to me
there must be a better and
bigger co-ordinating Job Of
visitation by the chaplains on
behalf Of the churches to these
places"
DR.. Buschmeyer, a former
minister Of Mount Pleasant
(now Westmoreland) Congrega-
tional Church. pointed out that
churches are responding to the