Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-03
SPIRES OF TIE SPIRIT
A Spire Above q Fort
ny Or. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
CHAPLAIN Of the unitsd states senate

afternoon AZ Fort Myer, 80
near the national seat Of
Government. The United
States Army Is henoring It's
chaplains. For those who
have eyes 10 see the deep
significance OF the occasion.
spires OF religion leap 10 the
bending sky. To stirring
martial music a famous
regiment Of marching men.
armed TO defend the liberties
Of a free people, are saluting
dedicated servants Of God
and Of man who. In heroic
yesterdays and In the grim
today. are witnesses 10 the
reality and supremacy OF
spiritual verities - TO the
faith that has made and
preserved us a Nation.
Planned and personally led
by Secretary Of the Army
Wilbur M. Brucker. the cele-
bration was deliberately set
up TO emphasize TO the Ma
ton and 10 the world the
vital role Of the chaplains
Of the armed forces In peace
and In war. High military Of
ficers stand 10 receive the
salute while throngs repre-
{. senting many churches APP
provingly applaud. This mid
summer pageant In the Year
Of our Lord 1858 is linked TO
the very beginnings OF the
Nations life as the colonists'
rebellion against tyrannical
rule gathered strength. 1t was
then that the Father Of His
Country called for ministers
Of the various churches.
bringing the resources Of re-
straining and sustaining di-
vine grace to stand by the
side Of the men who, in the
struggle. were to know the
temptations and suffering of
the camp and battlefield.
Those who gladly answered
came out of the differing ira
ditions of the various denom-
nations.
From then until now, de-
vout men have been conse-
Grated to the sacred task, not
Of furthering the peculiar
tenets Of their brand Of sec
tarianism or to dispute about
the tweedle-dee and tweedle-
dunn Of theological distinc-
tons but rather Of inter-
preting to men under the
stress and strain of a SOL
dier'S lot the God about
whom all the creeds utter
their faltering and partial
words. Chaplains go forth.
not to sell their particular
telescopes, but to show CROP
ing souls the eternal stars.
Their ruling passion is beau
tifully suggested by the ia
miliar words Of the Bible.
which has ever been the
chaplain's handbook, How
beautiful upon the noun
tains are the feet Of him that
bringeth good tidings. that
publisheth peace. that bring
eth good tidings of. good, that
sayeth The Lord deigneth.'"
From the Second CONT
mental Congress to the S5th
CONGRESS, now in session, in
the noble procession of chap
lainS is glimpsed the warm
ing words Of Washington,
Let us not indulge the sup
position that morality can
be maintained without re-
ligion. These are the pillars
Of human happiness - the
finest props Of the duties Of
men and citizens" Every
President since has echoed
the first Presidents senti-
ments. down to the present
occupant of the White House
who. as a leader of militant
hosts. has known at first
hand the essential value Of
the chaplain's sacred task.
Declares President Eisen-
hover. THE basic doctrine
to which we must always
cling is that our form of
government is founded on re-
ligion. 1t has no sense with
out a deeply felt religious
faith"
A true chaplain meets
young men where they are.
with understanding and SYM
pathy, conscious of the weak
nesses which beset all. 1t is
his not just to fortify the
strong, but to be the medium
Of redemption from deeds and
attitudes that tarnish and
stain, pointing to the glory of
forgiveness and cleansing
grace. Every chaplain worthy
Of his vocation finds himself
continually asking. as his task
unfolds, who is sufficient for
these things?" 1t is the men
now serving in that capacity.
and others whose memory as
servants Of the Most High is
held in sacred remembrance.
Symbolized by the four
chaplains. Jewish, Protestant
and Catholic. who. giving
their life-belts to others, went
down with their ship. that
led the outstanding church.