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THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE
MILITARY CHAPLAINS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES 1751 N Street, N.W., Washington 6, D. C.
The Professional Journal for Chaplains and
Religious Workers CONTENTS
EDITOR ......... CHAPLAIN HAROLD G. ELSAM ASSOCIATE .... CHAPLAIN MONROE DREW, JR. Page
EDITORIAL BOARD THE TRUE STORY OF THE PATTON PRAYER ...... 1 CHAPLAINS CLIFFORD M. DRURY, San Anselmo, Cal. and WILLIAM T. BRUNDICK, Overseas Editor. U.S. NEGRO TROOPS SHARE SUNDAY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ............ .................... 4
THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN is not the official SHINTO ......................................... 5
mouthpiece of the Chiefs of Chaplains of the various services. The fact that an article appears inf its columns does not indicate the approval of WORKING WITH ALCOHOLICS .................. 8
th views expressed in it by any group or any indi.idual other than the author. It is our policy to print articles on subjects of interest to chaplains THE CHALLENGE OF INDONESIA ................ 12
and religious workers although some or all of the opinions advanced may be at variance with those held by the President of the Chaplains Asstoci- ARMY-NAVY-AIR ADVANCED SCHOOL.......... 14
ation, the members of the Executive Committee and the Editors. THE OVERSEAS CHAPLAIN AS A MISSIONARY .... 15
- A CHAPLAIN INTRODUCED COFFEE INTO THE The Military Chaplains Association of A CHAPLAIN INTRODUCED COFFEE INTO THE the United States NAVY .................................... 16
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DON'T PULL ALL THE TRIGGERS ................. 18
PRESIDENT
CHAPLAIN ROBERT J. WHITE, USNR EDITORIALS ..................................... 20
VICE PRESIDENTS AIR FORCE RELIGIOUS RETREAT ................. 21
CHAPLAIN FRANCIS V. SULLIVAN, USNR...I AA THE BIBLES OF 1948 .......................... 22
CHAPLAIN FREDERICK C. REYNOLDS, NG. II AA CHAPLAIN HENRY BELL HODGKINS, USNR III AA ARMY CHAPELS .................................. 23
CHAPLAIN LESLIE F. ZIMMERMAN, ORC . IV AA SOME REFLECTIONS ON MIDSHIPMEN'S CRUISE.. 26 CHAPLAIN JAMES L. J. QUIGLEY, USNR .. V AA CONSTITUTION ................................. 28
CHAPLAIN C. PARDEE ERDMAN, USNR. VI AA REQUIREMENTS-AIR AND GROUND FORCE ..... 29 CHAPLAIN FRANK L. WHITE, ORC .... At Large OUR MODERN GARDEN OF EDEN..............30
OUR MODERN GARDEN OF EDEN . ... .. .. .. .. .. 30
CHAPLAIN JAMES B. CLAYPOOL, USNR. At Large CHAPLAINS ARE A TRADITION IN THE VA ...... 32 CHAPLAIN EMANUEL RACKMAN, ORC.. At Large FRENCH NAVY CHAPLAIN CORPS ............... 34
MEMBERS
ALL PAST PRESIDENTS, PAST EDITORS, AND THE OFFICE SECRETARY SAYS: .................. 35
PAST EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES THE CHAPLAIN'S PART IN HEALING THE SICK .... 36
SECRETARY-TREASURER
CHAPLAIN HAROLD G. ELSAM THOUGHTS, ACTIVITIES, TECHNIQUES .......... 39
VOLUME XIX OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1948 NUMBER 2
Published quarterly by the Military Chaplains Association of the United States. Issues are dated January-February, April-May, July.August and October-November. Publication, Editorial and Executive Offices, 1751 N Street, N.W., Washington, D. C. Entered as Second Class Matter at Washington, D. C., additional entry at Richmond, Virginia, under the act of March 3, 1879. This magazine is mailed to all members of the Chaplains' Association who are in good standing by reason of payment of the current membership fee of $3.00 per calendar year of which $2.00 is for THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN. Subscriptions to all others not eligible for membership are $3.00 per calendar year. Foreign subscriptions (non-members) are $4.00 per calendar year. THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN does not carry paid advertisements.
The True Story Of The Patton Prayer
By CHAPLAIN JAMES H. O'NEILL, U. S. Army*
MANY conflicting and some untrue stories have been he intended it for circulation to chaplains or others, with
printed about General Patton and the Third Army Christmas not far removed, it might be proper to type the Prayer. Some have had the tinge of blasphemy and disre- Army Commander's Christmas Greetings on the reverse spect for the Deity. Even in "War As I Saw It" by General side. This would please the recipient, and anything that Patton, the footnote on the Prayer by Col. Paul D. Harkins, pleased the men I knew would please him. "To each officer Patton's Deputy Chief of Staff, while containing the ele- and soldier in the Third United States Army, I wish a Merry ments of a funny story about the General and his Chaplain, Christmas. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion is not the true account of the prayer incident or its sequence. to duty, and skill in battle. We march in our might to
As the Chief Chaplain of the Third Army throughout the complete victory. May God's blessing rest upon each of five campaigns on the Staff of General Patton, I should you on this Christmas Day. G. S. Patton, Jr., Lieutenant have some knowledge of the event because at the direction General, Commanding, Third United States Army." of General Patton I composed the now world-famous This done, I donned my heavy trench coat, crossed the Prayer, and wrote Training Letter No. 5, which constitutes quadrangle of the old French military barracks, and rean integral, but untold part, of the prayer story. These ported to General Patton. He read the prayer copy, reincidents, narrated in sequence, should serve to enhance the turned it to me with a very casual directive, "Have 250,000 memory of the man himself, and cause him to be enshrined copies printed and see to it that every man in the Third by generations to come as one of the greatest of our sol- Army gets one." The size of the order amazed me: this wAs diers. He had all the traits of military leadership, fortified certainly doing something about the weather in a big way. by genuine trust in God, intense love of country, and high But I said nothing but the usual, "Very well, sir!" Refaith in the American soldier. He had no use for half- covering, I invited his attention to the reverse side conmeasures. He wrote this line a few days before his death: taining the Christmas Greeting, with his name and rank "Anyone in any walk of life who is content with mediocrity typed. "Very good," he said, with a smile of approval. "If is untrue to himself and to American tradition." He was the General would sign the card, it would add a personal true to the principles of his religion, Episcopalian, and was touch that I am sure the men would like." He took his regular in Church attendance and practices, unless duty made his presence impossible.
The incident of the now famous Patton Prayer commenced with a telephone call to the Third Army Chaplain on the morning of December 8, 1944, when the Third Army Headquarters were located in the Caserne Molifor, in Nancy, France: "This is General Patton; do you have a good prayer for weather? We must do something about these rains if we are to win the war." My reply was that I knew where to look for such a prayer, that I would locate, and report within the hour. As I hung up the telephone receiver, about eleven in the morning, I looked out on the steadily falling rain, "immoderate" I would 'call it,-the same rain that had plagued General Patton's 'Army throughout the Moselle and Saar Campaigns from September until now, December 8. The few prayer books at hand contained no formal prayer on weather that might prove acceptable to the Army Commander. Keeping his immediate objective in mind, I typed an original and an improved copy on a 5" x 3" filing card: "Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle. Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen." I pondered the question, what use would General Patton make of the prayer? Surely not for private devotion. If
aFornmerly Third Army Chaplain on the Staff of General George S. Chaplain (Brigadier General) James H. O'Neill, Deputy Chief Patton, Jr. of Chaplains U. S. Army. October-November, 1948 1
place at his desk, signed the card, returned it to me, and third realm, prayer. It would do no harm to re-impress this then said: "Chaplain, sit down for a moment; I want to training on chaplains. We had about 486 chaplains in the talk to you about this business of prayer." He rubbed his Third Army at that time, representing 32 denominations. face in his hands, was silent for a moment, then rose and Once the Third Army had become operational, my mode of walked over to the high window, and stood there with his contact with the chaplains had been chiefly through Train. back toward me as he looked out on the falling rain. As ing Letters issued from time to time to the chaplains in the usual, he was dressed stunningly, and his six-foot-two four corps and the 22 to 26 divisions comprising the Third powerfully built physique, made an unforgettable sil- Army. Each treated of a variety of subjects of corrective houette against the great window. The General Patton I or training value to a chaplain working with troops in the saw there was the Army Commander to whom the welfare field. of the men under him was a matter of personal responsi- "I wish you would put out a Training Letter on this bility. Even in the heat of combat he could take time out subject of Prayer to all the chaplains: write about nothing to direct new methods to prevent trench feet, to see to it else, just the importance of prayer. Let me see it before that dry socks went forward daily with the rations to you send it. We've got to get not only the chaplains but troops on the line, to kneel in the mud administering mor- every man in the Third Army to pray. We must ask God to phine and caring for a wounded soldier until the ambulance stop these rains. These rains are that margin that holds decame. What was coming now? feat or victory. If we all pray, it will be like what Dr. Car"Chaplain, how much praying is being done in the Third rel said (the allusion was to a press quote some days preArmy?" was his question. I parried: "Does the General viously when Dr. Alexis Carrel; one of the foremost scimean by chaplains, or by the men?" "By everybody," he entists, described prayer 'as one of the most powerful forms replied. To this I countered: "I am afraid to admit it, but of energy man can generate'), it will be like plugging in on I do not believe that much praying is going on. When there a current whose source is in Heaven. I believe that prayer is fighting, everyone prays, but now with this constant rain completes that circuit. It is power."
-when things are quiet, dangerously quiet, men just sit With that the General arose from his chair, a sign that and wait for things to happen. Prayer out here is difficult. the interview was ended. I returned to my field desk, typed Both chaplains and men are removed from a special build- Training Letter No. 5 while the "copy" was "hot," touching with a steeple. Prayer to most of them is a formal, ing on some or all of the General's reverie on Prayer, and ritualized affair, involving special posture and a liturgical after staff processing, presented it to General Patton on the setting. I do not believe that much praying is being done." next day. The General read it, and without change directed
The General left the window, and again seated himself that it be circulated not alone to the 486 chaplains, but to at his desk, leaned back in his swivel chair, toying with a every organization commander down to and including the long lead pencil between his index fingers. "Chaplain, I
am a strong believer in prayer. There are three ways that men get what they want; by planning, by working, and by praying. Any great military operation takes careful plan- P ning, or thinking. Then you must have well-trained troops PRAYER to carry it out: that's working. But between the plan and ,
Lthe operation there is always an unknown. That unknown LIGHTY and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of
of the actors to the ordeal when it actually comes. Some soldiers who call upon Thee that armed wOith Thy power, we may advance (rom people call that getting the breaks; I call it God. God has victory to victory, and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies, and His part, or margin in everything. That's where prayer establish Thy justice among men and nations. Amen. comes in. Up to now, in the Third Army, God has been
very good to us. We have never retreated; we have suffered no defeats, no famine, no epidemics. This is because a lot of people back home are praying for us. We
were lucky in Africa, in Sicily, and in Italy, simply because regimental level. Three thousand two hundred copies were people prayed. But we have to pray for ourselves, too. A distributed to every unit in the Third Army over my signagood soldier is not made merely by making him think and ture as Third Army Chaplain. Strictly speaking, it was the work. There is something in every soldier that goes deeper Army Commander's letter, not mine. Due to the fact that than thinking or working-it's his 'guts.' It is something the order came directly from General Patton, distribution that he has built in there: it is a world of truth and power was completed on December 11 and 12 in advance of its that is higher than himself. Great living is not all output of date line, December 14, 1944. Titled "Training Letter thought and work. A man has to have intake as well. I No. 5," with the salutary "Chaplains of the Third Army, don't know what you call it, but I call it Religion, Prayer, the letter continued: "At this stage *f the operations I or God." He talked about Gideon in the Bible, said that would call upon the chaplains and.4he men of the Third men should pray no matter where they were, in church or United States Army to focus their attention on the irmout of it; that if they did not pray, sooner or later they portance of prayer. would "crack up." To all this I commented agreement: "Our glorious march from the Normandy Beach across that one of the major training objectives of my office was France to where we stand, before and beyond the Siegfried to help soldiers recover and make their lives effective in this Line, with the wreckage of the German Army behind us, 2 The Military Chaplain
weather for Battle. Pray for the defeat of our wicked
enemy whose banner is injustice and whose god is oppression. Pray for Victory. Pray for our Army, and pray for
peace.
"We must march together, all out for God. The soldier
who 'cracks up' does not need sympathy or comfort as
much as he needs strength. We are not trying to make the
best of these days. It is our job to make the most of them.
Now is not the time to follow God from 'afar off.' This
Army needs the assurance and the faith that God is with
us. With prayer, we cannot fail.
"Be assured that this message on prayer has the approval,
the encouragement, and the enthusiastic support of the
Third United States Army Commander.
"With every good wish to each of you for a very Happy
Christmas, and my personal congratulations for your
splendid and courageous work since landing on the beach,
I am," etc., etc., signed The Third Army Chaplain.
The timing of the Prayer story is important: let us rearrange the dates: the "Prayer Conference" with General
Patton was 8 December; the 664th Engineer Topographical
Company, at the order of Colonel David H. Tulley, C.E.,
Assistant to the Third Army Engineer, working night and day reproduced 250,000 copies of the Prayer Card: the AdGeneral Patton decorates graves of heroes of the Battle of the jutant General, Colonel Robert S. Cummings, supervised Bulge. the distribution of both the Prayer Cards and Training Letter No. 5 to reach the troops by December 12-14; the should convince the most skeptical soldier that God has break-through was on December 16 in the First Army Zone ridden with our banner. Pestilence and famine have not when the Germans crept out of the Schnee Eifel Forest in touched us. We have continued in unity of purpose. We the midst of heavy rains, thick fogs, and swirling ground have had no quitters, and our leadership has been master- mists that muffled sound, blotted out the sun, and reduced ful. The Third Army has no roster of Retreats. None of visibility to a few yards. The few divisions on the LuxemDefeats. We have no memory of a lost battle to hand on to bourg frontier were surprised and brushed aside. They our children from this great campaign. found it hard to fight an enemy they could neither see nor
"But we are not stopping at the Siegfried Line. Tough hear. For three days it looked to the jubilant Nazis as if days may be ahead of us before we eat our rations in the their desperate gamble would succeed. They had achieved Chancellory of the Deutsches Reich. complete surprise. Their Sixth Panzer Army, rejuvenated
"As chaplains it is our business to pray. We preach its in secret after its debacle in France, seared through the importance. We urge its practice. But the time is now to Ardennes like a hot knife through butter. The First Army's intensify our faith in prayer, not alone with ourselves, but VIII Corps was holding this area with three infantry diviwith every believing man, Protestant, Catholic, Jew or sions (one of them, new, and in the line only a few days) Christian, in the ranks of the Third United States Army. thinly disposed over an 88-mile front and with one armored
"Those who pray do more for the world than those who division far to the rear, in reserve. The VIII Corps had fight; and if the world goes from bad to worse, it is because been in the sector for months. It was considered a semithere are more battles than prayers. 'Hands lifted up,' said rest area and outside of a little patrolling was wholly an Bossuet, 'smash more battalions than hands that strike.' inactive position. Gideon of Bible fame was least in his father's house. He When the blow struck the VIII Corps fought with imcame from Israel's smallest tribe. But he was a mighty man perishable heroism. The Germans were slowed down but of valor. His strength lay not in his military might, but in the Corps was too shattered to stop them with its remnants. his recognition of God's proper claims upon his life. He Meanwhile, to the north, the Fifth Panzer Army was slugreduced his Army from thirty-two thousand to three hun- ging through another powerful prong along the vulnerable dred men lest the people of Israel would think that their boundary between the VIII and VI Corps. Had the bad valor had saved them. We have no intention to reduce our weather continued there is no telling how far the Germans vast striking force. But we must urge, instruct, and in- might have advanced. On the 19th of December, the Third doctrinate every fighting man to pray as well as fight. In Army turned from East to North to meet the attack. As Gideon's day, and ingour own, spiritually alert minorities General Patton rushed his divisions north from the Saar carry the burdens and bring the victories. Valley to the relief of the beleaguered Bastogne, the prayer "Urge all of your men to pray, not alone in church, but was answered. On December 20, to the consternation of everywhere. Pray when driving. Pray when fighting. Pray the Germans and the delight of the American forecasters alone. Pray with others. Pray by night and pray by day. who were equally surprised at the turnabout-the rains and Pray for the cessation of immoderate rains, for good (Continued on page 13) Octobei-'November, 1948 3
Tokyo Quartermaster Depot Sunday School at their children's day picnic at Tsurimi Park. Two Japanese girls are
chapel typist and organist.
U. S. NEGRO TROOPS SHARE
SUNDAY SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Tokyo Quartermaster Depot Sunday School.
4 .The Military Chaplain
SHINTO
By CHAPLAIN WM. T. BRUNDICK, Overseas Editor, The Military Chaplain
THE Japanese are a mysterious, secretive and uncom- fateful day of what we were up against. With high. municative people. They are so vastly different from sounding phrases we plunged headlong into the fray. We any other people that it becomes difficult to analyze them declared to the world we were fighting to establish the or draw comparisons. One other reason, and perhaps the ideals of equality for man, the right of self-government, main reason, why they are so hard to understand is that freedom, peace and the destruction of an aggressive miliprior to.7 December 1941, Pearl Harbor, we showed little tarism. To have told the American nation we were out to or no interest in trying to understand them. Practically smash Shintoism would not have been sufficient. We had everything written prior to that time was with an effort to to have a battle cry, an Alamo, an altruistic motto for our explain Japan and the Japanese from the point of view of masthead. So we were out to set the world free. Nonsense! the Westerner. We were fighting a fanatic nationalism that went far beAfter nine months in Japan it is our honest opinion that yond the wildest dreams of anything ever dreamed of by no man has written a completely satisfying or accurate Nazism or Fascism. Shinto in no uncertain terms had taught story of any one phase of Japan or the Japanese. We that the islands of Japan, the inhabitants and their ruler would also go one step further to say, we do not believe were divine. And furthermore, the mission of Japan as a the Japanese themselves have accomplished such a work. nation was to conquer the world, and bring under the rule You will not find anywhere in Japan two people to tell you of their Emperor all the peoples and nations of the world. the same story or give you the same interpretation of the In a discussion of this sort it is necessary to distinguish same thing. and recognize the three distinct periods of Shinto. The first Shinto is not a religion. In the sense that the word re- period extends from no one knows when down to 550 A.D. ligion is commonly used it cannot be applied to Shinto. Authorities differ on this point. There are some who claim Shinto as it stood prior to and during the war was no other 660 A.D. This is not too important a point in our discusthan the highest known form of nationalism. Nationalism sion. Prior to that date the Japanese had not established is a cult and not a religion. Shinto has no set of dogmas, anything commensurate to a separate institution. Yet it was sacred book or moral code. According to Shinto teachers, during that period that much of the mythology present in the absence of a moral.code is accounted for by the innate Shinto today was born. That period was truly the period of perfection of the Japanese as a race. Only foreigners be- formation and creation. Out of it emerged a set of cerecause of natural depravity find it necessary to resort to the monies as much political as religious. The high light of use of such props. Shinto is a nationalistic teaching peculiar that period was the development of the myth of the Sun to the Japanese people which united and solidified them Goddess, Amaterasu. It had for its purpose the Japanese into a thinking and acting unit. version of the doctrine of divine right of kings, or a divine For hundreds of years the world believed Shinto was the ruler. national religion of Japan. This was erroneous, for Shinto It seems the sun goddess had commissioned her grandis not a national religion or a state religion as the term has son Ninigi, great-grandfather of the first emperor, to go been applied in the case of several Western countries. It down to the Great Eight Islands, now known as Japan, to is one of the highest, if not the highest, form of nationalism establish a new kingdom. As Ninigi was about to descend known. It must be.classified in the same category with he was told the land to which he was going should forever Nazism and Fascism, each a cult, the teachings of which be ruled hereditarily by descendants of the sun goddess. deprive the masses of rational thinking and made of them Also, that the prosperity of the land should be everlasting fanatics. From a Japanese scrapbook, we read this sen- like the heaven and earth. He was also given the sacred tence: "Shinto is a cult, essentially polytheistic worshipping regalia consisting of mirror, sword and necklace. By the of some eight million gods, which are mainly the gods of Japanese these three objects have always been spoken of as nature and racial ancestors that appear in the myths con- "Three Sacred Treasures" on which established the "Code nected with the founding of the empire and in folklore." of Administrative Ethics." In other words, whereas religion concerns itself with the The second period of Shinto came with the introduction supernatural, the individual, with salvation of the soul, of Buddhism about the middle of the sixth century and con. ethics, morals and the world hereafter, Shinto, like Nazism tinued until about the year 1700. The introduction of and Fascism had only one objective, to promote the fortunes Buddhism with its elaborate ritual and ceremony, its high and prosperity of the Japanese in this world by fair or foul moral code and organization, was too much for the puny means. If we would seek an intelligent answer for the Shinto to resist, It was during that period that the name sneak attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, we must "Shinto" first came into use. There seems to be a differconsider Shinto. This attack was not the work of religious ence of opinion among scholars as to why the name was not crusaders. It was the work of fanatics, steeped in the used at an earlier date. The most plausible reason seems nationalist teachings of Japan, called Shinto. to be that it was applied to the old native way of thinking
How little did we know when things began to pop that and thinkers in order to distinguish it and them from the
October-November, 1948 5
new doctrine that had recently come in from India and That Shinto has been misunderstood and misrepresented China. is not at all surprising. A literal translation of the word
That second period of 1150 years was a hectic one for "Shinto" would be "The Way of the Gods." And how Shinto. When it passed from its creation period it was many gods are there? Only the good Lord knows because without form and void. Consequently Shinto was in no po- the Japanese do not know. Shinto as a term or name caine sition to resist Buddhism and we find Buddhism invading into general use as a result of the heightening of a national Japan from all four sides. At the close of that period consciousness during the struggle of the native faith and Buddhism had taken over lock, stock and barrel with just Buddhism. It is significant that the name is not referred to. one exception, the court. That is important to remember. in Kojiki Den and Koshi Den, both cornerstones of rather At the head of the court was the emperor. No matter what early Japanese literature. The probability is the name was else happened he had descended from the sun goddess and coined by the Buddhists to distinguish one group from the must not be tampered with. Throughout that entire period other. Those two great movements have been so closely Shinto put forth only one fight which was to preserve the allied and interwoven that it is next to impossible to tell emperor and the fantastic claim of his descent from the where the one leaves off and the other begins. So we are sun goddess. not to be too surprised when we begin to talk about the
The third period of Shinto came some time about the "Way of the Gods" or ask how many gods there are to be year 1700. That is the period with which we are most told of its pantheon and its 8,000,000 gods. We are not concerned. It was the period that produced the nationalism trying to convince you there are 8,000,000 gods or that that almost put the rest of the world out of the running. there are as many as 1,000,000 gods. But when you stop During that period Japan turned her face from the future to think that the movement had its roots in the past preto look into her past with the hope of discovering some- ceding the Christian Era and embraces both nature and thing which might truthfully be called Japanese. Did she ancestor worship, you may begin to think these people do find anything in the old attic? She did indeed. She found have something when they speak of their 8,000,000 gods. "Shinto," a primitive nature cult, which had fallen into The whole business of the gods seems positively fandiscredit. She took it out of the attic, dusted it off and tastic. Where it began we know. But where and when it decided she had an antique that could be put to good use. will end nobody knows. Many of the gods were (note we
Like every collector of antiques, when once he is bitten say were, because once created he or it stayed created, no by the bug he does not know when to stop. Japan dug up matter if never used again except at his or its creation. For all her old histories, old poems and old manuscripts. They whoever heard of a god dying? Surely not a Japanese.) were put into print and studied by scholars and politicians, simple and direct personifications of the forces of nature. It was the beginning of a new era, a reformation, to stimu- In a land where earthquakes are the order of the day, gods late the political and patriotic life of the nation. It and the doings of the gods were-associated with earthsought to raise the Japanese life to such a plane that quakes. Many were individual natural bodies dedicated to anything foreign would be looked upon with ridicule. The the sun, moon, stars, trees, rivers and mountains. Some seeds of what later became the tree of "Japan for Japanese" were the deified souls of the individual human dead. Others were planted during that time. were personified deifications of human qualities. The
How successful was all that effort? Hindsight is always business of making gods was indeed a profitable one and better than foresight. The answer today is, "Shinto was by no means restricted to the court, emperor, priest or any one hundred per cent successful." In 1868, Buddhisri one group. They were made without number and without received a staggering blow. It was disestablished and being registered, by every Tom, Dick and Harry from the disendowed as the state religion. But don't think it took beginning of time. Every good Shintoist lays claim to at the setback without a fight. It reorganized for a counter- least one god of his own. It is either one he has made or attack that resulted in a knock-down and drag-out fight. inherited. This god he looks upon as his personal proWhen the smoke and dust of battle had cleared away, we tection. find two councils of equal rank emerging, one to control The crowning achievement of Shinto and its god mrkthings temporal and the other to control things spiritual. ing was the establishment of the Emperor of Japan as god.
At the time of the official separation, 1868, the masses To every man, woman and child of Japanese birth the emwere not disturbed in their dual faith. They remained both peror was god. He was no ordinary mortal ruler like the Shintoist and Buddhist; Shintoist politically and on festal secular and political heads of Western governments. There occasions, Buddhist in the more serious affairs of life and was as much difference between the Shinto god emperor death. What was done at that time might be clear in the idea and the divine right of rule as held by certain European mind of one of their gods. It certainly is not clear in our countries as there is difference between day and night. The minds or in the minds of any we have talked to on that par- emperor was god, period! He was the human incarnation ticular subject. Unfortunately for us, we are neither a of an eternal god. As a manifested god his rule was of Houdini or a Conan Doyle. We do not possess the ability equal likeness in heaven and on earth. As god, he was in the of communicating with the gods of Japan and have there- mind of the Japanese, not only superior to all other rulers fore to rely on such information as humans are able to give. on earth, but even crowded all other Japanese gods into the Up to the present we have not been able to find a single background. Japanese, priest or layman, who knows the name of the god After much research it is our belief that the emperor of who understands fully what was done in the year of our Japan was to the mind of the Japanese the Supreme Being Lord 1868. in the Cosmos of Japan. In their minds he occupied a posi6 The Military Chaplain
tion comparable to Jehovah God. Everything emanated to be taught under rigid supervision. From this we can see from him and in him everything subsisted. The masses had that even Japan did not regard Shinto as a religion. It no will apart from his. The individual self was to be was training in civic responsibility. This "Order Number merged with that of the emperor. To realize their true Twelve" must not be passed over lightly. It must be connature and attain to the highest level possible it was neces- sidered as one of the most important documents of our sary that the subject be merged with the emperor. times because of the effect it has had upon the world. As a That unique and exalted position was more firmly result of that order, Japan put herself in the class of the established by present-day Shinto than by feudal Shinto. uncivilized nations. Civilization can only be present when That position could only be the direct result of a national- there is freedom of faith, freedom of thought, freedom of ism which represented him as the direct descendant of the will and the right to decide who shall and who shall not sun goddess. Until the time of the surrender to the Ameri- exercise the right of government. How different all this can forces, and then shortly after when Emperor Hirohito was in Japan! For fifty-one years every Japanese who saw publicly renounced that claim, it was the basic maxim on the light of day on any one of Japan's four islands as well which rested the whole 9f Japanese national life. Never in as Korea and Formosa was taught to believe, that to refuse history had there been ai ruler who could demand such to honor the emperor as god was an act of disloyalty punreverence, loyalty and devotion as the emperors of Japan. ishable by death. It was not a matter of choice. It was a Japanese patriotism or loyalty to the emperor was some- duty. And this hocus-pocus of emperor worship along with thing we of the West could not understand or appreciate. his ancestors over the period following this famous "Order Only through Shinto could you expect to get such lofty self- Number Twelve" raised up a nation of fanatics who in a denying, enthusiastic sentiment of a people for a ruler. It great many respects were no better civilized than some of rendered them capable of offering up everything dearest to the tribes they later fought in the Jungles. themselves. The surrender of free will, the sacrificing of Under this "Order Number Twelve" every morning at wealth and property, and even life became a pleasurable the beginning of classes, all children were compelled to duty since it was offered to the divine ruler, Emperor of make obeisance in the direction of the imperial palace at Japan. Tokyo, reverencing the emperor. Children were marched
Some months ago we saw Emperor Hirohito. It was in large bodies from their schools to the Shinto shrines for shortly after our arrival in Japan. At the time we had to rituals of ancestor and emperor worship. Even the prayers laugh at the little man. He seemed so insignificant as he were regulated by the government and constantly reiterated stood beside one of our well built MPs, so little for the the theme of divine emperor and the reverence due him. tremendous responsibilities that go with being God. But Workers in their factories were given daily lectures on their our nine months' stay over here has changed our thinking duties to the emperor and compelled to bow in the direction from ridicule to sympathy and admiration. Today we are of the imperial palace. The military was assembled perinot surprised he is small, but we marvel that there is any- odically for "worship of the throne." thing left of him. He is father and mother of every living How little did we know of all this and what was going Japanese born before his renunciation and was father and on when Japan hit at Port Arthur in 1904! How little did mother to every Japanese who died during his reign. If we realize when Japan moved into Korea, Formosa, Manthat is not enough to get any man down we'll take another churia and China that she had launched upon her mission guess. Being father to two or three children gets some men to control the world, a mission that had been bred into her down. But to be father and mother to millions and mil- people from birth through the teachings of Shinto. We lions! That is not a job for a human and Shinto took it into began to scream our heads off when the Italians moved into consideration by making him a god with unlimited powers. Africa in 1934, and again, when Germany began to cross These very people with whom you associate every day be- the Rhine to grab bit by bit the surrounding territories. It lieved they existed because they had been born through the was clear in our minds, although we did nothing but august power of the emperor. They further believed that scream, that those two countries were launched upon a had Hirohito not existed they could never have been born. movement to bring a large portion of the world under their
It is hard for the Western mind to absorb such fantastic control. But in not knowing Shinto and the extent to which notions in this day when the thrones of kings, princes and Shinto went to indoctrinate the Japanese with the notion, potentates are being toppled by the forces of democracy. that not only was the emperor divine but all Japan, we did Yet here in Japan as late as 1946, it was not necessary for not associate the invasion of Formosa, Korea, Manchuria an emperor to bestrong, good or wise since he was at all and China as the beginning of the harvesting of the fruits, times accepted by the masses as god. The answer to this the seeds of which had been planted in the dim ages of the seemingly apparent incongruity arises from an age-old be- past, and nurtured by "Order Number Twelve." The sublief that his title in his lineage was sufficient to make him stance of that document was that the people and gods of god. This was no theoretical notion or idea. It was an Japan must work together as one and accomplish their accepted fact and can be attested to by those who faced the greatest and loftiest task of unifying the world under the fanatics during the fighting days in the Pacific. sway of the emperor of Japan. No less an authority than
On August 12, 1890, "Order Number Twelve" was pub- Shimbum said: "We are only aiming at making the Emlished and circulated throughout all Japan. This famous peror of Japan ruler and governor of the world. He is the document forbade the teaching of religion of any sort in the only ruler in the world who retains the spiritual mission inpublic and private schools. Instead of religious instruc- herited from the remotest ancestors of the Divine Word." tions, emperor worship, national divinity and loyalty were (To be continued in next issue) October-November, 1948 7
Working With Alcoholics
By CHAPLAIN HARRY W. ALEXANDER
THE work with the pathological drinkers in our hospital II. WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT THE
at Lexington, Kentucky, began in August, 1947, and CHRONIC DRINKER ISA SICK PERSON. It is folly since that time has been continuous. Of course, we realize and a waste of time to fight this disease at the level of the that no permanent results can be tabulated in such a brief bottle alone. As the fever of a patient is merely a sympperiod. While we have had some discouraging experiences tom of an underlying infection or physical disorder, so because of some of these patients returning to the hospital, drinking is a symptom of an underlying infection usually of we feel that on the whole we have gained some worth-while an emotional or personality nature. You cannot eradicate results. Three discussions are conducted each week on the this problem by an attack upon the symptom of the disease. ward by Dr. H. E. Wilkinson and myself, with an average You must get to the base of the infection, the underlying attendance of twenty-five. The chaplain approaches the cause of the problem. As a physically ill patient is not drinker's problem from the standpoint of religion, while the always aware of the' cause of his fever, so the alcoholic is doctor approaches it from the standpoint of psychology and not always aware of the underlying cause or causes of his psychiatry. An opportunity is given for group discussion, drinking. The pathological drinker does not use alcohol and we have had lively participation from the patients. It because he likes the taste so much as he craves the effect of is to be stated in the beginning, however, that the group alcohol, which is a depressant, a narcotic, or a pain-killer. therapy method by no means is the complete and total The underlying disorder causes tension, anxiety, restlesstreatment of the patient. This, of course, entails psycho- ness, boredom, or hostility, and without realizing it the abtherapy on the part of the psychiatrist. These group discus- normal drinker tries to deaden or ease the emotional dissions are more a softening up process and a preparation for comforts through the use of alcohol. Therefore, when the the work of the psychiatrist. It gives the patient some in- patient comes in contact with disagreeable situations (dosight into his problem, enables him to understand that here mestic unpleasantness, a domineering father, an overpro. is a group of patients all confronted with the same trouble, tective mother, what the patient believes to be a nagging and it establishes rapport between the patient and the doc- wife, the ordeals of business, the uncertainty of a job, tor. In our discussion groups we have found it very difficult made more insecure by drinking, trying and unpleasant for the chaplain to confine himself to what is normally social difficulties, and many other worries and problems, called his sphere of operation. Therefore, in order to handle whether acutely active or just gnawing in the back of the successfully the discussion he must familiarize himself with mind) he attempts to numb these worries, fears, uncertainpsychology and psychiatry. Oftentimes the same thing is ties, and anxieties by the use of alcohol. true with the psychiatrist, as he finds himself over in the III. THIS IS A PROBLEM LYING IN THE REALM field of religion. Our procedure, in general, is a religious OF THE PERSONALITY. The patient's problem is a and a psychiatric approach to the problem. In, my discus- problem of adjustment. He has been and still is making a sion we will confine ourselves to the religious approach as bad adjustment to life's situations. He has formulated a much as possible. I pattern of reaction which is an immature reaction pattern.
I. WHAT IS AN ALCOHOLIC? Just when does a The majority of these individuals are characterized by very social drinker cease to be a social drinker and become an marked emotional immaturity. This immaturity may be alcoholic? We usually classify an individual as an alcoholic characterized as follows: when he is knocked out of one or more of the traffic lanes
of life, or when he is unable to handle his liquor and, on A. Insecurity, a feeling of inadequacy, of being inthe contrary, is handled by his liquor. There are degrees of ferior. They find it difficult to live with themselves as drinking varying all the way from the man or woman who well as with other people. They are restless, disturbed, takes one drink a year to the person who drinks a fifth or bored, and unhappy. They dread to be alone with their more per day. The degree of drinking is usually dependent own thoughts. They are unable to enjoy life when sober. upon the degree of nervousness or nervous tension of the B. Insincerity, deception. They have a strong tendency individual. The question is usually asked: Does the indi- to cover up, not only the fact that they are drinking, vidual drink because he is nervous, or is he nervous because but the real causes and reasons for their drinking. They he drinks? Does the neurosis produce the drinking, or does blame their drinking on other people and circumstances the drinking produce the neurosis? We are working on the beyond their control. They feel that they are not retheory that the patient, at least the alcoholic, drinks because sponsible. he is nervous. Taking the psychiatrist at his word when he C. Guilt. In spite of the fact that they pretend to shift says that there is no such person as a normal individual, it the blame and responsibility, they have a deep sense of could be therefore that the social drinker, as well as the guilt. They are extremely remorseful and penitent, espealcoholic, drinks for the same reason-because he too is cially when coming off a binge. They will declare by all nervous. Nearly all of our patients freely admit that they that is high and holy that they are never going to touch drink because they are nervous. the stuff again, that there is no earthly good in drinking
The Military Chaplain
and it is an extremely dangerous and costly waste of life. a starting point that the deviations of the alcoholic should D. Indecision. This immaturity shows itself in their be investigated." (Wortis & Sillman, STUDIES OF THE inability to make up their minds. They usually shift from COMPULSIVE DRINKER.) one job to another, are not good providers for their fam- There are many places where the work of the chaplain ily. They are failures in everything, including their and the psychiatrist meets on common grounds in the treatability to get along with themselves, family, employer, ment of the pathological drinker. In dealing with the indiand everyone else in general. They are lacking in self- vidual who has made a bad adjustment, some of the facts realization. They dream a great deal, talk about what involved and the methods of rehabilitation concern, or they have done or are going to do, but never seem to be should concern, the chaplain and his work as well as the able to make up their own minds or stick to anything psychiatrist. Let us look at the matter of adjustment from long enough to do a satisfying job. the standpoint of religion. Dr. Andrew Blackwood of E. Selfishness. They are extremely selfish and want Yale Theological Seminary says, "Religion is a right relatheir desire to be immediately gratified. They live only tionship between an individual and his God which results for the present and cannot deny themselves anything for in a right relationship between the individual and his the sake of the future. fellow man." The whole business of religion and the sum IV. TREATMENT-GROUP THERAPY. Working in total of its purpose is to lead man into a proper adjustment IV. TREATMENT-GROUP with his God, which automatically brings him into a proper close accord with the doctor we try to give the patient some with his oma.a it hi i t er insight into the mechanism of personality, something of adjustment with his fellow man and with this mysterious
what makes us act'as we do. We try to lead him to realize thing called life. Dr. Lewis J. Sherrill, Dean of Louisville what makes us act'as we do. We try to lead him to realize . Presbyterian Seminary, in his book GUILT AND REthat there are conflicts in the mind that are often not clearly resbyterian Seminary, in his book GUILT AND REdefined or recognized; that the battle between the Id DEMPTION says, "The bottom of a man's hell is a maligdefined or recognized; that the battle between the Id nant relationship with God. In that breeding ground his and the Ego and the Super-Ego, if not properly recognized telionshw Gd I th ,red and handled, is the cause of much of the tensions and nerv- ther poisons spawn and from it they spread." ousness that prompt and produce a desire for drink; that A. Religion and immaturity. This is, or should be, a life's major problem is one of adjustment; that every indi- familiar note in the message and instruction of the revidual is confronted with the same conflicts, impulses, and ligionist. "Jesus grew, he increased, he advanced in tendencies from within, as well as being confronted with wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man." the same social, economic, domestic, and environmental (Luke 2:52.) There is an abundance of teaching mapressure from without; that it does not make much differ- terial in the Bible pertaining to spiritual (personality) ence what happens to a man, the thing that matters is how growth and development. Paul was attempting to cope the individual reacts to what happens to him; that one of with the childishness and immaturity of the people of his the greatest problems, if not the greatest problem, confront- day when he wrote, "When I was a child, I spake as a ing all of us is to handle properly and to channel properly child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: the inward urges, drives, and tendencies with regard to our but when I became a man, I put away childish things." environment, handle them in such a manner as not to pro- (I Cor. 13:11.) duce worry, fear, anger, hate, frustration, social hurts, dis- The alcoholic has been reacting in a childish manner illusionment, guilt feelings, injured pride, emotional starva- so long that he fails to realize that his attitudes as well tion, monotony, and isolation, but on the contrary to make as his actions are childish. It is through group therapy an adjustment that will produce sincerity, honesty, self- as well as through psychotherapy that he is brought to respect, assurance, confidence, maturity, and inner security see and to realize that it is his childish fears, anxieties, and peace. hates, confusion, and guilt that are causing him to react V. THE RELIGIOUS APPROACH. "It can be gen- still in a childish manner even though he is an adult. erally recognized that there is no type of individual .who can His stamping his feet and trying to kick the slats out of be defined as 'normal.' The adjustments of people vary, his cradle when he was a baby because he wanted his depending upon the nature of their endowment, their spe- bottle, his resorting to and dependence upon the bottle in cial gifts and disabilities, their threshold for emotional his adult life, although it contains not milk but alcohol, stimulation, and the demands of the particular environment is one and the same type of reaction. If he does not get in which they are placed. It may be stated roughly that an what he wants when he wants it, he goes out and gets individual is normal if the means of adjustment he chooses drunk. are such as to enable him to develop his abilities to their B. Religion and insincerity. Through the discussions optimum. If he is able to enjoy free expression of his emo- we are able to enlighten the patient concerning his fortions and yet not be carried away by them to a point where mer deceitfulness and insincerity and his failure to be he is no longer master of the situation. If he feels at home sincere with himself as well as with others. No cure is within himself and can accept and develop his dreams and possible until he is sold on the idea of being honest with fantasies in constructive fashion, if he can participate in himself, the therapist, his fellow patients, and his God. impersonal and social activities without marked discom- "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whofort; if his anxieties are such as to facilitate rather'than to soever confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." hinder adjustment, that is, if they are so handled that (Prov. 28:13.) Step by step the patient isled to turn his they result in constructive rather than destructive or dis- eyes within and to look candidly at what is there; to face organized behavior. It is with this concept of normality as it frankly and call it by name; to lay what he sees out on
October-November, 1948 9
the table, to look at it, to talk about it, and to bring it judgment and experience. What he should be concerned out of its immature surroundings (the subconscious) into about is learning to make up his mind. He has been dethe light of maturity. pendent upon his mother perhaps, or father, or wife to
C. Religion and guilt. Here is one place where the make decisions for him. It is exercise and practice that
church, through stupidity and ignorance, has failed be- makes perfect. You cannot drive a car or a ship or a cause of much of the unnecessary guilt it has produced in plane standing still, but start the engine and there is the hearts of its membership. Because of the teachings always the possibility of turning the machine around and
of the church, in many instances millions of people are pointing it toward the port of desire.
still trying to live by the letter and the fear of the Law We believe that heredity and environment play a large rather than by the spirit of Love. Christ tried to lead His part in making us what we are. But there is another facfollowers away from the multitude of man-made laws, tor involved, and that is individual choice: personal rerules, and regulations, but they crucified Him because of sponsibility or what we are going to do with what heredit. The church is mentally crucifying many people today ity and environment have done to us. William Sadler in by much of its teachings which pertain to the keeping and his MODERN PSYCHIATRY says, "Self-determination living by petty rules and regulations. I heartily agree is, in a limited sense, a prerogative of human existence, with William R. Andrew in his article in the recent issue and it is the inhibition and thwarting of this drive for of Journal of Clinical Pastoral Work, when he says: self-realization that constitutes the very hub of both the neuroses and psychoses. Immaturity and confusion lead
Paul devoted a large part of his writings to making to that demoralization of the domain of choice which
the important distinction between being guided by a inevitably terminates in neuroticism 'and maladjustment
good heart as over against the Law. "If you are under of personality."
the sway of the Spirit you are not under the Law." It is well for the chaplain to know something about the (Gal. 5:18.) "Why submit to rules and regulations influence of the. ductless glands on will power and delike 'Hands off this!' 'Taste not that!' 'Touch not cision. It is well for him to know that the medical prothis!' . These rules are determined by human fession has come in recent years to realize "the will is not precepts and tenets; they get the name of wisdom an all-powerful sovereign; that it reigns on the throne of from their self-imposed devotions, their fastings, and the mind as the sovereign of a limited monarchy, limited their rigorous discipline of the body; but they are of by a chemical constitution and biologic by-laws. The eight no value; they simply pamper the flesh!" (Col. or ten ductless glands constitute what might be called a 2:20-23.) "If saving righteousness comes by way of 'board of chemical directors.' Sometimes they are domiLaw, then indeed Christ's death was useless." (Gal. nated by one gland, sometimes by another, but that does 2:21.) "He who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the not imply that the victim of nerves is a helpless indiLaw: 'You must not commit adultery, you must not vidual, drifting without power of control down the kill, you must not steal, you must not covet'-these stream of life." Man is a responsible being. He is not a and any other command are summed up in a single machine, nor is he merely a biological creature, but he is word, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself !' Love a child of God. When the mind is not inhibited by the never wrongs a neighbor; that is why love is the ful- will it runs rampant, it roams aimlessly among the fillment of the Law." (Rom. 13:8-10.) pleasant scenes of its own imagination. As someone has said, "It resembles a horse which has thrown its rider."
Our discussion in dealing with guilt is to replace the Religion has much to say on this subject of indecision.
fear of the Law (rules, regulations, etc.) with the spirit In the conclusion of His Sermon on the Mount, Christ of Love. Countless illustrations can be givenwhere the brings out the tremendous importance of will power patient has a tremendous guilt feeling due to this con- when He says, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayflict with man-made rules and laws, but the alcoholic pa- ings of mine, and DOETH them, I will liken him unto a tient is greatly relieved of much of his guilt when he wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain looks at this problem through a concept of love rather descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and than fear, and allows "the love of Christ to constrain beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded him" rather than the fear of the law. upon a rock." (Matt. 7:24, 25.) From the standpoint of
D. Religion and decision. Indecision is certainly a religion, however, the strong and decisive will is rooted
contributing cause of pathological drinking. It is not so deep in faith. It makes a lot of difference what a man much that the patient must decide to stop drinking, but believes, for his beliefs motivate not only his thoughts he must develop the habit of choosing. He must learn but his actions. A group of people came to Christ on the art of deciding for himself in many; many other one occasion asking Him, "What shall we do, that we things before he can practice this decision in regard to his might work the works of God?" And the Master, being drinking. It is hesitating over trifles, halting between the psychologist or psychiatrist that He was, directed opinions on a small scale that renders him inefficient and their minds inward through their actions, even through formulates a pattern of indecision. The alcoholic should their thoughts, into the realm of faith and belief when watch every possible situation in life for opportunities to He said, "This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on
force the mind to definite decisions and give little worry him whom he hath sent." (John 6:28, 29.)
to the fact that such decisions may afterward prove We must recognize, and the alcoholic from his own wrong. That is of little consequence; that is a matter of experience should realize, that his problems cannot be 10 The Military Chaplain
solved, that he cannot resolve his conflicts, that he cannot of living none the less surely. The "break-through" make the necessary adjustment through a continuation for these, just as for the ill abed, was the same at of his present pattern of behavior. Some radical change bottom: to burst the bonds of Eros love by repenting must be brought about. This change must come about and responding to the Agape love in Christ. This is in the realm of personality. It must deal with the pa- most forcefully brought out in the Gospel of John tient's feelings, with his emotions. Dr. Sherrill expresses where everything in a man's destiny turns on "believwhat we want very much to say when he speaks of ing in," or as it literally is "believing into," Christ. Repentance and Faith: When the patient can be led to make a religious deciThe situation is comparable when a revolution takes sion involving the acceptance of Christ, or if he is a church
place in the life of one person. Augustine, a master member, to rededicate his life to Christ, he is beginning psychologist of the Christian soul, occupies the greater upon a new adventure, a new program which involves a part of his long CONFESSIONS with a description of complete re-education process that we call rebirth. This his own migration of spirit. But for the sake of clarity leaves him with a Christian pattern of belief which in and simplicity we need terms, again, by which we may turn produces a Christian pattern of thought, and that refer to the taking down of one flag and the putting Christian pattern of thought produces a Christian patup of another; the abandoning of an old way and the tern of action. Therefore, when an individual decides for embracing of a new one. But when we have found the Christ, he automatically makes thousands of other determs it is not to be supposed that they are more than cisions, reaching far down into his future life. In his convenient verbal counters to be used in referring to book MODERN PSYCHIATRY William Sadler says, something which, in reality, may be highly compli- "No man can appreciate so fully as a doctor the amazcated and saturated with feeling. Two words of ex- ingly large percentage of human disease and suffering actly this character in the Christian speech are re- which is directly traceable to worry, fear, conflicts, impentance and faith. morality, dissipation, and ignorance-to unwholesome
The point at which the shell of an individual's de- thinking and unclean living. The sincere acceptance of
fenses begins to break is a time when that person is the principles and teachings of Christ with respect to the starting to "change his mind"; and repentance means life of mental peace and joy, the life of unselfish thought just that: a change of mind, particularly about one- and clean living, would at once wipe out more than oneself. By the accidents of speech we never think of call- half the difficulties, diseases, and sorrow of the human ing it "repentance" when a sufferer is re-evaluating his race. In other words, more than one-half of the present own self in his relationship with a therapist. We have afflictions of mankind could be prevented by the trereserved the word for religious speech, and there we mendous prophylactic power of actually living up to the commonly use it to mean "being sorry for sin." But personal and practical spirit of the real teachings of in the New Testament it means vastly more than that. Christ. The teachings of Jesus applied to our modern As Chamberlain expresses it, "When the New Testa- civilization-understandingly applied, not merely nomiment calls for repentance it is demanding that we cor- nally accepted-would so purify, uplift, .and vitalize us, rect all our false notions of prayer, of righteousness, of that the world would immediately stand out as a new life's objectives, of God and His Kingdom, of all am- order of beings, possessing superior mental power and bitions and aspirations that are not in harmony with increased moral force. Irrespective of the future rewards God's will. In other words, repentance is a revamping of religion, laying aside all discussions of future life, IT of the outlook and outreach of all life." WOULD PAY ANY MAN OR WOMAN TO LIVE
Faith is the name given to the second aspect of the THE CHRIST LIFE JUST FOR THE MENTAL AND
revolution in a self. When the shell of self-defenses MORAL REWARDS IT AFFORDS HERE IN THIS has been shattered, one is becoming capable of both PRESENT WORLD. Some day man may awake to the giving and receiving a new kind of love. Christian fact that the teachings of Christ are potent and powerful faith commences at the moment when that affectionate in preventing and curing disease. Some day our boasted trust begins to be given to Christ. But faith is more scientific development, as regards mental and moral than the warm glow of a new kind of affection. It is improvement, may indeed catch up with the teachings of
confidence, at least strong enough to cause one to the Man of Galilee."
begin acting, even if that first act under the new Sov- Arthur John Gossip in EXPERIENCE WORKETH ereign seems no more important than to "stretch forth HOPE states, "Jung, a real man of science, has no doubt thy hand." That, too, is "faith." at all of Christianity and of its power to work out into
In the case of the ill, this "faith" was roughly com- solid and indisputable facts its most extraordinary claims.
parable with what is now known as "transference" to With an unparalleled audacity, it sets itself what seems the therapist. We can now say simply and without an obviously impossible task; declares that the slow, cant that during the healing ministry of Jesus the sick hesitating process of evolution from such crude beginperson fell in love with Jesus, and his "faith" healed nings, from mere living hunger, nothing more, up and him. And in principle it was exactly the same in the through gradually emerging elaborations and instincts case of that yet greater number who sought deliver- and ennoblings until at long last there appears the beance from anxiety and guilt which did not put them ginning of a brain, and so, with huge and yawnirng
in bed but which held them back from the good joys (Continued on page 38)
October-November, 1948 11
The Challenge Of Indonesia
By ALEX ROTTI*
O N a recent speaking tour I found great interest among state, but the Church is now taking steps to end this last
Church people in the reports I gave about Christianity remaining tie. This Church is made up of three types of in my native land, Indonesia. When I realized that Ameri- congregations, the European, the indigenous and members cans really want to know more about my country and about of indigenous churches living away from their own conthe place of Christian churches there, I decided to write to gregations. as many persons interested in Christianity in Asia as I could. The European congregations, located in and around the Several American missionary and church groups have been large cities, include Europeans, Indo-Europeans and Indo. helpful in giving me names of people who- might like to nesians speaking only Dutch. With a membership of 120,. hear about their co-religionists in'the East Indies. 000, these European congregations are the oldest Protestant
Perhaps one reason why Americans are usually surprised churches in Indonesia, dating back to the earliest days of when they learn how many Christians live on the islands the East India Company (1600). of my country, is that so few Christian ministers of Indo- The large indigenous churches, most of them in East nesia have visited the U.S. I know I am one of the first to Indonesia, are made up of various distinct population come here, being the only Indonesian who has received the groups. For instance, there is the Minahassa Church of degree of Master of Sacred Theology from an American North Celebes, instituted in 1930, with a membership of university, the Union Theological Seminary in New York 335,000. Somewhat smaller are the Molucca Church, City. I wish I could stay here longer and visit more church founded in 1931, with 230,000 members and the Timor groups, but my year of study in New York has already kept Church, founded in 1947, with 210,000 members. me away too long from my church on the island of Timor. The 25,000 detached members of the indigenous
Altogether there are more than 23/4 million Christians in churches live chiefly in the cities outside of East Indonesia Indonesia, proportionally more than in China, India or any and are in close contact with local European congregations. country of Southeast Asia. The 59 million are Mohamme- There is one very important indigenous church not in dans, 11/2 million are Hindus, 1 million are Buddhists and East Indonesia, the Batak Church on Sumatra with 550,000 7 million are heathens. members. Growing out of work by the Rhine Mission, it
Of Indonesia's Christians about 700,000 are members of has become the world's largest indigenous church, emthe Roman Catholic church, 100,000 being Europeans, the bracing a large majority of the Batak people and also hayrest being Indonesians mostly on the island of Flores but ing some congregations on Java. also in the north of the island of Celebes, the northern part Perhaps the term "indigenous church" needs some explaof Timor, and in the cities of Java. nation. This type of church is found in few other places
Indonesia's Protestant churches, with which I am natu- thah Indonesia, and nowhere else is it so strong. The inrally most familiar, have altogether more than 2 million digenous churches are entirely independent ecclesiastically members, largely in the State of East Indonesia. East Indo- speaking, and in Indonesia they embrace most or all of the nesia, organized as an autonomous state over a year and a members of several population groups. For instance, about half ago, with a population of 12 million, is to be a mem- 80 per cent of Bataks belong to the Batak Church. These ber of the coming United States of Indonesia, and includes people, like the Minahassa, the Timorese, and the Ambonthe island of Celebes, the Moluccas (Halmahera, Ceram, ese, are a single, distinct ethnic group, speaking their own Ambon) and the Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok, language and having their own culture. Flores, Timor). In addition to the churches already mentioned there are
East Indonesia's Christians, Protestants and Catholics to- several European Reformed Churches with a membership gether, number over 11/2 million, about 12 per cent of the of 5000, including some Dutch-speaking Indonesians. On population, but they exercise an influence much greater Java there are several indigenous churches stemming from than numbers alone would indicate. They include much Reformed missions, namely the East Java Church and the more than 12 per cent of the educated population and in Sunda Church. There also are the Reformed Java Church East Indonesia's first cabinet seven out of nine ministers of Southern Middle Java and two churches in Northeyn were Christians. Middle Java growing out of the Baptist and pietistic
I want to say something about the problems I face as a Salatiga missions. The remarkable thing about this lastminister in Indonesia, but first I will fill in the factual mentioned group of indigenous churches on Java is that picture of Christianity in my country. their 100,000 members are converts from Islam, an achieveThe so-called "Protestant Evangelical Church in Indo- ment which is perhaps unique in the history of Christian nesia," with nearly 1,000,000 members, was until 1935 a missions. state church, but since that time has had its own adminis- Besides the churches I have listed there are others in tration. Its ministers still receive financial aid from the Borneo and on other islands, as well as numerous missions, with a total membership of over 550,000, some of them also
*Mr. Rotti is the first Indonesian Christian minister to study theology in converts from Islam. America. He may be reached c/o Dr. H. J. Friedericy, Rm. 516, 10 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N. Y. I think all these details may be of some interest if only 12 The Military Chaplain
because they are so little known. Americans have, I believe, Now that I have told you something about Christianity in been more interested in the missions of China, Korea, India, Indonesia, you may be interested in hearing a little about and Japan, but I hope that in the future more of your coun- the day-by-day problems I have dealt with on Timor. I had trymen will hear the story of Indonesia's Christians. to care for 103 parishes on the western end of the island. Within a year from now Indonesia is expected to become In these parishes are 35,000 Christians scattered over a independent; and as a new, sovereign state will be more wide area. They have 55 denominational schools with important to America than in the past. 7,000 pupils. To reach the members of my congregation
Indonesia's coming independence has also, of course, I must travel on horseback or by canoe, often going several made me and my fellow ministers look at our country in a days before reaching my destination. Unlike Christian
*new way. Before the war we were concerned with the ministers in the great cities of America, I must usually spiritual welfare of our congregations, with their health travel armed, in order to protect myself against snakes and and with their education. Now our congregations must wild animals. deal with perplexing political problems, and consequently The difficulties and dangers of travel are more than outI and my colleagues must share these problems. As mem- weighed by the devotion and enthusiasm of my congregabers of a Christian minority, 23/4 million out of more than tion members. Many of them must walk thirty miles or 72 million, we naturally have a special interest in the com- more to attend Sunday services, yet by starting the night position and policies of our new government. We have before, they are on hand Sunday morning. from the start joined with all Indonesians in seeking inde- The people of Timor and other parts of Indonesia must pendence, but at the same time, we in East Indonesia have overcome more than distance to become Christians, for desired a measure of autonomy for our region within a they often meet strong opposition from their Mohammedan United States of Indonesia. or heathen neighbors. Consequently, in bringing ChristianThe question of independence is ceasing to be a vital ity to new groups an attempt is made to reach entire famiissue, because Indonesia is to become a sovereign state in lies and villages rather than isolated individuals. In this 1949, yet the support given by our indigenous churches to way groups are not divided by internal conflicts. the aim of independence is an important part of their his- If you could see the Christians of Timor who only a few tory. We Christian Indonesians have long felt our people years ago were living in a completely primitive state, I think could not develop a proper sense of Christian dignity un- you would share my pride in the work the Church has done less they were free, and hence we seek a free church in a there. In bringing them within its fold, it has brightened free land. the people's lives spiritually, socially and materially.
Most Americans, I find, have never heard of East Indo- When I return to my congregation in the forests of nesia and believe that the Republic of Indonesia represents Timor I will be completing a personal link between your the entire Archipelago of 3000 islands. Actually the Re- country and mine. Here I have tried to tell Americans public controls a third of Java and most of Sumatra. West about my little-known people, and there I will tell them Java, with 12 million people, the Sundanese, of distinct about the wonderful schools and hospitals of the United ethnic stock and speaking their own language, is now or- States, and, above all, about the great position the Church ganized as a provisional autonomous state, as is the island has built for itself in this country, so that they too will be of Madura with 2 million people. The tin islands of Banka inspired to get these things for themselves and their and Billiton together with the Riouw islands are joined in children. We have faith that Almighty God will lead us another autonomous unit, as are East Sumatra and West in our work. Borneo. Other areas also have separate administrations,
such as South Sumatra and East and South Borneo. The
peoples of these areas are, in a real sense, minorities, as are
the Christians, for they are all less numerous than the Java- Patton Prayer nese of the Republic, they are all of separate stocks and they (Continued from page 3) speak separate languages. Thus it is that as Christians and the fogs ceased. For the better part of a week came bright East Indonesians we joined with those leaders of ethnic clear skies and perfect flying weather. Our planes came minorities who favor a federation of autonomous states, in over by tens, hundreds, and thousands. They knocked out which each can develop and preserve its own culture. hundreds of tanks, killed thousands of enemy troops in the
For some time such a federation has, in fact, been in Bastogne salient, and harried the enemy as he valiantly process of formation, but perhaps it can gain needed tried to bring up reinforcements. The 101st Airborne, with strength, if the rest of the world becomes aware of Indo- the 4th, 9th, and 10th Armored Divisions, which saved nesia's cultural and ethnic diversity. In recognition of these Bastogne, and other divisions which assisted so valiantly differences, even within East Indonesia, its laws guarantee in driving the Germans home, will testify to the great supfreedom of worship and equal standings for all religious port rendered by our air forces. General Patton prayed for groups. This guarantee is very important in a predomi- fair weather for battle. He got it. nantly Mohammedan country, where Christians, Hindus It was late in January of 1945 when I saw the Army and Buddhists are all minorities. We hope, of course, that Commander again. This was in the city of Luxembourg. the laws of the United States of Indonesia will also protect He stood directly in front of me, smiled: "Well, Padre, our religious freedom, because otherwise we Christians may prayers worked. I knew they would." Then he cracked me encounter some difficulties. In fact in 1945, near Batavia, on the side of my steel helmet with his riding crop. That Java, a group of Christians was wiped out. was his way of saying, "Well done." October-November, 1948 13
First Row (sitting) (left to right): Chaplains Eugene C. McGuire, Karl G. Peterson, Earnest E. Northen, Jr., James N. McConnell, Alvin A. Katt, Stephen T. Mayer, Uriel K. Perego. Second row (kneeling): Chaplains Albert W. Nickel, Carl S. Ledbetter, William S. Behrick, Ranson B. Woods, Jr., Alfred T. Johnston, Frank A. Blackwell, Lawrence M. Nelson, Leslie L. Bryant, Paul F. Bradley. Third Row (standing): Chaplains Robert J. Sherry, Delvin E. Ressel, James F. Normile, Leslie A. Thompson, Wallace M. Hale, Victor E. Walter, Herbert W. Wicher, Wayne M. Daubenspeck, Paul J. Slavik, Arthur C. Piepkorn, Bernard F. Henry. Fourth Row (standing): Chaplains Marvin O. Gardner, Eugene Murray, Lexington O. Sheffield, Verling R. Rugh,
Cecil C. Cowder, William H. Myers, Elijah V. Flowers, Harold G. Elsam, Stephen W. Kane, Elmer C. Harre.
ARMY-NAVY-AIR ADVANCED SCHOOL
By CHAPLAIN CARL S. LEDBETTER*
T HE Sixty-Ninth Advanced Conference Course at The ciples of counseling as it applies to the military chaplaincy.
Chaplain School, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, was Field trips to the United States Disciplinary Barracks at concluded Friday, 22 October 1948. Chaplain (Brigadier New Cumberland, Pennsylvania, the Valley Forge General General) James H. O'Neill, Deputy Chief of Chaplains, Hospital at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, and the United gave the graduation address, and conferred diplomas tipon States Veterans Hospital at Coatesville, Pennsylvania, twenty Air Force Chaplains, sixteen Army Chaplains, and afforded "on the spot" appraisal of the chaplain's role in two Navy Chaplains. these areas of activity.
This class was distinguished by four important "Firsts" Lecturers for the course were Chaplain (Major) Robert in the history of the School: It was the first class to be at- J. Sherry, Course Director; Chaplain (Major) Alfred C. tended by representatives of the Naval Service; It was the Longley, from the staff of Command and General Staff first class since unification to be attended by Air Force College, Military Psychology; Reverend Charles A. CurChaplains; It was the first course to be conducted entirely ran, Ph.D., Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, Nonon the advanced level, all of the chaplains having had Directive Counseling; and Mr. C. Gilbert Wrenn, Ph.D., several years of active duty service behind them; and
. .University of Minnesota, Eclectic Counseling. finally, it was the first class to use civilian lecturers for the University o Minnesota, Eclectic Counseling. courses presented. In a special ceremony at the graduation exercise, ChapThe Sixty-Ninth Class was a "single subject" seminar, lain Sherry, who is Assistant Commandant of the School, centering about the important subject of Counseling, and was presented with a citation from the National Conferwas devoted entirely to the study of techniques and prin- ence of Christians and Jews in recognition of his distinguished .service to the cause of good will and under*Chaplain Ledbetter is Assistant Division Chaplain, 10th Infantry standing among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. Division. standing among Protestants, Catholics, and Jews. 14 The Military Chaplain
THE OVERSEAS CHAPLAIN AS A MISSIONARY
By CHAPLAIN ARTHUR F. WEAVER
REPEATEDLY the story was told in 1930 and again in when men forget all the ideals for which Christian America
1940-41, of a letter from Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa to stands and absorb instead pagan ideas and un-Christian the churches of America. "Send us," he is reported to have practices, betraying the homes which sent them forth and written, "a thousand missionaries today, or in twenty years encouraging our enemies in their former attitudes. In this you will have to send to Japan an hundred thousand of your battle for the inner man, the whole man, the overseas soldiers!" The churches in 1930 were not sending mission- Chaplain is the "shock troops" of the Church. aries out-to Japan or anywhere else; we were calling them Yet some will say "The Chaplain is fighting a hopeless, home that year and the years immediately following be- losing war. Men go,to Germany or Japan morally and cause of lack of funds to support them. In less than twenty physically clean. They see others enriched by Black Market years, we sent and are still sending to Japan ten times an profits; they see others busy with illicit loves. They go to hundred thousand soldiers. Many of the men who sleep on pieces; their lives are wrecked; they come back ruined as foreign soil today are the sons of church homes, sons sent Christians." If this is true with the presence of the Chrisas soldiers instead of as missionaries. The money which tian life as lived by our present force of Chaplains and truly sent them there is the money of church members, money Christian officers and men, what will be the result if we dewithheld from the missionary causes a decade ago! crease or withdraw entirely all forces and persons which Such is the ironic justice of World War II. But it does uphold the ideals of our religion? Not every war is won in not end there, Our geographical position on the un- the early campaigns; not every battle was a victory for our touched continent and our strategic position as the arsenal arms in World War II. I remember the losing battles we of democracy, and of Christian ideals as well, have pushed fought for Bataan and Singapore, and in North Africa. I reus into the political position of being the leading occupa- member the critical days when the Omaha and Anzio beachtional power in both Japan and Germany. We committed headshoverednearextinction. Then American homes-your ourselves in the Atlantic Charter to a war of ideas and homes-and American leadership-your leaders-rallied ideals far beyond that of tanks and tactics. A battle be- their resources and mobilized their manpower and material, tween armies merely maneuvers one nation or another and the beachheads became full-scale invasions, and the into the position of directing the postwar battle of ideas battles became campaigns, and the campaigns became vicand ideals. We have come into that position. We send tories. So, too, now is not the time to call back your Chapand must continue to send for months and years to come the lains, out there on the cutting edge of Christianity, pioneeryoung men from American homes to live in these occupied ing for the sake of your sons; now is not the time to critilands. These young men are the sons of Christian homes cize their decisions to stay in the service nor to question
-over ninety per cent of them; they are fed, equipped and their spirituality. Now is the time to send more men, Chrissupported by church members' money levied in govern- tian men, full of vigor of body and mind and spirit, into mental taxes. It is as if God were saying to His Church, this fight for the minds and soul of the world. "This is your second chance; what you did not do volun- If we win, the Church wins; Christ wins. The principles tarily and in My Name in 1930-41 must be done in 1946- of democracy, which have emerged in political practice 57." Your sons are going forth as emissaries of democracy from the words of Jesus, will become the ruling principles (Christianity expressed in political and governmental re- of those great areas of the world which had rejected them lations!) even though not consecrated and ordained by the or forsaken them. Christianity and democracy are not Church, sent out by the State. It is our shame that it must synonymous, but they are related as cause and effect. If be so; it is our golden-and last-opportunity that it is so. we win, Christ wins. In the battle of armies, the Chaplain was "a morals and If we lose, the world loses its last chance, America loses morale officer." He was the constant companion of the her soul and all that she has sacrified in men and money, fighting man, and there is no measure for the good he did. the Church loses, and Christ is crucified anew. The very In the battle of ideas, he IS the fighting man. This battle sons we hope to save are lost, and they become the invasion is fought in the minds and lives of both conquerors and force of pagan ideas and vicious vices, of diseases such vices conquered peoples. It is won when men live like Chris- engender and of sins such selfishness encourages, as they tians away from home, walking advertisements to those return homeward. Against such an invasion force, we have among whom they move that the Christian way (expressed no defenses because they are our own flesh and blood, our in genuine democracy) is the best way of life. It is lost own menfolk. We must not, we dare not lose.
ORDER ARMY-NAVY CHAPLAIN RECORDS NOW.
LIMITED SUPPLY ONLY.
See Cover III For Order Blank
October-November, 1.948 15
A Chaplain Introduced Coffee Into The Nauy
By CHAPLAIN CLIFFORD M. DRURY, USNR*
O NE of the great chaplains of the Navy was George Christian society; perhaps he will not. And no one, but he
Jones, an Episcopal clergyman, who served for about who has felt it, knows what it is to live months and years, thirty years beginning in 1833. Chaplain Jones was con- where there is none to whom you can throw open all your cerned about the extent of intemperance among the sailors, feelings, and look for sympathy; none to say to you "God Seeking a substitute for grog, which was a part of the daily speed you, my brother"; to live among those who talk rations aboard ships, Jones turned to coffee. On 10 Febru- familiarly of things you have scarcely heard named beary 1842 Jones wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, offering fore; where oaths are common language, and sabbaths
tbutecfeifteNy"would furnis hfonrnen e;hr ah r omnlnugadsbah
to buy the coffee if the Navy "would furnish conveniences regularly profaned; where matters you have loved as for having it prepared." His offer was accepted and soon holy and sacred, are unknown, or spoken of with a smile: thereafter coffee was included in the food rations. It is and all this, till your own heart begins to catch the insignificant that the grog ration was reduced at the same fection, and you start with alarm to find the disease you time. came to cure fastening on yourself. This is a Chaplain's
Chaplain Jones was an author of several works dealing berth, and you ask, who is sufficient for these things? with naval life, including a two-volume work Sketches of I answer, He is, who is sufficient for all things and the Naval Life; Excursions to Cairo, Jerusalem and Balbec; man who does not depend on God for sufficiency, has no and the third volume of the narrative of Commodore business there. Perry's report of his expedition to Japan.
Chaplain Jones was the first head of the "Department Among his other achievements Chaplain Jones was one of English Studies" at the Naval Academy at Annapolis and was its first chaplain. He accompanied Commodore of the first of the Navy chaplains to be interested in estaband was its first chaplain. He accompanied Commodore ihnalbr bodsip Perry to Japan as chaplain of the Mississippi in 1854. fishing a library aboard ship. While that ship was in Tokyo Bay, one of the marines Chaplain Jones retired in 1862, but returned to duty in aboard died. Chaplain Jones conducted the funeral service 1864. He died at Philadelphia 23 January 1870. Because ashore on 9 March 1854. That was the first Protestant of his accomplishments, he is one of the great chaplains out religious service ever held in Japan. of the Navy's yesterdays who deserves to be remembered.
In Volume II of his Sketches of Naval Life (pp. 237-8) Chaplain Jones outlines his ideal of the perfect chaplain. The picture that he paints remains as an ideal for chaplains in this generation as truly as it did for his. Jones wrote as follows:
He must not encourage vice even by a smile; but must
not be quick at noticing faults; he must feel constantly, that he is there, not to condemn others, but to reform them. He should check more by example than speech; and the quieter he is about it the better. If conversation takes an improper turn among the company he is in, the best reproof is to leave them; and this will apply to most other things; it is a reproof no one can quarrel with,
while it will be felt by all.
He should be well educated, and above all, though I
bring it last, he must be pious; and his piety must be of that noble, and elevating, and purifying kind, that comes not from men and systems, but from the Bible. There is no place so trying to a religious person, all through, as a man of war. He is in close contact with his fellows, men on which his life should be an constant reproof, and who therefore scan his life, and feelings, and words, and his very thoughts, with a searching eye. He nay have
*This is an excerpt from the Official Navy Chaplain Corps History, soon to be published. Write Navy Chief of Chaplains for full information.
-EDITORS. George Jones, from painting by Clayton Braun. 16 The Military Chaplain
USAF OFFICERS AND AIRMEN PRAISE RELIGIOUS RETREAT Replies to a questionnaire sent to officers and airmen who attended the first annual U. S. Air Force Catholic retreat in Jamaica, New York, have indicated unanimous appreciation and approval of the first of the planned series of such religious exercises. The retreat, which was attended by both white and Negro personnel, was held September 27 to October 1 at the Bishop Malloy Retreat House in Jamaica, under the supervision of Chaplain (Lieutenant Colonel) John J. Wood, Deputy Chief of Air Force Chaplains, the Reverend Alfred Duffy and the Reverend Cosmas Shaughnessy, both directors at the Bishop Malloy Retreat House. A similar Protestant retreat was held in August at the Jesse Lee Academy in West Redding, Connecticut. USAF religious retreats are planned for several sections of the United States on an annual basis as a part of the character guidance studies now being pursued by all the armed services.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Turn to page 21 for Protestant Retreat.)
Assistant Army Chaplain of Second Army Promoted
The promotion of Chaplain (Lieutenant Colo- School, Wilmington, Del., in 1920, attended St.
nel) Stanislaus J. Ryczek, Assistant Army Chap- Mary's College, Orchard Lake, Mich, from lain of the Second Army, from Lieutenant 1920-1922, and was graduated from S. S. Cyril Colonel to Colonel, was announced .by Second & Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Mich., in
Army Headquarters recently. 1926.
Chaplain Ryczek was advanced in grade on Chaplain Ryczek has served as Pastor of "Our
the U. S. Army Retirement List under the pro- Lady of Perpetual Help" church in New Bedvisions of Public Law 810, 80th Congress. The ford, Mass.
Chaplain returned to active duty from the Re- He was commissioned a first lieutenant in tirement List in 1944. His promotion order the Regular Army in 1933, and his assignments stated that personnel listed in the order who are include tours of duty at Schofield Barracks, now on active duty are reordered to active duty Hawaii; Bolling Field, Washington, D. C.; with in the grade to which advanced on the retired the 1st Infantry Division, at Camp Pickett, Va.; list. with the Third Service Command Headquarters
Chaplain Ryczek is the son of Mr. Joseph in Baltimore, and with Headquarters Second
Ryczek, 1107 Sycamore St., Wilmington, Del. Army in Baltimore and at Fort Meade, Md.
The Chaplain resides at Apt. 119, Edgewater Chaplain Ryczek is a member of the Knights Apts., Essex 21, Maryland. of Columbus, American Legion and Chaplains
He was graduated from Salesianum High Association.
October-November, 1948 17
DON'T PULL ALL THE TRIGGERS
By CHAPLAIN W. EDGAR GREGORY, USA
U PON reporting for the first time to my new organiza- Never was I so aware of the value of the old adage, "We
tion, an historic old Infantry regiment with a long and learn by doing."
proud record, a clerk indicated the door through which I I determined to use the same technique with my clerkshould proceed. "The Colonel will see you now, sir," he driver. He was a headstrong, stiff-necked fellow who was said. always "cussing out" the other fellow as being in the
The Adjutant presented me, and the Colonel invited me wrong. Never have I known him to admit being in the to sit down. The Adjutant retired. wrong so far as traffic was concerned. To him the other
"One thing I want you to understand," the Colonel be- driver was always at fault.
gan, "is that I don't believe in pulling all the triggers." Often I have gotten in my jeep and told him to take me to
Thus was I introduced to one of the Army's most preg- a specific destination, then settled down to look over some nant phrases. I hardly remember the conversation immedi- papers (or just fallen into a spell of thinking). I'd sudately following, except that it bore upon the application of denly come to with a start to find him on a thoroughly unthe phrase to my specific task with the regiment. familiar road. The inclination always was to land on him
"The job is yours. I won't interfere unless you get into with the inquiry as to why in blazes he was taking me this difficulty. If you need help I'm here to help you." way. Remembering the Colonel's advice I bit my lip and
But before dismissing me he again reverted to the phrase, held my peace. If he didn't get me to my destination on "Don't pull all the triggers!" time then I'd light into him and ask him why he hadn't
"You know," he said, "it's the hardest thing to get across asked the way if he hadn't known. Invariably, however, he to young officers. Nine out of ten just can't grasp its got me there on time-frequently with more comfort than significance." if we had followed the route I would have taken.
I was a "veteran" of over two years' military experience The same thing applied to methods of driving. Other at the time but had never heard the expression before. If I officers riding with me were often frightened half out of had, it might have saved me a lot of grief. As it was, I their wits. I'll admit that I had my bad moments, also, but kept it distinctly in mind as I approached the new assign- I held my peace. Never once did the man get me in an acment. I had two assistants (1st Lieutenants) and a corporal cident or traffic mishap. He appeared reckless but he hanwho acted both as personal clerk and jeep driver. And I dled that jeep like a veteran. immediately found use for the expression! The responsibility of routine maintenance was his. Before
Both officers were relatively inexperienced and yet ex- starting on a particularly difficult trip I was inclined to quesceedingly touchy on the subject of their own prerogatives, tion him about the gasoline, the oil, and the tires. RememI found, after a little preliminary feeling out of the situa- bering the Colonel, however, I kept these questions to mytion, that we were going to have to rigidly de-limit their self. The driver always came through. If he hadn't, howspheres of activity. But bearing the Colonel's instruction ever, I'm sure it was the wisest policy. Suppose he had run in mind I explained that he was giving them specific assign- out of gas? That embarrassment alone would have been ments and expected them to carry on as they saw how. Gen- sufficient to have made him double check the next time. eral policies were laid down-but only in the broadest sense In my way, therefore, I learned the significance of the
-and I added that I would be around regularly to see how Colonel's phrase. Too many officers are almost literally they were coming along but that I did not intend to inter- inclined to line their men up and then pull the triggers fere with their job unless there were complaints either from for them. Yet no officer is really in a position to pull all them or from the men with whom they were to work. the triggers. The normal infantry company has about 200
I made it a point thereafter not even to approach tasks men and five officers. Each of these officers would be pullthat were in their jurisdiction unless they were with me. ing the triggers for forty men. (It could be even worse-Regularly I called them together for an informal discus- with each of the junior officers firing for about 50 men and sion of the general situation. It was the most harmonious the company commander pulling the triggers for all 200. team with which I have ever worked. They came to me Think of the job of the Colonel who tried pulling all the with suggestions as to how our work in general could be triggers.) It just won't work. In the Army-even more improved and not once did I take a project to the Colonel than anywhere else-one just has to learn to delegate auwithout securing his approval, thority. It's physically impossible to do the whole job
Yet it took a lot of self-discipline at times. Several times oneself.
I saw them, through inexperience, doing that which I knew But there is the further factor that when one tries to do was later going to backfire. But I held my tongue and it he demonstrates lack of confidence in his subordinates. waited. Invariably they came to me when the situation got If he lacks confidence in them they lack confidence in both out of hand. I was thus able to help them meet situations him and themselves. Such a man in a critical situation will which should have been met before, but which, had they have chaos on his hands. If he is an exceptionally compebeen met before, would have caused resentment on their tent man the whole group will be looking to him for depart and might never have taught them the needed lesson, tailed instructions. If he isn't particularly competent (and 18 The Military Chaplain
this is more frequently the case) he will find out that every- mental commanders and follows the same procedure with thing has gone to pieces under him. them. They do the same with their battalion commanders Men will make mistakes. That must be taken for and the latter pass down appropriate portions of the plan granted. The officer himself will make mistakes. The to their company commanders. Ultimately each corporal thing to do, however, is-once the man has been given the has his own specific task to perform. He should be told primary instruction concerning his job-to assume that the clearly what he is expected to achieve and the limits to be man knows his job. Give him what instructions are neces- placed upon his actions. He should then be given a free sary--assuming that he knows what he should know-and hand to dispose of his men as he best sees fit. But even he no more. If he falls down under those circumstances there can't pull all the triggers. He must depend upon the initiaare only two answers: tive of each man in his unit. He gives each of these men
1. The person in command has assumed more than he their specific objective and explains their limitations-in was entitled to assume, or terms of what the rest of the unit will be doing. The man
2. The subordinate was not as qualified as he should must be given some chance to work it out for himself. In have been. actual combat this is all that can take place. No matter how Nothing that has been said should, by the way, excuse ardently one tries to pull all the triggers he just can't do it. any superior from giving every bit of information the sub- And suppose the man fails? If it is in combat it probably ordinate is entitled to have and which there is no reason means the end. If, however, circumstances permit and the for believing him to already possess. In questionable cases man doesn't himself come voluntarily for help, one can the superior may very well ask the question, "Do you know call all those immediately under him together and go carehow to get to X?" or "Do you know how to prepare this fully over the details wherein this particular subordinate report ?" If the subordinate doesn't know he should say so failed-in such a way that no one knows that it is directed
-even if the senior does not ask him. If he thinks he at a specific subordinate. knows, detailed instruction will do him no good anyway. If the subordinate still fails to learn, there is aways the He'll have to make his mistakes for himself. private conference. He can be called in and given a good
It is best to trust one's subordinates. In military life, at "bawling out," or, if one prefers, carefully instructed on least, one's life frequently depends upon them. It applies to the mistake he has made. everyone in command-from the highest general to the And if he still fails to learn he can always be disciplined humblest squad leader. Frequently a man has a different (in the Army) or dismissed (in civil life). way of doing something than his superior has. It may be The principle applies everywhere where leadership has just as good. If it can possibly be permitted he should be to be practiced. The store manager who pulls all the triggiven a chance to try it. If he isn't given that chance, he'll gers is certain to wreck his own health and earn the everalways believe it better. If he does try it and fails he may lasting distrust of his employees. If he have superabundant listen to wiser advice. Nine times out of ten, however, it energy he may be able to accomplish the task for a while. If will be found just as effective as the other way. A man his business grows, however, he'll ultimately find the task who is given some initiative, even though he makes mis- beyond even his own physical limits. He must sooner or takes, is a better man to have around in a crisis than the man later delegate some of his authority. He not only injures his who never does anything until given detailed instructions, health by doing otherwise but may wreck his business. Frequently, too, the subordinate is in a far better position There is an old adage to the effect that one will always seek to judge of ways and means than is the superior, to put something over on those who distrust him. The boy
It applies all along the line. That's why the Army has whom the teacher is certain threw that spitball will most what it calls "chain of command." The Corps or Army certainly throw one later just for spite! commander can't possibly dispose of every last company It applies throughout life-in politics, in fraternal orand detachment under his command. He draws up the ganizations, in the church, etc. The minister who says that general plan of action and leaves it to his division com- he expects his church officials to carry on the work which manders to carry out the details of the action. Each division they are capable of doing and he will do only that which no commander is given an objective to reach. It's up to him to one in the parish can do may be called by some "lazy" but achieve his goal in his own way-given the resources at his he is demonstrating good leadership. He is seeking to transdisposal. If he believes he can't do it he should say so and fer to others those jobs that they can do, that he himself can explain why. It's up to his superior, then to show him how specialize upon the tasks he alone can do. The doctor who it can be done-or make such changes in the general plan leaves the details of ward sanitation, etc., to his nurses is that it can be done. not lazy either. He is merely demonstrating the principle,
Having determined upon his objective he calls in his regi- "Don't pull all the triggers."
1949 DUES ARE PAYABLE JANUARY Ist
3 dollars, please
October..-November, 1948 19
Editorials
Continuing Steadfastly He speaks to us through the voice of science that sends A great newspaper syndicate prints each day upon its man's eyes seeking millions of light years into space or finds
A great newspaper syndicate prints each day upon its a.alx wihnadolto ae.H8past si h masthead the picture of a lighthouse flashing its beam into a galaxy within a droplet of water. He speaks to us in the the surrounding blackout. It carries the slogan "Give light miracles of modern medicine that now can, not only cure ,, .disease, but remove the cause of disease. He speaks to us and the people will find the way." We who are Christians through the marvels of surgery that can now transplant might well transform that slogan to read "Find the Light iving tissue from one part to another upon the human thatwe ay howpeope te Wy."living tissue from one part to another upon the human that we may show people the Way." body and retain its life and growth and beauty. He speaks It is a hopeful sign that today Christian people of all to us in psalms and hymns and oratorios, in grand music, faiths and creeds are seeking the light of God that they in the staggering architecture of mountain ranges, in the may show people the way toward peace, and joy and hap- exquisite beauty of a snowflake. He speaks to us with solpiness. We may find this light by looking at the Light of emn warning in recurring wars and rumors of wars; in the the World. stupid inequity of a world half stuffed and half starved.
We seek this light! But only through steadfastness and Wrote Lowellconstancy can we hope to reflect that light back upon our neighbors, our dear ones, and our friends. Only as we keep God is not dumb, that He should speak no more! clean and clear the prisms and lenses and mirrors of our If thou hast wanderings in the wilderness personalities can we hope to reflect even a small part of His And findest not Sinai-'tis thy soul is poor! glory. There towers the mountain of the Voice no less, The apostles continued steadfastly with those Christians Which whoso seeks shall find-but he who bends who were the first church. They continued in their teachings Intent on manna still, and mortal ends, which they had received from the lips of the Master. They Sees it not-neither hears its thundered lore. continued in the breaking of bread (the Holy Communion) and in prayer. They continued steadfastly because of THESE EARLY DISCIPLES WERE UNAFRAID TO their pristine faith, because of their courage, their honesty, PRAY. They cared not what price of service was demanded and persistence. of them. They prayed. They prayed believing. They prayed By faith they found access to God and had with Him a intending to use the power they knew would come in anfellowship that united them in power. Do you remember swer to their prayer. The Church today must so pray. those lines by Sidney Lanier? f Those Christmas Cards Again
As the marsh hen builds on the watery sod, Most gratifying have been the inquiries stimulated by Behold I will build me a nest on the greatness of God; our editorial in the-last issue of this journal in which we I will fly in the greatness of God as the marsh hen flies urged that Christians should use Christian Christmas cards. In the freedom that fills all space 'twixt the marsh and the To all who have inquired we have forwarded the address
skies; of the Salem, Ohio, printer whose idea inspired our By so many roots as the marsh grass sends in the sod thought. I will heartily lay me a-hold of the greatness of God; We are glad to have the privilege now of remarking Oh, like to the greatness of God is the greatness within that the National Council of Christians and Jews, our beneThe range of the marshes, the liberal marshes of Glynn. factors at the New York Convention, have permitted Mr.
John Taylor to use the picture, The Four Chaplains, on
So may we live in those areas that are the greatness of God. these inter-faith calendars. We commend the NCCJ for So may we cast our rootage deep into the power of God. their action and compliment this businesman for his inBut the miracle and power of this fellowship will come terato n opietti uiesa o i n
But the miracle and power of this fellowship will come genuity in bringing to the American public a service so only to those who continue steadfastly in the apostles' unique. teaching, in the breaking of bread and in prayer. Pursuing the theme. What an opportunity have Jews
IN PRAYER DID WE SAY? These early disciples heard and Christians in using religious festivals to promote the God's voice. Listen to the sublime lines that open the messages of their faiths! The religious message of the Epistle to the Hebrews: Passover can always touch the soul of man. The invigorating faith that comes at Easter can always challenge the
"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners jaded life. The year of the Judeo-Christian calendars is
spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath full of themes that are basically religious. In these days in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he when materialism and the secular in society cry so loudly as hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he the only voices to be heard, let us cry, too, that the God of made the worlds .... Abraham and Isaac, the God of Bethlehem and Calvary, is the God of all, and must be followed if humanity is to
And has God ceased to speak to his children? Far from it. grope from Darkness to Light. 20 The Military Chaplain
U. S. Air Force Religious Retreat Significant
Step In Services' Religious Program
By CHAPLAIN ROY M. TERRY, USA (USAF)
ON August twenty-eighth, 1948, fifty airmen of the render a more effective assistance to the work of the ChapUnited States Air Force returned to their bases lain in the field of religion at the base level."
throughout the northeastern and north central area of the Observers of religion in the armed forces see a great country from the first Air Force Religious Retreat held Au- deal of significance in this project for it has embraced both gust 23-28 at the Jesse Lee Academy, West Redding, Conn. officers and enlisted men and has welcomed both white and
Throughout the long period of planning for the Re- Negro airmen. Comment from men in attendance at the treat by Chaplain (Col.) Charles I.. Carpenter, Chief of Retreat has been highly enthusiastic over the spirit of the Air Force Chaplains and his staff the project has been conference, the conditions under which it was held and the considered one of the most forward-looking steps in the stimulating manner in which such topics as "What Am I To program of religion in the Armed services. Details and im- Believe?" "How May I Attain My Belief?" and "How Can mediate results are now being released. I Practice My Belief ?" were presented by Chaplain (Capt.) The Retreat in itself is a pioneer step toward producing Paul Tomasovic, of the Air University at Montgomery, a new vitality and a fresh insight in the strengthening of Ala.; Chaplain (Major) Thomas Adams, Deputy Staff the spiritual and moral foundations for service life. Chap- Chaplain Air Defense Command at Mitchel Field, N. Y. lain Carpenter in discussing the background and purpose of and Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Robert P. Taylor, Air Mat6riel the "Retreat" idea stated that, "Through the past conflict Command, Wright-Patterson Field, Dayton, Ohio. Arand subsequently in the days that have followed it has been rangements for the entire Retreat were under the direction the effort of the Office of the Chief of Air Force Chaplains of Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Roy F. Reynolds of the Office of to give deeper meaning and a greater possibility of influence the Chief of Air Force Chaplains. for the work of the Chaplain. Airmen are continually sent to The conference was given deeper meaning and solemnity schools within the service where specialized training makes when word of the crash of a plane carrying conference perthem masters of their particular trades, and it was our feel- sonnel was received. Appropriate Memorial Services were ing that in the same manner the way should be opened held on Thursday for those who lost their lives in the whereby officers and enlisted men of the Air Force might accident. Chaplain Carpenter in his Memorial address comconvene and with representative Chaplains discuss prob- mented that "the Retreat has been a pioneer effort in the lems of personal and corporate religious experience; where field of religion in the armed services and that as many have these men might deepen their own sources of spiritual and given their lives for the establishment of the Air Force as moral living. With this in mind arrangements were made we know it today, these men have given of themselves that with the Jesse Lee Academy in West Redding, Conn., for a new spirit of religion may be manifest in our country's the use of its buildings and grounds and each Chaplain forces." at Air Force Bases in the aforementioned area of the coun- A similar Retreat has been organized for men of the try was asked to present the opportunity to attend such a Catholic faith and will take place in October. Retreat to his meh. Those men who were interested and ex- A great deal of encouragement has been afforded to repressed a desire to attend were then selected and sent on ligious leaders and to parents apprehensive of their sons' temporary duty to the Academy. When the roster was religious welfare in the service by this Retreat which has completed on this pioneer effort it was found that all bases been designated a duly recognized Air Force conference by were represented. It is the feeling that after this experience those in positions of leadership of our Air Force who readthese men will return to their respective bases and will ily understand the necessity of a positive element of re(EDITOR's NOTE: Turn to page 17 for Catholic Retreat picture.) ligion in a man's life.
Edit Howe has stated best our thought when he writes: '"People Editorials were looking for completeness (italics ours). They knew k instinctively that their lives were fractional and, for the Make This Companison
most part, fraudulent."
The article on page thirty of this issue, entitled "Our We refrain from further expression. Let us suggest, Modern Garden of Eden" brings to memory a recent issue however, that the reader should turn again to this aboveof Life magazine in which Life visited the Riviera. We mentioned article and then to that recent issue of Life suggest that the reader compare the two articles to see for wherein he will see photographs of beauties scantily clad himself what we cannot put into the written word. in suntan and bathing suits and other pictures of tired, Phrases run through our mind. Frustration-escape escaping celebrites seeking pleasure. Then let him speak mrechanisms-regression-immaturity-. Perhaps Chaplain his own words. October-November, 1948 21
THE BIBLES OF 1948
By FRANCIS C. STIFLER, D.D.*
M OST books are not good enough to be listed as the to high-speed rotary presses and turning out the Bible was
book of the month. This is an honor accorded to only carried through. Toward the end of the year, the largest a few books each year by the various literary groups that edition of Japanese Bibles '150,000-ever printed came promote best sellers. There is one book, however, that is from the presses. It required eight boxcars to carry these too good to be so advertised. books to the coast for shipment to Japan where they were
The Bible is a perpetual best seller. Sometimes a current received in the beginning of this year. So great is the depopular book wins the title of the book of the year. The mand that another large edition was put on the press early Bible goes even beyond that. this spring. These Japanese Bibles were not the first postwar
There are three Bibles which are making news in 1948. Scriptures by any means to be sent to Japan. During 1947 The first is the German Bible. This book is in the news a million and a half Japanese New Testaments were sent because there is such an alarming shortage of copies. Be- from this country, printed from the plates made by photofore the war the German Bible presses were turning out graphing the pages of a Japanese New Testament taken 400,000 Bibles and 600,000 New Testaments every year from an American library. A Tokyo newspaper recently and they were all absorbed by the people. Then came eight reported the result of a survey which revealed that the years before and during the war when there was virtually Bible was among the ten best sellers in Japan. no Scripture production in Germany. This created a short- The third Bible of the year 1948 is the Russian Bible. age of eight million copies, and it is estimated that a short- Unlike Germany, which has been a Bible reading country age of another four million was produced by the destructive for centuries, and unlike Japan, which for centuries was a processes of war. With no materials and few presses avail- non-Christian country, Russia is a land which, with a long able, there was, for a long time after V-E Day, no possibil- Christian tradition, has in recent years been dominated by a ity of overcoming this shortage by the resumption of pub- government which opposes the Christian religion. Most of lishing in Germany. the people of Russia, however, have never ceased to be
In 1946 the Christian people of America, through the Christian believers. This is particularly true in the country American Bible Society, began a program of publishing districts. German Bibles in this country which to date has produced When, during the war, the government of Russia resomething over two million copies. There have also been laxed its opposition to the Christian faith, the American sent to Germany by the Society, large quantities of paper Bible Society, believing that the time would not be long and binding materials by which the Germans are now in before there would be need of a Russian Bible, began the the process of producing approximately another two mil- long difficult process of producing a completely new Ruslion copies. sian Bible. The Russian Bibles used before the Revolution
In the meantime the shortage continues. In America, were no longer acceptable because in recent years the where the Bible tops the "best seller" list year after year, Russian government has adopted a new form of its alphait is difficult to picture a situation where your Bible could bet, and decreed that all books shall use it. be kept only one day a week and then must be passed on to After five years the Bible Society's new Russian Bible one of your neighbors. That is necessary in Mecklenburg, came from the press. This was last September. Less than a Germany, where the American Bible Society has been en- month later a leading churchman from Russia, Metropolideavoring to fill the many requests for Bibles. "Nothing is tan Gregory of Leningrad and Novogorod visited this so much wanted as Bibles and New Testaments," reports a country on business for the Patriarch of Moscow. He acGerman pastor to the Bible Society. cepted as a gift to the Patriarch 10,000 of the new Russian
The second Bible of 1948 is the Japanese Bible. Before Bibles, 5,000 Russian New Testaments, 100,000 Russian the war the Japanese people were quite indifferent to the Gospels and 1,000 Ancient Greek Testaments for use by Bible, being for the most parts adherents of another re- the students of the twenty theological seminaries which had ligion than the Christian. Ten thousand Bibles and twenty- been reopened in Russia. These books were shipped by the five thousand New Testaments would be about all the Japa- Russian Trading corporation in this country. Because the nese people would demand in a year. Since V-J Day it has Metropolitan indicated that more books would be acceptbeen very different. Before the war all Bible printing in able, the Bible Society is planning to send other shipments Japanese was done in Tokyo but like Germany there has during this year. been, since the war, no paper or printing materials and very There is a world-wide demand for the Bible at present, few presses available for the resumption of this publishing probably exceeding that of any other juncture in history. program. Late in 1946 a United States Navy Chaplain flew Among them all there is no Bible which is in greater deto this country with the plates for printing the entire Japa- mand than the German Bible. There is no Bible which nese Bible which is half again as large as our English Bible. holds out greater hope for the conversion of non-Christian During 1947 the elaborate process of adapting these plates people than the Japanese Bible, and there is no Bible that points the way toward lasting peace among the nations
- *Secretary for Public Relations, American Bible Society. more than the Russian Bible. 22 The Military Chaplain
ARMY CHAPELS
rTIHE post of camp chapel is a very important facility in tive Service Act was passed, there were only 17 permanent Sthe Army's religious program. It is usually centrally chapels at Army Posts... far too few to serve an Army that located, a gathering place for worshippers and a visible re- was to grow to 10,400,000 before the conclusion of World minder of the relevancy of religion to the armed forces. War II. General George C. Marshall, Chief of Staff, United States In March 1941 Congress appropriated $12,816,880 for Army, during World War II, is quoted as saying that he the erection of mobilization-type chapels on Army posts, believes religion in war is as important as guns. American in camps and at installations throughout the nation. Each citizens of all races and creeds were of the same opinion chapel to be erected at the cost of $27,000. and enthusiastically endorsed the mission of the Chaplain The first chapel to be constructed and completed as a Corps. Tangible evidence of this support is seen in a chapel- result of the new chapel-building program was the one at building program during the recent war. This was the first Arlington Cantonment, the south post of Fort Myer, Virtime in the nation's history that chapels were included as ginia. It was dedicated in the late summer of 1941 with an integral part of a camp-building program of the Army. the Chief of Staff, General George C. Marshall, and other At the time of the Revolution there had been but one high-ranking military officials attending the ceremonies. permanent chapel, the Temple or New Building at New- This accomplishment showed that, for the first time in the burgh, New York, used for many secular as well as re- history of our nation, the Army officially recognized the imligious purposes. After the Mexican War, the Chief Quar- portance of including distinct places of worship when protermaster for the Department of Texas, freely furnished viding quarters for troops. It represents an appreciation of tents, but one chaplain was threatened by his post corn- the fact that spiritual equipment is as necessary in winning mander with "charges and trial by court-martial" when battles for freedom of men as is material armor. requisitioning them. In the Civil War, Secretary Cameron This initial program, of course, was only the beginning. was favorable to the idea of chapels, but did little about Soon Army Chapels were being completed and dedicated them. General McClellan, however, in 1861 sent the fol- on Army installations all over the United States. Dedicalowing message to him: "Will you please authorize me to tory ceremonies were held for each chapel completed. Great use boards to put up places of worship at Camp Denison? significance was attached to each dedication with important Parties furnish nails and labor." The reply was merely: church dignitaries and military figures present. Oftentimes "The Lord's will be done. Simon Cameron." Some regi- the entire program was broadcast to the radio audience. ments provided their own chapel tents without expense to Chapel attendance increased, and, more and more, service the Government. Following the Civil War, there was a personnel availed themselves of the opportunities and fachapel-building program which included chapels at the cilities offered by the new chapel-building program. Presidio of San Francisco, Forts McDowell, Douglass, and A total of 1,532 Army Chapels, each suited to the needs Meade and The Army War College. These were followed of members of the Protestant, Roman Catholic and Jewish by Cavdalry Chapels at Forts Des Moines, Riley, and Leaven- faiths, were in use in the United States on V-J Day. Of worth. A number of Post Chapels were built during the this total, 1137 were mobilization-type chapels, similar in 1920's and 1930's. Yet, in 1940 when the National Selec- appearance to the small country churches which dot the
New England countryside. Simple dignity marks their outward appearance, construction being of clapboard on wood
framework, set upon a concrete foundation. Built with
slanting roof, the peak of which is 29 feet 6 inches high,
the chapel is equipped with a steeple which rises 23 feet
above the roof. The building proper is 81 feet 3 inches long
by 37 feet wide. Wood steps and railing lead to the chapel.
Entrance is from the front of the building through a vestibule. A consultation room is on one side of the lobby and
Sa cloakroom on the other. From this vestibule a flight of
stairs lead to a balcony where the electric organ, with which
every chapel is equipped, is installed. The balcony seats
approximately 57 and the main floor 300 persons. The
seats are of the long bench type with a carpeted center aisle
between the two sections. Kneeling benches are provided
for those who use them in worship. In the rear of the
chapel are offices for the use of chaplains. The altar attracts special attention. Designed to serve all faiths, it is
movable and so constructed as to be adaptable for use by
Southwest Pacific Chapel the several religious groups. Both the pulpit and lectern, October-November, 1948 23
founder group. Some of these chapels were built and maintained by individual denominations at a time when such facilities were not available; others were standing and in use when the Army purchased the land. For many years, however, and especially since the chapel-building program of World War II, adequate chapel facilities have been provided military personnel, the three major religious groups (Jewish, Roman Catholic and Protestant) engaging in the cooperative venture of sharing buildings erected and dedicated to the worship of God.
The chapel and altar when not in use must present a neutral appearance. Religious symbols, paintings, ecclesiastical fixtures and statuary of a denominational character must be movable or covered when not in use in order not to offend those of another faith wishing to use the chapel for prayer and meditation during times when services are not being conducted.
Each chapel is adequately equipped for conducting religious services of the three major faiths. The equipment, purchased from funds appropriated by Congress each year for chaplains' activities, is the property of the United States Army and is not transferable.
When soldiers went overseas to combat areas they still attended church. Sometimes their chapel was a permanent one; other times a temporary or semipermanent one built of salvaged materials by the loving hands ,of volunteer labor of the men themselves. Many of these overseas chapels were memorials, such as the one built in a Bougainville jungle of native palm leaves, bamboo and other jungle Another Southwest Pacific Chapel grasses in memory of a 19-year-old Texas soldier, first of the infantry to lose his life on the Island. More than a like the altar, are movable. Fally, landscaping has added 100 of these improvised chapels were constructed in the to the beauty of the chapel. Pacific Jungle during the recent war. The size and
A total of 162 of the 1532 chapels in use on V-J Day architectural design varied in accordance with the tastes of were of the theater-of-operation-type, similar in appear- the builder. Many were a work of art and beauty, complete ance to the mobilization type, only somewhat smaller. This in every detail including tower, belfry, pews hewn from group was constructed on less permanent installations. six-foot sections of coconut logs split down the center, They cost $7,000 each and are 100 feet long by 20 feet surfaced and mounted on half sections of one-foot log wide. These 162 theater-of-operation-type chapels, plus the supports, carpeted aisle of bamboo matting, altar cloth 1137 mobilization-type, cost $31,833,000 to construct. The made by Army nurses, of unserviceable parachute material, combination chapel-theater-and-recreation building com- altar appointments ingeniously wrought by GI's from salprised 145 of the 1532 chapels in use on V-J Day. They vaged materials of Japanese block planes and shell casings, were built on posts where the number of military personnel pulpit and lectern. Jungle flowers and trees added beauty was too small to justify the erection of either a mobilization- to the exterior of the chapel. type or theater-of-operation-type chapel. The remaining Not all the improvised soldier-built chapels were in the chapels in use on V-J Day consisted of permanent post Pacific, however. Chapels were built by GI's desiring an chapels, barracks and recreation halls which were converted adequate place of worship in all theaters of operation. into temporary chapels and not erected in accordance with Much of the time the chapel consisted only of the space engineer's chapel specifications. around the jeep on which the chaplain had spread his
Chapels are provided on Army posts and at installations portable altar equipment; a tent in a grove of trees or a for the common use of all personnel. They have often been jungle clearing to afford protection from the enemy; it may referred to as "everybody's chapel." In accordance with have been a plank supported by boxes with the chaplain Army Regulations 60-5, Army Chapels are designated facing the soldiers sitting on their helmets in Italian mud; neither as memorials to individuals nor by names having a occasionally a quonset hut was hastily converted into a particular denominational connotation. The custom is to small chapel to serve lonely soldiers in remote areas. If it designate chapels by the regiment or area for which the were very close to the battle line, the soldiers' temporar chapel was built or is being used. open-air church is most likely to have been flanked by foxThere are chapels on four or five old Army Posts holes, and the service frequently interrupted when it bethroughout the country which were built with funds pro- came necessary to dive for shelter and safety. Many services vided by some particular denominational group, and which, were held in railroad cars on sidings, in France and Gerwhere active, continue the denominational services of the many. 24 The Military Chaplain
A chapel constructed entirely by volunteer skilled labor belts to men without them, the Four Chaplains were last of enlisted men was erected at the North African Air seen linked arm in arm with voices raised in prayer as the Service Command Depot. Having had to attend chapel for stricken ship made her final plunge into the icy waters. over a year in hangars, mess halls, tents and out-of-doors, Throughout the entire episode the chaplains set an example the men got together, drew up plans and entirely con- of courage, going about' calming fears, praying for and structed a chapel, installing electricity and heating and cool- assisting men into lifeboats and to safety. The memorial ing systems. Voluntary monetary contributions covered the chapel will have a triple altar mounted on a turntable and entire cost and the men called it, "Everyman's Chapel." At will include paintings of the Cross and the Star of David its dedication the chaplain said, "This chapel, knows no and the Tablets of the Law. It will be erected in the crypt creed-no prejudices. It is a chapel for all." of the Temple, have a seating capacity of 400 and remain Regardless of the size, architectural design and quality of open at all times. Persons of all faiths have contributed these overseas chapels constructed by GI's each chapel monetarily and otherwise to make this fitting expression of erected expressed the sincere desire of Christian men at appreciation. war to worship and sing hymns of praise to God. They A study of statistics on chapel attendance would indicate were truly a "labor of love." that most military personnel do attend services regularly.
From December 1941 to August 1945, War Department
Chapel construction continues to be an important over- records reveal the attendance of military personnel at seas activity. Thirty Army Chapels were opened and dedi- records reveal that the attendance of military personnel at seas activity. Thirty Army Chapels were opened and dedi- the 5,436,296 religious services conducted by Army chapcated in the European Command during 1947. Some of lains numbered 329,058,648. Obviously, it does not follow the buildings were brand-new in construction and archi- that all military personnel attended chapel services. A tectural design; others were buildings remodeled into single soldier may have attended one or more times while 9 single soldier may have attended one or more times while Army Chapels, having previously been used as garages, another perhaps never availed himself of the opportunity. stables, warehouses, private dwellings, huts and hangars. Latest attendance figures tabulated by the Statistics and ReIn the Far East Command, Army Chapel Centers have ports Division, Office, Chief of Chaplains, from the been constructed at Tokyo and Yokohama during the past monthly reports of Army and Air Force chaplains, show year. There existed ever since the beginning of occupation, that the attendance of military personnel at the 20,072 a dire need for a religious center, conveniently located in religious services conducted by chaplains during the month each city, where occupation personnel and their dependents of May 1948 numbered 880,087. attached to the Eighth Army, might worship and find Religious faith is a vital factor in high morale. The pleasant diversion. Both centers are nondenominational in Chapel as the house of God provides a common meeting character, and services of all faiths are held under the same ground for worship for all Arny and Air Force personnel. roof in accordance with a time schedule for each. The cen- It is through worship that individuals develop an increased ters are the result of a highly successful and noble experi- awareness of the presence of God and an assurance of an ment in democracy, and have proved that members of the ever-ready and ever-available source of spiritual strength various faiths can work, study, pray and play together. It adequate for any and all occasions. Perhaps no individual is the realization of an American ideal. The spirit of re- recognized this more than did General George C. Marshall, ligious freedom and cooperation which prevails throughout Chief of Staff, during World War II, when he said, "It is the religious centers will be remembered long after occu- morale-and I mean spiritual morale-which wins the vicpation is over. They afford religious, social, educational tory in the Ultimate, and that type of morale can only come and recreational facilities. Planners of the centers realized out.of the religious nature of a soldier who knows God that religion is not a thing apart, but should be a part of and who has the spirit of religious fervor in his soul. I everyday life. The centers have filled a need for a place count heavily on that type of man and on that kind of where all, regardless of color, race or creed might unite Army." to worship as they wish. They have provided a place where The Chapels in our camps, on our posts and air bases are social functions may be conducted in a dignified and proper The Chapels in our camps, on our posts and air bases are atmosphere; they are a big step in the attainment of the symbolic recognition of the sovereignty of God in whom high moral standards set by spiritual and military leaders we trust; they are tangible evidence that we are true to the for the personnel comprising our great Army of Occupa- religious faith of the founding fathers of our country. In tion; they are large and have adequate worship and recrea- our day we are increasingly aware of the conflict between tional facilities conveniently located for all. the dialectical materialism of communism and the theistic concepts essential to democracy. The fundamental prinMany chapels have been constructed since the end of the ciples upon which our democracy is built were nurtured in war by individuals or church groups as memorials to those religious soil. Some of their roots run back into Roman who served and died in the great world conflict. Perhaps law and Greek philosophy, but they have drawn their vigor the most notable of these is the one under construction in from the religion of the Bible. Remove God from the the Baptist Temple in Philadelphia in memory of the Four American way of life and our democracy will fade and Army Chaplains, two Protestants, one a Roman Catholic shrivel like a corpse. The Army Chapel is a visible repnriest and the other a Jewish Rabbi, who lost their lives minder of the American soldier's devotion to God and when a troop transport, SS Dorchester, sank off the coast of country. Greenland early on the morning of 3 February 1943. With
utter disergard for their own safety, having given their life (Prepared in Office of the Chief of Army Chaplains.)
October-November, 1948 25
Some Reflections On The 1948
Midshipmen's Cruise
By CHAPLAIN HARRY C. WOOD, USN*
T HERE is seldom a dull moment in the life of, a Navy etc., etc. In addition they have a large number of boys who
Chaplain and particularly when he goes on a Midship- are being taught academic subjects as well as the hand men's Practice Cruise. The cruise of 1948 was no exception. crafts' The Protestant Chaplain was made to feel very
While the ships cruised toward their ports of call, mid- much at home by the group of priests which included one shipmen and ships' crews were busy with training drills Italian, one Romanian, and one Yugoslavian. and classes for study. Chaplains were also busy with the The next port of call was Villefrance, a small town on editing of information pamphlets and ships' papers for the the French Riviera and just a few miles from Nice. In adinformation and guidance of all hands. The ships' libraries, dition to the usual duties of the chaplain, this port offered also run by the Chaplains, became extremely active due to something unique. Arrangements had been made for six the increase in personnel and the leisure time reading habits hundred underprivileged French children to be brought of many of the officers, midshipmen and enlisted men. aboard the Missouri for a sight-seeing visit and for refreshEvening prayer by the Chaplain was delivered over the ments. The chaplain was placed in charge of this activity ship's public address system during the days at sea. Divine and a group of midshipment with some knowledge of the services for Catholics and for Protestants were held regu- French language was selected to serve as escorts for the chillarly each Sunday and Mass was said daily during the week. dren. Plans had been made for three hundred children to
When opportunity permitted, the destroyers drew along- come aboard in the morning and after their departure and side the larger ships and a line was rigged between the two the noon meal was finished, three hundred more were to ships. Then, with this stage set, the Chaplains with their come aboard in the afternoon. What really happened was ecclesiastical equipment were transferred to the destroyers something quite different. via a boatswain's chair on a pulley. Safely aboard the de- The morning visit went somewhat according to plan exstroyers they proceeded to hold Catholic Mass and Protes- cept for the fact that the number of children ran over three tant Worship Services. Only the Chaplains who have had hundred and fifty. They were divided into groups of this experience can know how sincerely these services are twenty or twenty-five children and each group had a midappreciated by the destroyer personnel. shipman escort. They toured the ship and when theyhad
In the midst of the excitement on our arrival at Lisbon, completed their tour, they were taken below deck to the the chaplains were busy arranging sight-seeing tours for the ship's mess halls where they were fed sandwiches, lemonmen of their respective ships. But, they were also sharing ade, ice cream and cake. They were given "seconds" or in the honors that were being accorded to the dignitaries "thirds" if requested and it was amazing to see how much in the port of call. A meeting of all chaplains of the Task these little stomachs could hold. Numerous mess cooks Force was held aboard the Missouri immediately upon our were kept running constantly with refills or repeats on all arrival. It was the wish of Rear Admiral H. H. McLean, items. There was a constant buzz of excitement and the USN, Task Force Commander, that all chaplains, both French language sputtered through the mess halls for Catholic and Protestant, should share in the occasion by nearly an hour, but it did not deter their appetites. As they carrying his personal greetings in the name of the U.S. left the ship each child was given a bar of candy, a souvenir Navy to the religious leaders in our ports of call. This was card giving interesting facts about the Missouri printed in a courtesy that the chaplains took pleasure in carrying out. 'French, and a key chain with a miniature surrender plate
Chaplain D. J. Burke, of Fordham University, a Reserve medallion attached. This seemed to be more than they chaplain serving aboard the flagship Missouri during the could contain and a bedlam of excitement broke out as they cruise, made a call on the Cardinal of Portugal. A Protes- were leaving which ended for the ship only when the boattant chaplain called on the Reverend Robertson, pastor of loads of waving children passed out of sight. the Scotch Presbyterian Church of Lisbon. Chaplain Burke The whole experience of the morning visit was a thrill also arranged and led a pilgrimage to the noted Shrine of and a pleasure to all who helped with the project and to Our Lady of Fatima. those of the ship's company who had the pleasure of watchWhile this was transpiring, the Protestant Chaplain of ing the children in action. It was reported that the afterthe Missouri entertained two Catholic priests who visited noon group would consist mostly of girls and we anticithe ship. These priests later took the chaplain on a tour of pated a nice quiet time with them. We discovered, howtheir school for boys in the city of Lisbon. This is a State ever, that French children are much like American children school of unusual proportions. It possesses a very large in at least one respect. The interest and excitement carried printing establishment with the most modern upright speed away by the morning visitors had spread to the ears of some press, an excellent cabinet and furniture making shop, a eager boys. When the last cup of ice cream was gone and book bindery with highly skilled book-gilding craftsmen, the cake supply ran out and the last load of children made their departure from the ship, we had counted nearly seven
*Chaplain Wood is the chaplain pictured on our cover, hundred children, mostly boys. A more enthusiastic group 26 The Military Chaplain
of visitors has never been entertained aboard the "Big Mo" post card with the chaplain as she departed. It contained a and no group has ever given more pleasure to the crew. picture of a girl in typical Swiss dress and on the back of the There were sailors everywhere adopting a "big brother" card was a note written in French: "To the Missouri and to attitude and earning admiring glances by sharing chewing the valiant nation of the United States, every wish for sucgum and other Ship's Service delicacies. cess and good fortune from an old French-Swiss lady who
But perhaps the most touching scene of the whole day recalls the magnificent reception she received in that blessed was the sober face and serious words of a frail nine-year-old land, and who has this morning many marvelous memboy. He was quiet and detached from all the others and ories." anost amazing of all, he was not eating. When he was asked Finally, there was another lady, tall and straight and yet why, he very earnestly revealed a shirt stuffed with all the with most of her years behind her. She wanted to speak food he could carry there and his response was: "I am not with the chaplain and to ask a favor if it were proper. Her eating it! I am taking it home to my mother." All hands husband had served most of his life as an officer in the who witnessed the events of this day felt that they had a U.S. Navy. He was gone now and she has been living in part in it and many agreed that it was one of the best France since before the recent war. When the Germans events of the whole cruise. occupied the territory where her home is, they took most of
On Sunday, the Fourth of July, the officers, midshipmen, her possessions. But there was one thing they had overand enlisted personnel of the Task Force were invited to looked or which they had decided to leave behind. It was attend divine services at the American Protestant Church her late husband's Navy sword. Now she would like for of Nice. This is a beautiful church edifice in the heart of some young officer to haye the sword and to continue its Nice. It serves the American and English-speaking resi- life in the service of the U.S. Navy. It was a pleasure to see dents of the French Riviera. It is an Episcopal Church com- her joy in having the sword put into Navy hands again. ing under the diocese of Massachusetts. Dr. Henry C. And somehow the whole fellowship of that hour in church Sartorio is the pastor of the church. He was educated in was deepened by the rekindling of the sparks of old memthe United States and served churches in Boston and on ories and old allegiances. Long Island before assuming the position as pastor of the Yes, the chaplains are busy and they can always find American congregation at Nice. some new experience awaiting them. This is what makes
The Protestant chaplain of the U.S.S. Missouri was in- it an interesting, satisfying life, for there are rewarding
-vited to preach the sermon at the Fourth of July service, personal reflections which accumulate through the years. The large attendance of officers, midshipmen, and enlisted When thirty different people each know of one small servmen from the ships of the Task Force was gratifying to the ice that a chaplain renders in a given day, all of them may chaplain who preached and also to the American residents wonder what he did with the rest of that day. And perhaps of Nice who worshipped with us. Two interesting incidents they will never know, unless it is realized that his contenttranspired from the fellowship of this church away from ment must come from a busy life, especially in serving home. One old lady who worshipped with us left a picture others.
KOREA CHAPLAINS MEET
Climaxing observances of the 173d Anniversary of the U. S. Army Chaplain Corps, chaplains in the Seoul and Ascom areas and their guests attend a banquet at the United States Army Military Government in Korea Officers' club. Seated at speakers' table are from left to tight: Brig. Gen. T. W. Herren, USAFIK chief of staff; Maj. Gen. John B. Coulter, USAFIK deputy commander; Chaplain (Col.) Peter C. Schroder, USAFIK chief of chaplains; Chaplain (Maj.) John J. Mullaney, XXIV Corps assisttit chaplain; Maj. Gen. W. F. Dean, Military governor Korea; and Brig. Gen. R. O. Shoe, Korea Base Command commanding general.
October-November, 1948 27
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I: Purpose of Association Section 3. Vacancies in the Executive Committee shall be filled by a
Humbly invoking the assistance of Almighty God, we associate ourselves majority vote of the remaining members. Members so chosen shall hold together for the following purposes: "To safeguard and to strengthen the office until the next annual Convention. forces of faith and morality of our nation; to perpetuate and to deepen the Section 4. The Executive Committee shall: bonds of understanding and friendship of our military service; to preserve (a) have charge of the general administration of the affairs of the our spiritual influence and interest in all members and veterans of the Association, armed forces; to uphold the Constitution of the United States; and to pro- (b) audit the accounts of the Secretary-Treasurer, mote Justice, Peace, and Good Will." (c) authorize the expenditure of funds,
(d) appoint standing and special committees,
ARTICLE II: Name (e) define the policy and supervise the editorial policy of the journal,
The name of the organization is "The Military Chaplains Association (f) take such other actions as are deemed necessary or advisable in the of the United States of America." conduct of the affairs of the Association.
ARTICLE III: Location ARTICLE VIII: Meetings and Elections
The offices and headquarters of the Association shall be in Washington, Section 1. The regular meetings of the Association shall be held each year, or as may be decided by the Executive Committee. The time and D. C., or at such other place as may be designated by the Executive place of regular meetings shall be designated by the members in Convention Committee. assembled; or by the Executive Committee with twenty (20) days' notice
ARTICLE IV.: Membership to members.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee Section 1. All present or past chaplains of the military forces of the upon a written request signed by fifty (50) members and stating clearly United States and of the Veterans Administration are eligible to mem- the object of the special meeting. At least twenty (20) days' notice of bership. teojc fteseilmeig tlattet 2) as oieo such special meeting shall be given to members.
Section 2. Any person desiring to join the Association shall forward his Section 3. One-third of the members registered at a regular or special application to the Secretary together with evidence of eligibility and pay- meeting, in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum. ment of annual dues. Applications for membership will be passed upon by the Executive Committee. Section 4. Elective officers shall be chosen at a regular meeting by a
Section 3. Any member may resign from the Association by tendering a plurality of ballots.
written resignation to the Committee together with the payment of any ARTICLE IX.: State Organizations indebtedness for dues. Section 1. State chapters and other units may be chartered by the NaSection 4. Any member or chapter may be suspended for cause by a tional Executive Committee and shall be composed of the chapters within two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee. Such suspensions will be their respective states. Each state charter shall be signed by the National binding until the next annual Convention when the matter must be pre- President and National Secretary-Treasurer. sented to the Convention for its decision. Section 2. Each state chapter shall have a state council member, as speciARTICLE V Rights and Obligations of Membership fied in Article VI, Section 2, one or more state Vice-committee men, an ARTCLE V Rights and Obligations of Membership adjutant and a state executive committee. Section 1. Every member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all meetings of the Association. Votes may be cast by written proxy, certified by ARTICLE X: Revision of the Constitution the Proxy Committee of the Convention. Revision of this Constitution may be made only by a two-thirds vote of all members voting, either in person or by proxy, and at a regular ARTICLE VI: Officers annual meeting. Provided also that the subject matter of all such proposed
Section 1. The elected officers of the National Association shall be a revisions shall be submitted to the members of the Association in writing President, nine (9) Vice-Presidents-three (3) at large, resident in or and over the signatures of the President and the Secretary, at least twenty near National headquarters; and shall be elected for one (1) year or until (20) days prior to the annual meeting at which the vote upon the protheir successors are elected. posed revision is to be taken.
Section 2. Each Vice-President representing an Army Area shall appoint BY-LAWS a member in each state of his area as a member of the "Area Council." The duties of the council member will be to consult and advise with the Area Section 1. Charters for Chapters of this Association shall be granted by Vice-President upon matters of policy. The council member will have the the Executive Committee after consultation with the Area Vice-President responsibility of organizing his state into county, local and other suitable and the state council member. The Executive Committee shall be emchapters under the direction of the Area Vice-President. He shall hold powered to impose such conditions and limitations as they deem necessary office until the next annual Association meeting or until his successor and proper. is qualified. Section 2.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Secretary-Treasurer (a) Annual dues (January 1-December 31) shall be three (3) dollars who shall hold office for one year or until his successor has qualified, which includes the Chaplains journal and other official publications.
Section 4. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Board of Editors (b) Chapter Charter fee will be ten (10) dollars paid to the National for the journal who shall hold office until their successors have qualified. Association.
(c) Payment of fifty (50) dollars or more will entitle a member to ARTICLE VII: The Executive Committee life membership.
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Section 3. The annual meeting shall be held in May unless deemed inVice-Presidents, the Secretary-Treasurer and the Editors of the journal and advisable by the Executive Committee. past Presidents, past Editors, past Secretaries-Treasurers. Section 4. The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year.
Section 2. Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Section 5. These By-Laws may be revised or amended by plurality vote Committee. of members registered at the annual meeting in person or by proxy.
ORGANIZE A LOCAL CHAPTER NOW!
WRITE FOR APPLICATION BLANK
28 The Military Chaplain
XXIV Corps Jewish Chaplain Abraham J. Insel, left, 504 Grand Street, New York City, assisted by XXIV Corps Chaplain secdon chief clerk S/Sgt. J. S. Hertz, 231 Ash Street, New Bedford, Mass., in observance of the festival of Purim which fell on Thursday, March 25, this year. Jewish services had been conducted each Friday evening in the XXIV Corps chapel by Sergeant
Hertz in the absence of a Jewish chaplain since September, 1947 until the arrival of Chaplain Insel.
REQUIREMENTS AIR AND GROUND FORCE
By CHAPLAIN JOEL M. WAREING
The response to the appeal for chaplains to apply for few field grade chaplains who will be recalled to fill extended active duty has been very gratifying. However, vacancies or for specific assignment requests or for at present there are additional chaplains needed for assign- denominational coverage. All field grade applicament to the Air Force and Ground Forces. tions will be filed for future reference and possible I On 5 October 1948, there existed 78 actual vacancies for recall under provisions of Department of the Army chaplains in the Ground Forces and an equal number of Memorandum, CSGPA-O 210.455, dated 13 Septemvacancies for chaplains serving with the Air Force. The ber 1948. need will increase proportionately as the expansion of the 3. Age.-Applications will be accepted from chaplains
1 earned forces takes place.
armed forces takes place who have not attained 57th birthday, as chaplain
Those chaplains who are able to meet the following re- must be able to sign Category III (for 3 yrs.) and quirements are urged to either write the Office Chief of complete same prior to age 60. Chaplains or submit their application through Senior Army 4. Category.-Chaplains must be willing to sign CateInstructor. gory III (for 3 years).
1. Applicants must be members of the National Guard, gory III (for 3 years).
, 5. Ecclesiastical Indorsement.-Must be obtained curU.S., or the Officers' Reserve Corps. Chaplains not etia oreen.
members of the ORC may submit application for rently from appropriate agency.
same on WD AGO Form 170-1; NGUS must apply 6. Physical Examination.-Final type (WD AGO Form through the Adjutant General of State. 63) must be passed successfully for general service
2. Grade.-Application will be accepted under current or general service with waiver.
policy in company grade with the exception of the 7. Efficiency Index.-Must be 3.5 or above.
October-November, 1948 29
OUR MODERN GARDEN OF EDEN
By CHAPLAIN HARRIS HOWE, USN*
N our western civilization people dream of visiting the what I might say or do. I was quite aware of an exotic inFrench Riviera; for centuries the beauty spot and play- fluence. I responded quickly and willingly to a tremendous ground of all who could afford the privilege. Being a bit stimulus of vital energy that seemed to be the natural result skeptical, I had expected to be disappointed. Too many of the surrounding atmosphere. times a so-called tourist paradise and renowned playground I lived-and then I thought and began to put the pieces has proven to be only an enlarged figment of some pro- of life together to see what man was doing with nature's. moter's imagination. It was with this in mind that I went paradise. I was aware of an element of danger and became topside to see my first view of the southwestern coast of quite cautious and careful in my approach to life. ExciteFrance on the morning of 30 June 1948. ment, and that was the mood of the place, can get out of
What I saw, as we approached our anchorage just west hand unless you put a governor on your actions.
of Cannes, France, was the perfect combination desired by Fortunately circumstances had given rise to a planned all sensitive souls who have known the mystery of moun- discussion on religion. I had been invited to have breakfast tains and sea. Above the foothills of the Alps, as I with a couple living at the hotel and had been challenged looked north, I'm sure I saw the peaks of snow-capped with the words "Before I get through with you, Padre, you'll mountains. In the foreground, nestled along a bay created be joining the ranks with the rest of us atheists!" I loved by the hills disappearing into the Mediterranean, was the that, for if there is anything that whets my appetite it is a town of Cannes. I could not imagine a more perfect setting discussion on religion with someone who fancies himself to and wondered what the life of the people would reveal, be a member of the "intellectual" crowd. I have something
Across the centuries the eternal longing of man for com- to share and no one can shake my faith. It has been fashmunion with his Creator has found a natural ally in the ioned through a most marvelous variety of experiences in mystic wonder of sea and mountains. Some years ago, in life in which the "hand of God" has blessed me. I will go typical Navy custom, I was talking with a Catholic Chap- into what happened at that breakfast table at a later time. lain as we were about to leave Washington, D. C. on our Suffice it to say that the challenge of that debate immediatefirst ship assignment. We were comparing notes on the ly stabilized my mood, sharpened my wits, and gave me a place we called "home" in the States. He had come from medium that would assist in an analysis of life as it was Arizona and as he talked of his native state he became quite being lived on the Riviera. wistful, paused, and then climaxed his conversation with And then I came to know the tragedy of the Riviera. the statement "you know, a man can't stand in the presence Everyone was in quest for something and few if any were of the desert without knowing the reality of God." finding what they really sought and what nature could have
How true-the silent eternity of the desert. How true, helped to give them in that perfect setting of God's handithe pulsating movement of the vast sea. How true-the work. upward sweep of lofty mountains reaching toward the People were looking for "completeness." They knew inheavens. These, and many other of nature's wonders, feed stinctively that their lives were fractional and for the most the soul of man as he quests for God. part fraudulent. They were not honest with themselves or
And so I visited the French Riviera and there found gar- with their fellow men. Their spiritually starved souls found dens and grandeur, palm tree lined scenic drives and ap- no "completeness," no "peace of mind and being." Instead parent permanent sunshine. Beauty everywhere. And I of absorbing the re-creative powers of nature's wonderland thought as I looked from the window of my room across they only became more disturbed by the subconscious sugthe bay to the hills in the background and then happened gestions of the mystery of sea and mountains and then tried to notice a Cross (an unintentional symbol on the end of the to become lost in a whirl of excitement. How many people pier in front of the hotel) that certainly God had blessed admitted to me that instead of finding the happiness they this land with all of the luxury nature could provide. Even had expected they had only known a "feeling of being disthe air was laden with the soft scent of flowers in bloom. turbed." They blamed it on funny things such as digestion, And then I went forth to know the people who lived at or change of climate or water, the process of adjusting to the visited this paradise on earth. Riviera type of life and many other trite excuses for their
If one is to know people then the process of analysis must real ailment which is best summarized in a sermon introbe forgotten for a while until the mind, the mood, the man- duction I have used: ner of those people is thoroughly absorbed and becomes "It is both the glory and the doom of man to have been part of your very being. made for fellowship with God. The greatest faculty that
There I lived for several days, for the most part absorbed man possesses is his capacity for God. It is his glory, beby the details of a particular assignment that had been cause it opens up before him endless vistas of spiritual given to me, but now and then able to enjoy a moment of achievement. It is his doom, because he can never escape leisure as I waited for the next development in the dances the compulsion of his destiny, nor be satisfied while the to be given. Ofttimes I was amazed at my own actions, at soul within him starves. Reconciliation with God is the cardinal issue of life."
*Chaplain Howe is now attached to the Office of the Navy Chief of People were disturbed by the hidden spiritual force of Chaplains. People were disturbed by the hidden spiritual force of 30 The Military Chaplain
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
FOR VISITATION
Chaplain Thornton C. Miller, USN, Assistant Director for Visitation, Chaplains Division, Bureau of Naval Personnel, is now at work in the Navy Chief of Chaplains Office, Washington, D. C. Chaplain Miller, an ordained clergyman of the Disciples of Christ denomination, was formerly Pacific Fleet Chaplain. He recently completed an unusual tour of the entire Micronesia Area as part of the Navy's investigation of the major needs in this part of the world. THE MILITARY CHAPLAIN plans to reprint, in its next issue, a report on this significant assignment.
nature's suggestive power in the mystery of the hills and individuals across the pages of history, who have risen to sea and instead of finding themselves they succumbed to wealth and power, who have forgotten the Lord our God, the desire to become lost in a maze of excitement which is and who have fallen into degradation. what man has.made as his influence on the Riviera. Oh the I thought of the place of "Challenge and Response" in tragedy of lost souls, especially in the lap of luxury. history as interpreted by Toynbee. I thought of that simple yet avoided statement of Jesus. I thought of the "Predicament of Modern Man" as out"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle lined by Trueblood. than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." I thought of "Man's Dilemma" as presented by Buttrick. Jesus was not against wealth or power but he knew the And I knew the tragedy of the Riviera. effect of luxury in the lives of men. His simple statement Lost souls, seeking and yet not finding. People who were was a summary of what had been preached for centuries, filled with hunger and thirst and yet would not eat and "Beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God, in not keeping drink from God's hand. Dead souls who searched for life his commandments; lest, when thou hast eaten and art full, but refused the "source of life." Darkened souls questing and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein, and when for light, yet condemned because they refused the Light of thy herds, and thy flocks are multiplied; and all that thou the World. hast is multiplied; then thy heart be lifted up, and thou I looked out upon the sea and remembered the psalmist's forget the Lord thy God; lest thou say, My power and the interpretation of the mystic calling of the mighty deep, might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. Thou shalt "Deep calleth unto deep." remember the Lord thy God, for it is He that giveth thee I turned toward the hills and heard those familiar words the power to get wealth." (Deuteronomy 8-shortly after "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh the 10 commandments!). my help. My help cometh from the Lord our God." I thought of old Jeremiah preaching to a people who I knelt and prayed with that psalmist of old "Search me, were enjoying a life of ease and following man's tendency O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: to forget the Lord our God-when he cried out in the name And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in of the Lord "My people have committed two evils; they the way everlasting." have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed Would that I could have shared my thoughts and feelthem out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water." ings with all who were visiting that paradise of nature, I thought of nations and civilizations, of families and apparently an enigma to the mind of man. October-November, 1948 31
Chaplains Are A Tradition In The
Veterans Administration
By CHAPLAIN GEORGE L. CUTTON*
SOME look upon the chaplaincy in veterans hospitals as
something new under the sun. It is nice to know that we chaplains have back of us a long and honorable history. I am taking my data from the history of the Veterans Center at Dayton, Ohio.
A clergyman had a prominent part in the original suggestion for soldiers' homes and hospitals. That clergyman was Dr. Henry Ward Beecher of Brooklyn, N. Y. He formed a committee with that notable editor, Horace Greeley, and three literary giants, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, William Cullen Bryant and Oliver Wendell Holmes, in presenting a memorial to the United States Senate Dec. 8, 1864 for this purpose. Generals Ulysses S. Grant, William T. Sherman, George G. Meade and Carl Shurz backed the proposal.- As a result an act to establish national asylums for disabled volunteer soldiers and sailors of the North in the War Between the States was passed by the Congress March 3, 1865 and was one of the last bills signed by President Abraham Lincoln before his tragic Chaplain William R. Hughes death.
The first homes established under the act were located at grounds as they originally appeared in the chaplain's plans. Togus Springs, Maine, Sept. 6, 1866, Milwaukee (now One of the first officers appointed for the Dayton Home Woods), Wisconsin, Dec. 7, 1866 and Dayton, Ohio, was the chaplain. The first man designated by the Board March 26, 1867. An army chaplain, Captain T. B. Van of Managers, April 12, 1867 was the Rev. Henry Hill of Horn, was commissioned by Secretary of War Stanton to New Hampshire, who had been a chaplain in the army. lay out the grounds of the Dayton National Asylum. In But Chaplain Hill never came to Ohio to accept his new the chaplain's plans, a site for the chapel was selected appointment. on the highest point of ground overlooking the hospital The first acting chaplain and for 17 years one of the two and adjoining the administration building. Today visi- or three great leaders of the Dayton institution was the tors and veterans can see the entrances, drives and parade Rev. William Earnshaw. He had been a Methodist preacher in Pennsylvania, but was one of. the first to enlist in the
*Veterans Administration Center, Dayton 7, Ohio. great war. Soon he was appointed chaplain of the 49th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. After the Battle of Gettysburg, he was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland and was on the staff of General George H. Thomas. After the war, General Thomas commissioned him to lay out a number of national cemeteries in midwestern battlefields. In 1867, Chaplain Earnshaw was stationed with the first group of Ohio disabled-veterans at Camp Chase, Ohio. When the Dayton Home was set up, these soldiers were moved to Dayton and Chaplain Earnshaw was with them. So, on September 9, 1867 Chaplain Earnshaw was appointed the first acting chaplain at a salary of $1800.
From then until his death in 1885, Chaplain Earnshaw was prominent in the organization and development of this great project. He promoted the building of the first chapel and secured its furnishings. The cornerstone was laid Nov. 21, 1868 and the completed chapel dedicated October 26, 1870. Thus it was the first to be built for veterans and is said to be the oldest in government construction. The chaplain's house was built in 1868 and has been occupied Chaplain William Earnshaw by the resident chaplains ever since, at present occupied by 32 The-Militar Chaplain
1879 as national commander, the first time that anyone below the rank of major general held that office.
Full-time resident Protestant chaplains have been stationed at Dayton ever since. In addition, part-time chaplains have been appointed for preaching in the German language. Successors to Chaplain Earnshaw include the Rev. Jacob V. Lerch, Reformed, 1886-1893, the Rev. Ezekial Light, United Brethren, 1893-1900, the Rev. H. A. MacDonald, Presbyterian, 1900-1915, the Rev. J. King Gibson, Presbyterian, 1915-1930, the Rev. William R. Hughes, United Brethren, 1930-1938, the Rev. J. Norman King, Presbyterian, 1938-1940 and 1941-1942, the Rev. Daniel L. Myers, Presbyterian, 1940-1941 and 1942-1945. Part-time German preaching chaplains were the Rev. G. H. Gellert, 1884-1886, the Rev. E. S. Lorenz, 1886-1888 and the Rev. Ezekial Light 1888 until his appointment as full-time chaplain in 1893. The present staff consists of Dr. George L. Cutton, Northern Baptist, appointed in 1f945, the Rev. George W. Kautz, Missouri Lutheran, appointed 1946, and the Rev. Orr A. Jaynes, Evangelical United Brethren, appointed 1946.
Catholic services have been maintained at Dayton since 1870. Dayton priests served the members first in the auditorium of the chapel and later after the basement was furnished as a Catholic chapel. The Catholic Chapel of the Chaplain George L. Cutton Good Shepherd was built and dedicated June 21, 1898. It is built of stone and brick. Its beautiful altar of Italian Chaplain George L. Cutton, appointed chaplain in 1945. marble was donated by John T. Barlow of Dayton. The
Another project promoted by Chaplain Earnshaw was jubilee celebration will be held this summer.
the library. On October 8, 1868 the chaplain announced The first priests to serve Dayton were the Rev. R. Gilto the Board the gift of several thousand books and a hun- more (English) and the Rev. Charles Hahne (German). dred valuable pictures by Mrs. Mary Lowell Putnam of They were paid on a part-time basis from 1872 on. Some Massachusetts. The Board accepted the gift and appointed 1330 Catholic veterans petitioned for a full-time chaplain Chaplain Earnshaw as the first librarian. This gift together in 1880. Dr. Charles Kemper was appointed soon after and with a collection presented as a memorial to General served until 1902. His successors were the Rev. Bernard George H. Thomas became the Putnam Library in mem- Kuhlman, 1902-1935, the Rev. F. C. Grusenmeyer, 1935ory of the only son of Mrs. Putnam, Lieut. William Lowell Putnam, who died as the result of wounds received in his (Continued on page 35) first battle, the Battle of Balls Bluff. Chaplain Earnshaw catalogued and set up the library April 1, 1871. The present library building at the station was erected in 1880. The third great project of the chaplain was the organization of the Monumental and Historical Society to raise money and build the soldiers and sailors monument in the national cemetery at Dayton. As president of the society, it must have been largely his efforts that carried this through to the dedication September 12, 1877, with the President of the United States, Rutherford B. Hayes, doing the unveiling. The monument consists of a 48-ft. marble shaft (that one time was one of the columns in the famous United States Bank at Philadelphia) surmounted by a private soldier at parade rest. Four other figures, representing the Infantry, the Artillery, the Cavalry and the Navy, are grouped around the base of the monument. Every memorial day celebration is held around this monument. In the graves nearby rest the bones of over 17,000 veterans, 33 of them of the Mexican War and the others of subsequent wars of our country.
The story of Chaplain Earnshaw would be incomplete, if mention were not made of the fact that he served as national chaplain of the Grand Army of the Republic and in Protestant Chapel Octobe.-Novkeber,4 948 33
Notes On The Organization Of The Chaplain
Corps Of The French Navy
PREPARED BY COURTESY OF THE FRENCH EMBASSY (TRANSLATED BY MISS JULIA HONEYWELL)
1. The French Chaplain Corps are distinct and independ- 7. The ordinary uniform of Catholic Chaplains is the ecent by Army (Land, Sea and Air) and by denomination clesiastical costume; their hat the (dictionary says (Catholic, Protestant and Jewish). foraging cap) black, with braid in the color of the
2. The Catholic Navy Chaplain Corps, reorganized in Chaplaincy, royal blue.
1852 and abolished as the result of the law of "sepa- The uniform of Protestant Chaplains is that of the
ration," was re-established for the three faiths as a tem- Navy officer, in the authorized material and color.
porary Chaplain Corps during the war of 14-18 and The uniform is worn without stripes; the hat has the
finally by the Order and Decree of April and August insignia worn on the hats of Navy officers.
1936. The distinctive emblem for Catholic and Protestant Chaplains is a cross in silver and blue enamel with two
3. It consists of Chaplains and "Desservants." crossed anchors (Order of June 3, 1891 concerning The Decree of 1936 provides for Chaplains in case of Navy uniforms, B. O. Planche 57) hung from a royal mobilization or colonial expedition, and in time of blue cord; for the Jewish Chaplains the cross is repeace by special order of the Minister, on board units at placed by the Tables of the Law. In combat an armband
sea outside territorial waters. with the Geneva Cross is worn on the left arm.
The Auxiliary Chaplaincy was created by the Decree
of November, 1943. In time of war Auxiliary Chap- 8. In the military point of view and in the exercise of lains perform the same duties as other Chaplains, and their duties, Chaplains are directly and exclusively rein time of peace they conduct religious services on responsible to the Military Command.
board ships or in especially important and isolated In the administrative point of view they are now regroups such as shore installations (?), schools, hos- sponsible to the Office of Military Fleet Personnel, pitals and prisons, except for Chaplains in hospitals and prisons, of whom The "Desservants" are members of the local clergy the former are responsible to the Central Health Servcalled upon to devote part of their time to the person- ice and the latter to the Service of Maritime Justice.
nel. 9. The Chaplaincy at present is composed of:
4. Chaplains are appointed by the Minister upon their Catholic Chaplain Corps application and the recommendation of the ecclesiasti- Chaplains at sea in distant places .............. 3
cal authorities. Auxiliary Chaplains (shore installations (?),
"Iesservants" are selected in the locality where they schools, etc.) ........................... 9
are needed by maritime authorities in cooperation with "Desservants" (bases, centers, services) .about 15
ecclesiastical authorities. They are under contract to Protestant Chaplain Corps
the Navy. Posts in "terres prevus" (?) ................ 2
Posts in occupied territory .................. 1
5. Chaplains and "Desservants" have neither grade nor Jewish Chaplain Corps rank in the naval hierarchy, nor any differing rank In reality, nonexistent, because of a lack of Jewish
among themselves, nor any difference of position or troops, except in Algeria.
salary.
They receive no advancement, even by claim of senior- 10. From the religious point of view, Chaplains and "Desity. servants" are responsible to an authority, outside the
They are allowed, under ordinary conditions, pensions, Navy, who is designated by their Church.
retirement and decorations. For Catholic Chaplains this authority was, until 1940, 6. Their financial position is as follows: the Bishop of Fr jus and Toulon who had the title of Chaplains and Auxiliaries receive respectively the pay "Inspecteur Apostolique pris la Flotte Frangaise Chaplains and Auxiliaries receive respectively the pay (Consistorial Decrees of April 30, 1918 and July 8, and allowances of a Lieutenant and Ensign. 1927). Since this order was not renewed, the former
"Desservants" receive allowances in proportion to .
their services and the pay, counted by days or half-days, vicar general of the Diocese of Frjus provisionally exof an Ensign. ercises the powers of Ordinary of the Fleet.
u a .The authorities of the Protestant and Jewish con"Desservants" in hospitals and naval prisons at present The authorities of the Protestant and Jewish conreceive their pay from the budget of the Service of sistories operate under the same conditions for the
Naval Health and Justice. Chaplains and "Desserv- members of their faiths.
ants" are admitted to the superior officers' mess. 11. Chaplains and "Desservants," all volunteers, are re34 The Military ChapIain
cruited easily in case of war, but with more difficulty THANKS to the following who helped immensely with in time of peace, because of the present scarcity of our "lost" chaplains last issue: Miss Josephine H. Little of clergymen and the desire of their ecclesiastical su- the Presbyterian Church headquarters; Chaplain E. L.
periors to keep them. Ackiss, Naval Gun factory, Washington, D. C.; and to The Catholic Chaplain Corps is recruited almost many chaplains who sent in their own changes of address.
equally in time of war from the regular and secular . SOME OF YOU well remember the change in clergy, but with a majority from the secular clergy in the name of the Association to The Military Chaplains peacetime. Because of a lack of time and resources Association and remember to so address your checks; there is no means of preparation or of review for its others, well! . WHICH REMINDS ME! This (the personnel, which is necessarily liable to sudden change October-November) issue is the last many of you will get or transfer.(?) under your 1948 dues. How about sending your 1949 12. In the spiritual domain, and within the rules of the dues? Dues as of January 1st, 1949 are $3.00 remember!
Command, Chaplains have every facility for the exer- . THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF CHAPLAINS cise of their ministry and their personal religion, whose correct locations we don't have this time are: Quarters, furnished in a permanent or mobile manner, ARMY: Chaplains Frederick B. Ackley, 3104 W. 43rd portable chapels and equipment of their faith are put Place, Los Angeles, California; Earl A. Blackman, 3431 by the Navy at the disposition of Chaplains. Harrison Street, Kansas City, Missouri; Alfred P. Conant, With the authorization of the Commander, and- out- 425 Terrace Avenue, Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey; side of hours of duty, Chaplains may, if they wish, Nelson F. Davis, Jr., 1240 6th Street, New Orleans, Louisihold religious meetings, organize lectures and choral ana; Samuel E. Donald, Ward D-7, Fitzsimons Gen'l Hosgroups, and participate in entertainments and trips in pital, Denver, Colorado; David M. Eichorn, 2775 Kingscooperation with officers in charge of these services, bridge Terrace, Bronx, New York; Herbert Friedman, Chaplains are admitted to the "Foyers" (?) and may APO 403, c/o Postmaster, New York, N. Y.; Henri A.
serve on their committees but may not hold the di- Hamel, APO 633, c/o PM, San Francisco, California; rectorship. Fred H. Heather, Jr., 1 Whitestone Court, Silver Spring, f Md.; R. N. Hillyer, Box 2646, Carmel, California; Cornelius J. Hogan, 3704 AFBU, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MissisVA Tradition sippi; H. P. Horn, 385 ASG, APO 919, c/o PM, San nVA Tron Francisco, Calif.; C. A. Huffman, 116 Independence (Continued from page 33) Avenue, Newton Center, Mass.; W. L. Jones, 83 E. Tindall 1938, the Rev. William P. O'Conner, 1938-1940. Hts., Macon, Georgia; A. S. Kramer, 1666 Memorial The present Catholic chaplains are the Rev. Michael Avenue, Williamsport 22, Pennsylvania; J. L. McLean, Hinssen, appointed in 1940 and the Rev. Walter Gryzbek, 207 Layne Avenue, Richmond, Virginia; A. S. Moorehead, appointed in 1947. 605 Sterner St., Confluence, Penn.; J. I. Neighbours, Santa Chaplain William R. Hughes, now age 80, and Chap- Monica, California; H. L. Rhodes, Anniston, Alabama; lain Daniel L. Myers, age 79, are Protestant Chaplains W. D. Savage, 3261/2 25th Street, Pittsburgh, Penna.; WilEmeritus and often help out at the Chapel. Chaplains liam E. Smith, 2816 N Avenue, Richmond, Virginia; Bernard Kuhlman and William O'Conner are still living James H. Terry, 130th Station Hospital, APO 403, c/o and are fondly remembered at Dayton. PM, San Francisco, California; L. T. Thornhill, 615 CenJewish rabbis at Dayton have served the Jewish members tral Ave., Charleston 2, West Virginia; H. G. Thurston, at the Center without compensation until the appointment 4107 Genesee Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan; L. Curtis of Rabbi Selwyn Ruslander of Temple Israel, Dayton as Tiernan, 6115 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri; NAVY:
pa~tmechpli in.97 Tieman, 6115 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri; NAVY: part-time chaplain in 1947.
This story of the Dayton chaplaincy shows how tradi- Samuel E. Brown, 154 St. Mildred's Court, Danville, Kentional and valuable that position has been in the progress tucky; Florian W. Cassady, Naval Bks., Quarters K, Coand development of the Dayton Center. All who are now lumbia Pike, Arlington, Va.; Carl E. Compton, 2825 Lexserving in the Veterans Administration should be encour- ington Road, Louisville 6, Kentucky; William T. Dierks, aged by the record and achievements of the chaplains, U.S. Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California; Joseph whose ministry, according to Chaplain Emeritus William F. Garrity, Naval Air Station, Ottumwa, Iowa; John G. R. Hughes, "is the highest and holiest activity in the gov- Gensel, Union Theological Seminary, Broadway at 120th ernment." Street, New York, N. Y.; Harold S. Huff, 2210 E. Newton
1 Street, Milwaukee 11, Wisconsin; J. R. Kennedy, 1307 Laurel, Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Henry F. Maxwell, Hq., 11th THE OFFICE SECRETARY SAYS: Marines, 1st M.D., FMF, FPO, San Francisco, California; Emmett T. Michaels, US Marine Corps Air Station, By PEGGY FLOYD
Cherry Point, North Carolina; Joseph D. O'Leary, 479 SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT WAS OMITTED N.W. Street, Lima, Ohio; James T. Sanders, 71 Montfrom this column in the last issue. The name of Chaplain gomery, Graniteville, S. C.; John A. Whitesel, USS Norton Leroy E. Wright was missing in the list of those in N. Y. Sound (AV-11) FPO, Norfolk, Virginia. DOES ANYto whom thanks were due at the Convention. Sorry! . ONE KNOW the present location of these chaplains?
-ctober-Novemm, o1948 35
The Chaplain's Part In Healing The Sick
By RUSSELL L. DICKS
far as the present problem is concerned. First is the accept.
Medical men of our day again are emphasizing the ance of one's diagnosis. The emotion of apprehension, or fact that much illness is mental and spiritual in origin, fear, is so great in connection with this crisis that many perhence the importance of adequate ministry to the sick sons delay in seeking a doctor's help so long that it is irmin our church hospitals. This article is from an address possible for them to be helped when they do go to a phydelivered at the recent American Hospital Association sician, and in other instances so severe that the doctor withConvention by the chaplain of Wesley Memorial Hos- holds the diagnosis from the patient once it is complete, pital, Chicago, and contributing editor, THE PASTOR. judging the patient as being unable emotionally to accept the information which the doctor has learned about him.
This is a religious problem, for all religion teaches that we
T O understand the chaplain's contribution to the care of should be able to accept whatever experiences come to us
the patient, one must understand the nature of illness and to turn frustrations into triumphant living.
itself. It is my conviction that it is basically, from the stand- A-number two crisis in illness is the surgical operation. point of the patient (and aside from the patient it has no We are told by doctors that surgery is a matter of mechanmeaning) a spiritual problem, and that health is a spiritual ics: the surgeon speaks of himself as a mechanic; the orthocondition. pedic surgeon, as a carpenter; the urologist, as a plumber.
If it is true, as Harvard Medical School's late physiolo- While surgery may be a mechanical process from the standgist, Walter B. Cannon, has said, that "the human body is point of the surgeon and his assistants, it is a spiritual so constructed as to go on functioning almost indefinitely process from the standpoint of the patient. For him it is without becoming ill," we have to ask the question, Why do an act of faith-faith in the surgeon, that he has the knowlwe become sick? Medical science does not answer the edge and skill to do the job before him; faith in the question; religio-philosophy, which is not bound by the lim- anesthetist that she will be able to keep him free from pain its of science, offers a suggestion. It says that we become and yet alive; faith in the nature of the universe, or God, to sick, both physically and mentally, because of inadequate work through the healing forces of nature for his recovery. ways in which we learn to handle our emotions of fear, At the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston we guilt feelings, and loneliness. asked a large series of patients facing operation a routine
It is commonplace for the general practitioner to tell us question, calmly and casually: "How do you feel about it?" that between 50 and 75 per cent of his patients, depending Approximately 90 per cent talked about religion, saying in upon the kindliness and interest of the doctor, are persons words to this effect, "My confidence is in my surgeon and without organic disease. The scientifically trained doctor, God." The surgeon got in ahead of God; subconsciously under the influence of modern psychiatry, now recognizes they probably realized that they had better be more conthat a person who thinks that he is sick is as sick as the per- cerned about the surgeon than about God, for they could son who has demonstrable organic disease. Helen Flanders be certain that God would not mess up the surgeon's work, Dunbar found that some 76 per cent of a large number of while the surgeon might mess up God's. patients (which she studied at Presbyterian Hospital, New A third great crisis in illness is that of the person who York) suffering from fractures, gave evidence of having a faces life with a physical handicap following treatment: psychogenic cause underlying the accident which led to the person who has a heart attack and must live on a retheir injury. Dr. Dunbar has said, "It is not a question of stricted physical activity regime for the rest of his life; the whether an illness is psycho or somatic but rather a question person who has diabetes and must take insulin; the person of how much of each." with an ulcer who must live on a strict diet; the person who
It is obvious that the illness which is psychogenic or even has had infantile paralysis and is left with muscle weakpartially psychogenic has tremendous implications for re- ness; the person who is blind, who loses an arm, leg, or the ligion, for religion deals with the interpretation of life and use of a joint; and many others. Almost all physical handiattempts to put meaning into living. To fail to help people caps-aside from casualties of war and great physical who have problems of this nature is to fail as completely as calamities like tornadoes, fires, and such, where being if we failed to treat an organic disease. For instance, I have wounded or injured is preferred to death-are interpreted never been able to understand the common practice of treat- as a special visitation from God. Even the sophisticated ing the organic symptoms of a person who has tried to com- believe that they have been singled out in some special way mit suicide-pumping out his stomach, giving him intra- by the universe. Mastery of and compensation for a physivenous fluids, and fulfilling all the ritual of good physical cal handicap is a triumph in living by the spirit. We see treatment-and then sending the patient home without any- many fail and fall short of an adequate mastery of physical one talking to him about what led him to the act. limitations. Sometimes the failure is the fault of the paLet us look at five great crises of illness and see to what tient's parents, friends, or employers. Above everything extent they are spiritual in nature. These are physical inso- else one must have hope, courage, and perspective. These are attributes of religion, not easily come by, but more than
Reprinted from the January, 1948, issue of THE PASTOR, a publication are attributes of religion, not easily come by, but more tha of The Methodist Publishing House. adequate when patiently and wisely sought. 36The Methodist Publishing House.The military alai 36 The Military Chaplain
A fourth crisis observed in the sickroom is that which body but that the physician has moved into the treatment Imay accompany a long convalescence, when loneliness sets of the soul-not just in psychiatry but in the whole of the in, when the spirit dries up and the mind turns in upon it- practice of medicine. It is a demostrated and well recogself. The radio, with its varied palaver, both helps and de- nized fact that the physician welcomes us as allies when we stroys the soul during such a time. I suppose that when tele- work along sound lines; when we cooperate with him and vision becomes commonplace, so many people will become do not work independently of him; when we are interested sick, especially during the World Series, that there will be in the patient as an individual, and not in the number of no one to care for them. Loneliness and boredom are emo- people we can get to agree to a prescribed formula which tional forces which may lead to a destruction of the soul we interpret as meaning salvation regardless of the patient's or may lead it into experiences of socialized and creative mental attitude. living. All religions agree that friendliness and trust are To be sure we have made great progress in the past the very essence of religion. twelve to fifteen years in reinterpreting the task of ministry A fifth and final crisis of illness is death. This so ob- to the sick, in the hospital world as well as among the viously is a spiritual problem for the patient that I need clergy in general who come to the hospital to minister to spend little time discussing it. Only religion has anything their parishioners. (In four years we have trained, or to say to the dying person; only religion looks upon this ex- shared in the training at Wesley Memorial Hospital, Chiperience as a beginning and not an end, a possible triumph cago, of sixteen ministers who are now working as chapand not an absolute failure. If the chaplain did nothing lains.) Even so, it seems little short of disgraceful that so more than minister to the dying he would more than justify few church hospitals have chaplains, especially trained the cost of maintaining his work, judged from any stand- chaplains. point you wish, but particularly from that of the so-called The clinical training program for clergy started in a state hard-boiled, scientifically trained physician, who is likely to hospital for the mentally ill, and the basic work of ministry fumble his care of the dying so badly. He, above all, wel- to the acutely ill in general hospitals was done in a rioncomes the chaplain's ministry to the dying and praises him sectarian, private hospital. Some few hospitals have always eloquently when he obtains permission for an autopsy by had chaplains, particularly Lutheran and Episcopalian hossimply pointing out to a family that that which they loved pitals, but there are only two Lutheran hospitals that offer is no longer in the body, and that what happens to the body, clinical courses for clergy, and the number of trained chapso long as it is treated with respect, is of little importance. lains in Lutheran hospitals can be counted on the fingers
What about the chaplain's contribution to the care of the of one hand; while a large Episcopalian hospital recently patient, and how does he serve in the great crises of illness? voted to discontinue its chaplaincy program entirely, deWhen he knows something of the psychology of illness as spite the administrator's efforts to the contrary. Many described above plus the great emotions of fear, guilt feel- other church hospitals either do not have chaplains or they ings, and loneliness, he may be of tremendous help. But have men serving who are retired from serving local the minister, priest, or rabbi will not know how to carry on churches. his ministry in the sickroom without special preparation for We realize that the administrators face a difficult task in his task. selecting chaplains, but we have prepared a set of Standards
It is not enough to be-as a bishop described a minister by which to choose a chaplain and judge his work. A he had appointed as hospital chaplain, with the approval notice, printed last spring in the Bulletin of the American but not at the request of the administrator-"a lovely per- Protestant Hospital Association, concerning the availability son around the sick." Does "loveliness" of spirit, whatever of a well-trained young chaplain with excellent qualificain the world that is, insure one of some judgment, some dis- tions, drew not so much as a single inquiry. cipline, some skill? One might as well seek a surgeon who How can the church hospital justify being without a is kind and pleasant but who has never studied anatomy, chaplain? If illness is, as I have maintained, essentially a nor served as apprentice in the operating room with an ex- spiritual problem, the church hospital without a chaplain perienced surgeon. The art of surgery is in knowing what is failing in the very task for which it was established. So to cut and what not to cut. The art of ministering to the to administer a hospital is to be false to the church whose sick is in knowing what to ask and what not to ask; what to name the hospital bears, to say nothing of failing to prosay and what not to say; when to pray and when not to vide a service that the patient desperately needs. pray; when to leave and when to stay. The art of ministering to the sick lies in the ability to follow our leads; for, if (For permission to reprint write THE PASTOR.) given the chance, the patient will carry us to his need.
It is a safe estimate that some 50 to 75 per cent of the
work of doctors and the chaplains overlaps. That is to say,
a patient would be equally helped by either adoctor or pastor, granted good nursing care: for both the doctor and the 1949 Memberships are due January 1 st. pastor are dealing with spiritual problems; both serve the
same healing forces; both follow the same first principle of
do no harm, for both know that if they can avoid doing Please remit $3.00 harm most of their patients will get well. If they will cooperate, God working through nature will use them. It is
not that the clergyman has moved into the treatment of the
0Cober-November, 1948 37
APPOINTED INSTRUCTOR IN RELIGION
With four years of experience as chaplain in the Army, followed by graduate study at Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University, the Rev. G. Douglas Straton comes to the College of Wooster this fall as instructor in religion.
Dr. Howard Lowry, president of the College, announced the appointment recently.
The Rev. Straton is author of the article, "The NonPacifist Christian" published in the spring of 1941 in "Religion and Life."
A graduate of Harvard, the Rev. Straton went to Yale Divinity School one year before transferring to the Andover Newton Theological School where his bachelor of divinity degree was conferred in 1941. He taught philosophy one year at Colby Junior College, New London, New Hampshire, before the war.
His home is at Fall River, Mass. He is married and has one child.
Alcoholics 3. Basic urges. The emotions. Conflicts. (Continued from page 11) 4. Psychology of childhood. What makes us act as we
chasms of unthinkable time between each step of the pre- do.
carious advance, on and still on until the dignity of man 5. Concept of the subconscious. Several proofs of its is reached-that the long climb does not end there, as existence. Id, Ego, Super-Ego. Religious approach. Origiscience seems to hold. Let a man give himself to Jesus nal sin and spirit or soul of man.
Christ, and there develops a new creature-strangely 6. Neurosis. Typical patterns-tension, conflicts, action new. For by a step more radical and revolutionary than of alcohol on the body, relation to tension and conflict in
any of those that preceded it, the natural man attains a neurosis.
higher type of being, and finds himself endowed with
new likes and dislikes, new affections, new desires, new 7. Religion and psychiatry. Interchangeability of some
instincts, new possibilities and powers-lives life in quite of their concepts with identity of therapeutic functions.
a different and infinitely fuller way. That is the proud 8. Religion and its basic beliefs. Belief in God over claim of this faith, and you can't laugh it out of court against corrosive effects of cynicism and hopelessness. Bebecause it has done it. And, every day, we meet such new lief in Christ as Savior and Redeemer over against feeling creatures in the street." of guilt and worthlessness. Belief in the Bible; wisdom of universal laws, but friendly universe. Spirit of love, justice, THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION: and mercy of God over against man-made laws, rules, reguThe purpose of the discussion is to guide the patient into lations.
the realization that the results sought in this course are the 9. Religion and its contribution to personality (sincerity, same, except on a higher plane, as those sought in his use confidence, security, assurance, courage, and hope). Spiritof alcohol; that there is a higher and better way of handling ual growth and personality development. and controlling his emotions than through an alcoholic 10. Religion as a means of release from tension. Conhaze; that a sound and solid philosophy of life that pro- fession. Forgiveness. Sublimation. How to read the Bible. duces courage, confidence, assurance, decision, inner peace How to pray. How to worship. How to achieve a moral and security will enable him to handle his basic urges and and spiritual master motive for life and living. his conflicts so that he can make a healthy, sane, mature 11. Religion and self-realization. How to practice self adjustment to his environment. 11. Religion and self-realization. How to practice selfadjustment to his environment control. Control versus suppression. The importance of
SUGGESTED OUTLINE OF PROGRAM FOR DISCUS- decision and the deterioration of personality due to inSION BY CHAPLAIN (COORDINATING AND HAR- decision. MONIZING WITH DISCUSSION OF DOCTOR): 12. Facing reality. Handling disagreeable situations; S. irritations of friends and family; poor judgment; dumb ad1. The purple p of the discussion. Aims and goals. What vice, ill manners, and thoughtlessness of others; social, we are attempting to do. economic, and domestic disappointments. Staying on guard2. The common problems of the alcoholic. Typical be- Careful surveying of underlying causes and handling of havior patterns. Am I an alcoholic? them over against a struggle at the bottle level. 38 The MilitaryChaplain
THOUGHTS, CTIVITIES, TECHNIQUES
A Department of Helpful Suggestions and Materials for Chaplains
Religious Screen but know that several of the pictures listed won awards at One of the most encouraging notes sounded in recent the International Film Fair in Venice, Italy this year. Inyears has come from the fifth International Workshop in formation on distribution may be obtained from Film ProAudio-Visual Education held at Green Lake, Wisconsin, gram Services, United Nations Organization, 1173 Avenue September 6 through 11, 1948. of the Americas, New York 19, N. Y.
Vocational guidance to help church youth become in- Catholic film strips are offered by Catholic Visual Educaterested in and train for newspaper, magazine, radio, and tion, Inc., 149 Bleeker St., New York 12, N. Y. in these motion-picture jobs was urged as one of the most impor- titles: tant evangelistic jobs the church could undertake. The Stations of the Cross .......... 37 frames, $ 5.00
There were many excellent recommendations from the The Way of the Cross ............. 19 frames, 4.00
Green Lake Workshop, this year, indications that the The Seven Sacraments ............ 38 frames, 5.00
church is beginning to stir itself and make up for a lot of The Altar Boy .................. 72 frames, 10.00
lost time. Some 280 national and regional church leaders, The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass ...... 118 frames, 15.00 staff members, producers, and exhibitors registered for the The Wonder Worker, St. Anthony .. 54 frames, 15.00 session, including delegates from 13 denominations. (with records)
But from our point of view, this issue of a trained pro- The Story of Fatima .............. 97 frames, 20.00
fessional leadership is high-priority stuff. We have been (with records) saying for some time now that a ministry through modern Another highly useful film strip for Catholics is "The media is the greatest opportunity of the modern church; Priest-Chaplain," produced by the Declan X. McMullen that serving God, professionally, under the sponsorship of Co., Inc., 225 Broadway, New York 7, N. Y. A Manual, the institutional church, through the motion-picture screen, written by Captain Maurice S. Sheehy, ChC, USNR accomvideo, radio, and the modern newspaper, is of at least equal panies the strip. This is a 33-frame black and white, 35mm, importance as serving Him from the pulpit or the high with price available from the producer. altar. It is heartening to hear many other voices saying the
same thing!
We go a step further and say that the military chaplaincy General Items
is ideally suited as a "proving ground" for developments in "The Virginia Methodist Advocate," in its August 26th, this field. We represent interdenominational and inter- 1948 issue, carried an excellent cover picture of Chaplain sectarian coordination at a highly practical level, we have R. F. Lang, USN baptizing a marine recruit at Parris magnificent facilities in all phases of production, distribu- Island, S. C. An article by George S. Reamey, inside the tion and utilization, and we have an audience of teen- magazine extols the work of Chaplain Lang and his fellow agers who will prove most receptive to new techniques of Protestant, Chaplain John H. Craven, as "A Model in presentation. Religious Efficiency." No wonder, too, for these chaplains
The chaplaincy was not represented at Green Lake; have midweek "prayer meetings" averaging 300 in atthe church at large does not recognize even the more ap- tendance, 1,500 in their four Sunday morning services, with parent potentialities of experimental work in the chaplain's an additional 300 coming out to a Sunday night song servfield. We are hard at work along these lines however, right ice. Within the past six months 383 of these marines have across the Armed Services board, and our results should be been received into active membership with their own home forthcoming, and convincing, one of these days. churches, through the good offices of the chaplains.
New Films Available Chaplain Clinton A. Neyman, USN retires as of 1 NoUnited Nations films are now available, under the fol- vember, 1948, to accept the post of Professor of Religion lowing titles: THE PEOPLES' CHARTER, FIRST STEPS, and University Chaplain at the University of Southern CaliMAPS WE LIVE BY, CLEARING THE WAY, SEARCH- fornia. This culminates thirty years of distinctive service LIGHT ON THE NATIONS and HIGHLIGHTS OF in the Navy Chaplain Corps, including the organization of THE UNITED NATIONS YEAR. These are all English the Navy Chaplain School during the last war. A long language 16mm sound films in black and white. Average period of duty in the Pacific Area as an administrative chaprunning time, with the exception of CLEARING THE lain, after his Chaplain School experience, brought ChapWAY, is 15 minutes. CLEARING THE WAY is 35 min- lain Neyman into contact with a great many chaplains. utes. Rental is nominal, averaging $2.50. We regret we His many friends wish him the greatest success in his new cannot furnish more information as to content, this issue, work.
October-November, 1948 39
Bishop Edwin F. Lee died on Tuesday, Sept. 14th in Urges Adequate Defense
Rochester, Minn. Many will remember that he was with us One of America's top generals doesn't believe war is the One of America's top generals doesn t believe war is the
at the New Yorker Convention in May. Bishop Lee was solution to the resent world crisis.
solution to the present world crisis.
for many years Bishop to Malaya and Southeast Asia, was p an Army chaplain in World War I, and served as Director Instead, he wants a peace offensive carried directly to the of the General Commission on Army and Navy Chaplains Russian people. during the last war. Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, director of plans and f operations of the Army's General Staff, told the board of the General Federation of Women's Clubs:
"Television Chapel," a regular weekly television pro- n tin o tm it l e
gram of religious services, was inaugurated at 5 P.M., "I don't think-and many other military leaders with June 20th by WPIX, the New York News television sta- whom I am associated don't think-that military force is tion. the solution to the problems that confront us in the world
Edward Stasheff, WPIX director of educational pro- today.'
grams, announces that this half-hour program will present But, he added, war may be avoided if America's nonclergymen and choirs from the Catholic, Jewish and Prot- military resources are used to the full, and he urged that estant faiths on the first three Sundays of the Chapel's the clubwomen try to "drive that point home" to the Nafour-week cycle, with other denominations offering their tion's leaders. services on the fourth Sunday. "It is imperative," Gen. Wedemeyer declared, "that we
Featured in the programs provided by the faiths are get a message to all the peoples of the world," including brief, visual explanations of various rites, the choirs, the the peoples of those countries that might be potential significance of vestments, and the sacred vessels, enemies. The people of the world "are anxious to know
The first service was led by the Rev. F. Howard Calla- what we are trying to do."
han, of St. Paul and St. Andrew Methodist Church, N.Y.C. Many presently antagonistic foreign peoples would try
-Choir Guide. to remove their leaders, Gen. Wedemeyer said, if they could be brought to understand American intentions.
"Crime costs us $28,500 a minute and $1,710,000 every "Bullets," he asserted, "won't stop good ideas, but good hour." That is what J. Edgar Hoover reports. The follow- ideas would stop bullets." ing quotation from Mr. Hoover has been given wide pub- In addition, he said, "We should strive to make firm licity but it will be good to read it more than once. Mr. alliances with nations and peoples that have a political Hoover believes Christian education is the only cure for philosophy compatible with our own," and give all possiour crime wave. ble material aid to these countries.
"Today crime among young people has reached a new "If we employ the political, economic and psychological high and thousands of children are falling by the wayside resources of the United States and friendly countries, we of moral degeneracy. In the majority of cases coming to may avoid war," he declared. the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation it is The general warned, however, that the country still must readily apparent that these young criminals have almost a have "adequate defense forces to preclude a surprise attotal disregard for the fundamental principles of religion tack," and he added: and morality."-Lutheran Men. "We want peace, but we want an honorable peace."
- In his talk, the general did not refer to the Soviet Union or its satellites by name.
More than 23,000 servicemen have been brought into Gen. Wedemeyer attacked what he termed the "Hollythe Roman Catholic Church in the past 2 years as a result woodian" conception of America given to foreigners of a "religion by mail" project conducted by the Daughters through this country's motion pictures as one of the reasons of Isabella. According to a report submitted to the group's for misunderstanding of the Nation's policy. national convention by Mrs. Carolyn B. Manning, regent, Declaring he is a "pacifist at heart," he said the "milimany of the servicemen were either "lapsed" Catholics or tary" in this country should be kept in the "background," those who had no religion at all. "Our service reached but he also urged the need for citizenship responsibility. almost everywhere," she declared. "The total cost of this "There is too much emphasis in the United States on perService to our members since 1941 has been 2 cents per sonal rights, and not enough on our personal obligations as month per member." American citizens," he said.-Washington Evening Star.
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A Prayer For Navy Day
1948
Almighty God, who art the Father of all men and in whose mercy there is a wideness like the wideness of the sea; let Thy blessings be on the men of the Navy, protect their families while they are away from home, and keep them true to their best selves and faithful to Thee.
Grant that they may be alert and able to suppress wrong and defend right. May the anchors of the ships on which they serve be weighed for missions of peace and good will, but if the defense of the ideals of freedom and justice on which that peace is founded is ever necessary, may the men on whom this responsibility falls be as valiant and victorious as those before them who have gone "down to the sea in ships."
Guide our nation in the way of truth that freedom may be our constant possession. Strengthen our characters and teach us discipline that we may fulfill our obligation of leadership in world affairs. Give us faith, a readiness to work, and the determination to build a better world. These blessings we ask on Navy Day in confidence that Thy promises never fail. Amen.
--Chaplain W. N. Thomas Rear Admiral (ChC), USN Chief of Navy Chaplains
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