THE WORK OF PRIESTS IN THE ARMY.
The Catholic Mirror of September 17 prints a letter from “Father” McKinnon, one of the chaplains who accompanied the American volunteers to Manila. It is dated “S. S. City of Peking, June 26, ’98.” It is addressed to “Father” York, editor of the Monitor. The writer asks for “hymn-books, also a New Testament,” and “a few copies of ‘Faith of Our Fathers,’” and continues:— “I have already baptized ten converts since coming on board and have others studying. I find that I need books of instruction very much, as so many want to find out more about the Catholic religion that without books to give them I find it hard to attend to all. In fact, about all my time is taken up hearing confessions. I have heard over five hundred since I left, and as many of them are of boys who have not been near a priest for years, it is not an easy task. I have had over fifty make their First Communion, so you see how backward some were. There are 803 Catholics in our regiment. Of the 50 officers, 31 are Catholics. Besides, there are about fifty more among the marines, so between all I have a large parish. I like the work very much, as I feel that I am doing some little good. Every one treats me with the greatest respect and consideration. “The navy, I think, is about half Catholic, also. Last Sunday evening I went on board the Charleston to be with the boys for the expected battle at Guam, Monday morning, and I think more than half on board of her are Catholics. I heard confessions till 1:30 Monday morning, and then was not through, but, between the heat and the hard work, could not stand it any longer. Before the expected engagement, I gave a general absolution. It was quite a solemn sight, as all (even non-Catholics) seemed very much in earnest.” This is in all probability not an isolated case.