THE CARDINAL’S LIST OF CHAPLAIN CANDIDATES.
By T
The papers report that Cardinal Gibbons recently visited President McKinley to present to him a list of priests that are qualified to act as chaplains in the army and navy. The report says that the cardinal “reminded the President that in the long list of army appointments recently made nearly all the newly-made chaplains had been Protestants. The cardinal made no complaint, but he suggested that there are a number of good, brave priests in the Catholic Church who are anxious and willing to go to the front.” Cardinal Gibbons has the same right to press such a petition upon the President that the leaders in any other church have. There should be no question upon that point, for the United States has it established in her foundations that a man’s religion shall not of itself disqualify him for office. But it should be apparent that chaplaincies are too frequently procured by political wire-pulling, the same as any other political office. And a minister who has true respect for his spiritual calling will not descend to such methods. Hence men who misrepresent the cause of Christ often crowd themselves into the army to act as chaplains. There the soldier is thrown into daily contact with these political chaplains, and their utter lack of the real, genuine Christianity so unselfishly manifested in the life of the Master, not only casts discredit upon the chaplain, but also upon the Christianity that he misrepresents. If Christian workers really desire to help the soldiers, let them go as nurses. Then, whether in the camp or on the battle-field, let them work for Christ and Him alone, having no other person in mind. As they do such work as this, the soldier will learn more of the real Christianity of the real Christ than from all the masses that can be said or sermons that can be preached by chaplains who are fired with the partisan spirit of militarism. It should ever be kept before the world that the Master has said, “My kingdom is not of this world; if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews.” John 18:36. Christ showed none of the war spirit through all His life. So far as the government of this world was concerned, He was most distinctly and marvelously neutral. We have never been able to find anything in His teaching that requires His followers to lead a different life from the one He led. What a wonderful transformation would be wrought in the lives of professors if they would follow Christ instead of blindly adhering to the customs of their time! Customs, however dear, should not guide Christians. They should be guided by Christ, and by Him alone. T.