Subject to Roman Catholicism—Chaplains.
The Catholic Mirror of May 6 says that the first Catholic chaplain appointed for the navy was in 1888, "Father" Chidwick. The next appointment was in 1892. In speaking of a Sunday service on board ship, one of these chaplains gives us this significant item: "At the appointed time the church-bell tolls, and the church pennant is raised above the Stars and Stripes. The church pennant is a small triangular flag, bearing the symbol of the cross. It is the only flag ever placed above our country's, and the act is a beautiful acknowledgement from our country of her dependence on God, and is a sign to all right-thinking minds of the reason of her continued glory and prosperity. We feel that as long as she will lower her flag to that which is recognized as God's standard [rather, Roman Catholic] she will lower it to none other." An excellent room is furnished, and communion is celebrated. The article says: "These occasions of holy communion are also opportunities for enrolling in the scapular, distributing beads and agnus deis. The sailor's faith in the scapular is remarkable. Even those who do not receive the blessed sacrament will not permit the priest to leave the ship without asking for a pair of scapulars." And this is another straw which shows the direction of the religio-political winds of this country.