U. S. ARMY RECRUITING NEWS JANUARY 1, 1923. Religious Services Well "If you will place the total attendance at Army Divine Services conducted by Chaplains against the average strength of the Army for the year you will be delighted with the result," says Colonel John T. Axton, U. S. Army, Chief of Chaplains, in his annual report to the Secretary of War. "The figures indicate that every man in the Army voluntarily attended church in an army post 12 times last year. If this percentum held good among men throughout the country there would be instant demand for many more churches to accommodate the throng in every large community. "A close survey of the religious work of the army leads to the conclusion that standardization, so far as it can be achieved without violating the polity, traditions or doctrines of the various denominations represented in the Corps of Army Chaplains, has brought most excellent results. Soldiers readily see the difference between that effort which is religion pure and undefiled and that which merely seeks sectarian advantage. They are quick to recognize a positive and practical appeal to those in need of salvation and they have little time or sympathy for those who indulge in unbrotherly denunciation of others who seek the same God through different forms of faith, expression and relationship." With separations from the service constantly occuring and no appointments being made it has been impossible to equalize the distribution of Chaplains among the various denominations. Chaplains now in the service are classified denominationally as follows: active duty in Training Camps for a period of 15 days. "In addition to Divine Services, the Army Chaplains have ministered in hospitals and guard houses, cared for recruits in their perplexities and for the man about to be discharged who wished help in becoming re-established in civil life, they have visited families, maintained community contacts, and have officially performed many extra-professional duties, serving as exchange officers, athletic officers, counsel for defense in courtsmartial and supervisors and instructors in schools for enlisted men. "Chaplains have been on duty during the year at the American cemeteries in France, to officiate at the reinterments being made in connection with the transfer of 1 bodies to permanent resting places. These chaplains have done much to temper the sorrow of the thousands of bereaved Americans who have visited France during the tourist season. 1 16 Protestant Episcopal, 15 Cumberland Presbyterian, 1 Roman Catholic, 38 "To further a well considered plan of the War Department for developing the religious program of the Army, the Chief of Chaplains visited forty-five camps, posts and stations during the year. The specific purpose of these visits was to magnify the place of religion in the Army, to strengthen local programs for the moral and spiritual advancement of soldiers and to inspect buildings and equipment in use for religious purposes. "Upon the occasion of these visitations conferences were held in which commanding officers, chaplains, welfare workers and prominent civilians from adjacent communities participated. The reception accorded the Chief of "Early in the World War, upon the urgent representation of leading churchmen, a Chaplains' School was established at Fortress Monroe, Virginia, afterward removed to Camp Taylor, Kentucky. Later in the war, about June 1, 1918, a similar school was operated in France. Both of these schools served to quickly impart to clergymen, who were plunged from civil life into the changed conditions of army environment, some fundamentals that are essential to successful work among soldiers. "The Chaplains' School takes the college and theological training of the clergyman or priest and adapts it to the specific task peculiar to army life. It is a recognized fact that the educational equipment of the chaplain is, per force of requirement for entrance into the army, unusually high in character but the special training has been in denominational schools with denominational viewpoints. This would fit clergymen for ministrations in their particular denominational churches in civilian life; but the chaplain must be more than a denominationalist, he must minister to men of every creed and of no creed, and do it constructively. "The school affords training to the chaplain as an army officer in those subjects that he should know thoroughly and yet which were not presented in any curriculum in previous schooling. The thorough study of army customs and courtesies, of Army Regulations, courtsmartial, Insurance, Military Hygiene, Interior Guard, Field Service Manual, Equitation, Drill Regulations and Topography are essential to military adaptability and service. "Heretofore students have been selected from among Regular Army chaplains only. Twenty-eight completed the course last year. It is expected that a few chaplains from "Reports of chaplains indicate that in the army there is little cynicism, practically no chaffing under the well considered forms of discipline essential to military organization, and no lack of respect for law and order. However, uncertainties growing out of a long continued discussion by the Congress of a drastic reduction in army personnel had a bad effect on the service, from which chaplains, usually very optimistic, did not escape. Being insecure in their positions made the chaplains restless and ill at ease, thus materially lessening their efficiency. The Act of June 30, 1922, which arbitrarily separates from the service fifty chaplains, two-sevenths of the entire personnel, will leave many posts, camps and stations without religious ministry. "The recommendation made in the last annual report of this office is renewed. There has been a material advance in the compensation, perquisits and status of civilian clergymen of all denominations. Better parsonages and rectories have been provided and the financial status of ministers has been greatly improved. The army has not been permitted to keep pace. The Navy has. It is recommended that representation be made to the Congress which will provide for chaplains grades up to colonel on the same basis of promotion as obtains for members of the medical and dental corps. It is further recommended that an effort be made to secure legislation that will provide chaplains at the ratio of one for each eight hundred officers and enlisted men. At the present ratio many stations must continue to be without religious ministry. Leading churchmen have recently expressed themselves as favoring this improved status for chaplains and this more adequate provision for religious needs of the army. Many large denominational gatherings have endorsed the proposition and have passed vigorous resolu IN PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN at With the desire to bring the regiment and the Army at large before the eyes of the public, the Seventh Infantry, stationed Vancouver Barracks, Washington, loses no opportunity of participating in civilian affairs as is evidenced by its entry in the Pacific International Live Stock Exposition and Horse Show. Considering the class of animals entered in the show, from Canada, the Eastern and Southwestern States, the results attained were very gratifying. The classes entered and prizes won were as follows: Heavyweight Polo Pony, Captain J. L. McKee, Rider; Red ribbon (2nd Prize) $25.00. Lightweight Polo Pony, Captain W. A. Collier, Rider; Red ribbon (2nd Prize) $25.00. Team of Polo Ponies, Major W. H. Rucker, Capt. W. A. Collier, Capt. J. L. McKee, Riders; Red ribbon (2nd Prize $25.00. Open to all Jumping, Private C. H. Frost, Rider; White ribbon (3rd Prize) $25.00. Stall Decorations, Sgt. Robert H. Babb, Sergeant in Charge; Red ribbon (2nd Prize) $25 00. Realizing that "Music hath charms" the Regimental Band is sent to Portland, Oregon, several times each week to stimulate recruiting. Working in conjunction with the band there is a small corps of veteran recruiting canvassers who lose no opportunity to "Sell their goods." With the recent transfer of one hundred and fifty enlisted men from the regiment to the 30th Infantry at San Francisco, California, extra energy has to be exerted to hold our own. As an incentive to our "Mail order" recruiting, attractive cards in blue and white outlining the history of the 7th Infantry were forwarded to favorable recruiting centres to be distributed by friends U. S. ARMY RECRUITING NEWS Civilian Aide for Secretary Weeks Appointed from the M. T. C. A. S ECRETARY WEEKS recently notified Charles B. Pike of Chicago that he has been appointed Chief Civilian Aide to the Secretary of War upon nomination of the Military Training Camps Association. The purpose of the appointment is to promote co-operation between the War Department and the Military Training Camps Association, which has received formal recognition as an agency to aid in fostering the voluntary military training of American citizens in time of peace. The Secretary of War stated in his telegram to Mr. Pike that the appointment has received enthusiastic approval in the War Department. Mr. Pike is president of the Military Training Camps Association, and his appointment to serve without expense to the Government is to be followed by the appointment of a civilian aide for each military corps area and for the District of Columbia. This appointment is in line with the policy recently announced by Secretary Weeks in the following letter to all corps area commanders: "1. For your information there is quoted below a letter from the Secretary of War to Mr. Henry S. Drinker, Honorary President, Military Training Camps Association, New York City, and Mr. Charles B. Pike, Chairman, Executive Committee, Central Department, Military Training Camps Association, Chicago. Illinois : "I am pleased to inform you that I accept in principle the patriotic offer of the Military Training Camps Association submitted to me by you on October 10, 1922, and I hereby extend to the Military Training Camps Association formal recognition as a co-operating agency in fostering the voluntary military training of citi zens. "To promote co-operation between the Military Training Camps Association and the agencies of the War Department, I authorize the appoint ment of civilian aides to the Secretary of War, these aides to comprise a chief civilian aide and an aide for each corps area, each state and for the District of Columbia. The chief civilian aide, will be appointed directly by the Secretary of War on nomination by the Military Training Camps Association and with the approval of corps area commanders concerned. The foregoing civilian aides will be appointed for a period of four years, subject to renomination and reappointment at the close of that period. The Secretary of War re Chief Civilian Aide Charles B. Pike serves the right to accept resignations and withdraw appointments whenever, after conferring with the chief civilian aide, it appears that the aide in question no longer fulfills the requirements of the position for which he was appointed. "The Military Training Camps Association is further authorized to create a system of county and local chairmen thus completing in detail a nation-wide organization for C. M. T. C. recruiting in time of peace and for such wider functions as might be requested by the War Depart ment. "The manner in which the Military Training Camps Association and its civilian aides and other representatives shall co-operate with the Wat 3 Department, shall be a matter of local adjustment to be determined by the several corps area commanders on the basis of the local conditions existing in such corps area. "The corps area commander is authorized to deal directly with othe civilian agencies when, in his judgment, after consultation with the civilian aide, it seems desirable to do so. "The corps area commander is further authorized in his discretion, to furnish office space, clerical assistance, stationery, printing and advertising matter to assist the Military Training Camps Association with their part of the work. Such expenditures must be made by War Department representatives on the usua! War Department vouchers and shali comprise such proportion of the total moneys allotted to the corps area for recruiting purposes as the corps area commander may decide local conditions warrant. "Corps area commanders are authorized to issue civilian aides such official stationery and penalty envelopes, bearing the frank of the War Department, as may be required to carry on official correspondence directly pertaining to War Department work. Civilian aides should be warned that the use of such official stationery and penalty envelopes is authorized only when acting as agents of the War Department on exclusively Government business. "It is to be understood that no expense is to be incurred by the United States for salaries or travel of civilian aides nor for any other purposes than specified in the preceding paragraphs. "I am highly appreciative of the patriotic motives, which have led the Military Training Camps Association to make the valued offer, which has been accepted above, and look forward with pleasurable anticipation to the results to be achieved by this plan of co-operation." |