WAR DEPARTMENT,
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL’S OFFICE
September 3, 1918.
——–
MEMORANDUM
for the
Third Assistant Secretary of War.
With regard to the War Department letter to camp commanders directing that the services of camp pastors be dispensed with in three months’ time from July 24, 1918, it is stated unqualifiedly that no idea of barring religious influences from the camp was intended. In fact, quite the reverse was contemplated.
As stated by the Secretary of War in the early days of the war, the Department felt a heavy responsibility for the young men who were drawn into the conflict through no volition of their own, and to meet the demand for the safe-guarding of these young men, the churches, acting in cooperation with the War Department, early gave their attention to meeting this enormous problem.
All the Churches,- Protestant, Hebrew, Christian Science, Roman Catholic, -laid aside their differences, and, uniting in the belief that the best and only the best is good enough to serve our soldiers, set themselves to select their finest men to offer to the War Department as fitted to wear the chaplain’s uniform. At the same time legislation was enacted to provide for the great number of chaplains; while the work of appointing and selecting these chaplains was going on, the War Department authorized the military commanders in this country to accept, in their discretion, the services of ministers, who volunteered to visit and preach to the men in camps. At the same time, a great number of organizations undertook the social and recreational welfare of the men, acting through the War Department Commission on Training Camp activities, viz; American Red Cross, American Library Association, Fraternal Orders, Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, General War Time Commission of the Churches, Hostess Houses of the Y.W.C.A., Jewish Welfare Board, Knights of Columbus, National Catholic War Council, National League for Women’s Service, War Camp Community Service, War Work Council of the Y.M.C.A., War Work Council of the Y.W.C.A., Athletics and Army Songs Directors Commercial Amusements, Chamber of Commerce and Salvation Army activities, and many other philanthropic, social and religious organizations.
All these activities have been given the utmost latitude and consideration, and all organizations have consistently worked in conformity with the wishes and regulations of the military authorities. Instances have come to light, however, where no definite organization was chargeable with the supervision of certain clergy, which tended to show that the privileges granted have been abused. It is felt that efforts at proselytizing, insidious propaganda, indiscreet sympathy expressed to disloyal and dissatisfied enlisted men have developed which must be checked. All members of recognized organizations can be reached and disciplined through the heads of their organizations. With camp pastors activating as individuals, however, this cannot be done.
The War Department, therefore, having obtained from Congress, authority to appoint an adequate number of chaplains, determined to put the question of the religious welfare of soldiers upon a permanent basis by placing full and undivided responsibility upon the chaplains, who are commissioned officers of the Army. The draft of the letter carrying this policy into effect was submitted in advance to the Committee of Six, advisory to the Secretary of War upon religious matters, and was redrafted in accordance with the recommendations of that committee. It was also submitted to and approved by the Commission on Training Camp Activities.
It is recognized that in not a few instances the ruling will deprive the Army of the services of valuable co-workers, but it is hoped and expected that in most cases such men will avail themselves of the opportunity to enter the military services as Commissioned Chaplains, if meeting the requirements. Even where this is not possible it must be recognized that the principle and its uniform application — for any exceptions would involve injustice to others – must take precedence over the desire, no matter how sincere and devoted, of any individual. It is felt that those earnestly seeking the good of the country will perceive the reasonableness and justice of this decision, and abide by it.
Those who are contending that the churches must have liberty, that they cannot admit that the Government can so function in religion as to prescribe what soldiers should hear and what they should believe, show that they totally misconstrue and fail to comprehend the attitude of the War Department. To say that “we believe that the churches should be free to give their message and determine their own methods of work” is merely an argument for unlimited freedom or license. When an advocate of camp pastors states that the War Department letter strikes at the root of religious liberty and calculates to weaken the patriotism of certain denominations in America; that these certain denominations have been aggressive in the maintenance of religious workers among the soldiers; and that camp pastors “have an approach to soldiers denied many other workers”, the Department is compelled to appeal for the cooperation of the denominations so that the supervision and direction of our military forces many be left to constituted authorities, who are endeavoring to increase the efficiency of our Army in every possible way.
Miliary efficiency and elimination of overlapping activities demands that our ministers, as well as our laymen, come into line and lay aside their individual preferences for working in their own way and find a way to serve instead of striving to dominate.
The point also arises that there is a duplication of effort when independent organizations, not under complete Government control, act; as well as the wasting of man-power of our clergy, which will have heavy drafts on it from the Army and the Navy in the future,
P.C. HARRIS,
Acting The Adjutant General
