CHAPLAINS' WORK
AN INTERESTING ACCOUNT MEN OF MANY DUTIES The Minister of Defence recently asked a returned chaplain to the New Zenland Forces to give him sonic account of the work of chaplains at the lront. It was the opinion of the Minister that not sufficient of the work of chaplains had been told to the public of New Zealand, and he wished to have the statement for publication. He has now received the statement, and the tex. of it follows:— "In compliance with your request I am forwarding a. few particulars concerning the nature of the chaplains' work in the New Zealand Division. In each brigade their are two Church of England, one Roman Catholic, and two non-Episcopal chaplains. In divisional units—A.S.C., artillery, engineers, etc. —there are also two Church of Eng- , land, one lloman Catholic, and twe non-Episcopal chaplains. Every battalion has a chaplain on headquarters strength. In almost every case he moves in the battalion, and is in continual touch with the men. "As the method of working is much the same with all the chaplains. 1 venture to give you my own. When tho battalion is in the trenches the custom is to go round the whole line each day—front, support, and subsidiary trenches. The chaplain takes with him about 24 London papers of the previous day's date, also a good supply of cigarettes. The distribution of these at once brings him into free and open conversation with the men. His object is to cheer and encourago them, to give them any good news he has heard, to tell them incidents of bravery, and in general to' inspire their moral. In passing round lie t?ill invariably gather a number of letters to censor, as company officers have little time for censoring when in tho trenches. Should there be any wounded the chaph;. will assist at the R.A.P., obtain particulars and write to the uext-nf-kin. In the case of killed, he officiates at the burial cf only tho men of his church. This oftentimes .necessitates long journeys. A letter of sympathy, including as many particulars as the censorship regulations allow, is written to the next-of-kin of every man killed in action, regardless of what church ho belongs to. On; returning from the trenches, the chaplain's duty is to attend to the spiritual and social needs of the men. Concerts, sports, football matches, etc., aro arranged. Should there be a Y.M.C.A. hut in. the vicinity, he trill hold voluntary services and Bible classes. He also Visits the men in their billets. The Y.M.C.A. huts are placed at the disposal of chaplains of all churches for their' work. A large amount of a ch;iplain : s time is occupied in writing letters to parents and wives of men concerning th'iir welfare. Holy communion is held after almost every church parade and voluntary service, and an announcement made that the chaplain will communicate the information _of the men's presence to their next-of-kin. Tho attendance at holy communion and the response of the men are surprisingly good. Field ambulance camps and casualty clearing stations are regularly visited. All Protestant chaplains in the Division meet each Wednesday and arrange cliurch parades for the following Sunday/ This economises both'time and labour. During my nine months in (;he Division vory few denominational church parades were held. It was found much more practicable to hold battalion parades. "In an advance, chaplains are Appointed burial officers to their units. Each chaplain is in charge of a party of men. As far as circumstances will permit a number of bodies are gathered together, and a cemetery established. The chaplain takes charge of all personal effects. _ These are eventually forwarded to brigade headquarters. Letters, and as many particulars as possible arc forwarded by the chaplain to the next-of-kin of all men buried. It is the duty of each chaplain to bury all bodies he and his party find, without any regard to either religion or nationality. "I need hardly remark that all this' is done under heavy shell fire. When an advance is pending, sind just prior to the attack,' tho chaplain urges the men to write final letters to parents and friends, and hand them into his charge, to be posted only in the event > of death. He then puts them into safe keeping until tho battalion returns from the attack. "My private opinion is that the chaplain's most effective work can neither, be seen nor tabulated. Men seek his advice on spiritual matters. Tn personal conversation he exhorts them'to live clean, noble lives, and to nrove themselves worthy of the trust and confidence reposed in them by those they love most. He is continually warm'ni; them of the grave moral dangers whinh beset them. In conclusion I would assure you that the chaplain who does his duty has his time fully occupied and runs,the same risks as the men among whom lie lives and works."
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 3
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818CHAPLAINS' WORK Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 120, 7 February 1918, Page 3
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