"When the Chapel was built I was the only Chaplain working together in the same Corps. The returning chapwith the Service Command. It was my suggestion that the lain can be a leader in promoting interfaith understanding chapel be built in the Army-Navy-Marine Cemetery and and the development of tolerance. called 'Memorial Chapel.' (Incidentally a grand scheme As far as the Protestant chaplains are concerned, they for landscaping the- cementry was also proposed.) have learned to minister to all Protestants without denomi"A great deal of interest was shown when the Chapel national labels. Why should not this same spirit of cogot under way and it was a beautiful and impressive piece operation carry over into our home communities ? Surely of native work. The idea the natives built it as a memorial the return of eight or nine thousand Protestant clergy to was considered good propaganda and there is no desire to civilian life should make a tremendous impact upon the correct this. In fact the natives made it the finest thing they ecumenical movement. Many chaplains from divided could do for this purpose. The publicity at its dedication church "family groups," such as the Presbyterian and was made an 'international affair' and was officially partici- Lutheran have expressed keen disapproval of the conpated in by New Zealand troops and the British Solomon tinued divisions within their respective denominations. Islands Protectorate Official Resident Commissioner. Why should issues born out of the Civil War keep some
"During my year of use of this Chapel, it was attended ecclesiastical bodies divided? Why should language difby all troops of all services, regardless of nationality or ferences and national backgrounds of several generations color. The following creeds worshipped there in regular ago keep other churches apart? Many chaplains will feel services, General Protestant, Catholic, Lutheran, Christian that they can and should work for church union and the Science, Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, Latter Day Saints, elimination of unchristian competition, especially in the Episcopal, and various special occasions for denomina- smaller communities of the nation. tional services. New Zealand, Australian, colored and Another valuable lesson learned from war service is Native forces used it for services." found in a new understanding of the unchurched half of
An account of the dedication of the chapel is found in our nation. Clergymen in civilian parishes are so busy Henry P. Van Dusen's book, They Found the Church with the work of their own church that they have little There (pp. 44-45). A reference to the chapel is also found time, unless they deliberately take it, to become acquainted in Senator Mead's book, Tell the Folks Back Home (p. with the nonchurch element in their community. Many of 194). Undoubtedly the Memorial Chapel at Guadalcanal these clergymen have lived in a world all of their own, is one of the best-known chapels used by American service fenced in by the multitudinous demands of their own busy personnel in the South Pacific during the recent war. parish. Chaplains in the service have been thrown into contact with these nonchurch men and women and with
many of their dependents. Many a chaplain has had his
New Techniques for Civilian Parishes eyes opened to conditions that he never dreamed existed.
More than 11,000 chaplains who served with the armed This has been a good thing both for the chaplain and for forces during the recent World War have returned to these men and women who never or rarely ever before civilian life or will do so in the near future. An additional turned to a clergyman. When the ex-chaplain goes back 1,000 (approximately) will remain in uniform or serve home, he should have a golden opportunity to capitalize with the Veterans Administration. Those who return will on his service experience in establishing contact with these be taking with them new techniques and habits, acquired nonchurch ex-service men and women. The returning during the months and years of their war service, which chaplain should join some veterans organization and let can be applied to religious work in civilian life with profit. it be known that he is as accessible to the nonchurch man
To begin with, the close association of chaplains of all or woman as he is to members of his own parish.
faiths in the armed services should contribute to a better Many a clergyman in uniform has learned the value of understanding of other beliefs and to a more tolerant visiting those in the brig and those who are sick. Back spirit. Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chaplains were home, these same clergymen might have lived within a few mixed together in the indoctrination schools--often shar- blocks of the county jail without ever paying a visit there ing the same room, eating at the same table, seated to- except when one of their own flock might have gotten into gether in the same class, and learning of each other's faith trouble. In prewar days the civilian clergyman was faithand practices. Human nature being what it is, it was not ful in visiting the sick of his parish, but rarely took the to be expected that differences of opinion should not at trouble to call on those who belonged to no parish who times arise. Difficulties of adjustment were found. Yet, were also ill. The ex-chaplain can carry back to his home through the enforced fellowship of indoctrination schools community the techniques of his Army or Navy experience and military service, Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish chap- and visit all in the hospital not visited by other clergymen. lains found that it was possible to cooperate without com- Again, how about working with the doctors and lawyers promising their basic religious beliefs, in the home community? Army and Navy doctors andRepeatedly, Army and Navy chaplains at home and lawyers frequently consulted with the chaplain about the abroad, at sea or ashore, made preparations for religious tangled personal affairs of some individual. Why cannot observances for those of their unit who were of a different these same techniques be used back home? The returnfaith from their own. A multitude of illustrations could be quoted to show how a greater appreciation and under- standing of the other person's point of view came as a SEND IN CHANGES OF ADDRESS result of men of different religious backgrounds living and
April-May, 1946 21