Page:Christian Science War Time Activities.djvu/364

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CHRISTIAN SCIENCE IN THE WAR

sufficient numbers of the adherents of such faiths in their divisions to render chaplains-at-large necessary.”

This made it possible for the members of these denominations to have the services of a chaplain of their own faith and to have services conducted according to the tenets of their church.

A person seeking a commission in the army as a chaplain must make application to the Adjutant General in Washington. He must be a citizen of the United States over 21 and under 45 years of age; must be a graduate of a recognized college or university or able to pass an examination in certain subjects named by the Adjutant General; he must be in good physical health and is obliged to pass a thorough physical examination before an army medical officer, and must be endorsed and recommended by the governing board of the denomination of which he is a member. The examining board reports its findings to the Adjutant General with recommendations, and if these are favorable to the applicant he is in due time given a commission with the rank of a first lieutenant. He wears the uniform of an officer with the proper insignia as stipulated by the Uniform Regulations. All chaplains with the exception of those of the Jewish faith wear a small Latin cross of silver or white metal as the insignia of their office. The Jewish chaplain wears a small six-pointed star.

The first appointment of chaplains under the Chaplain-at-large act gave the Christian Scientists two, who were endorsed to the Secretary of War by the Christian Science Board of Directors. This was a timely and official recognition by the United States Government of the Christian Science movement. Mr.

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