Chaplains in the U. S. Navy.—The corps of chaplains in the U.S. navy is limited by law to twenty-four.

Chaplains in the U. S. Navy.—The corps of chaplains in the U.S. Navy is limited by law to twenty-four.

Baptist Church History 12/10/23  · Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran

Chaplains in the U. S. Navy.—The corps of chaplains in the U.S. Navy is limited by law to twenty-four. Any clergyman of unexceptionable character is eligible for the position, provided his age does not exceed thirty-five years, and his piety, culture, and general fitness commend him to the President of the United States as one suitably qualified for the position, and to the Senate, by whose action the choice of the President is confirmed. Chaplains are designated as “staff officers,” the same as those of the medical and engineer corps, in distinction from “ officers of the line,” and rank according to seniority of service as captains, commanders, lieutenant-commanders, and lieutenants. In pursuance of the law governing the retirement of commissioned officers, they are retired from active service on reaching the age of sixty-two years, or from disability contracted in the service. Their duties are various, in connection with navy yards, hospitals, receiving- and training- ships, and the flag ships of the several squadrons. The Naval Academy at Annapolis and the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia furnish important fields for the work of the chaplain. The recent introduction of “ school- or training-ships” as an organized system for training boys in order to constantly recruit the naval service with competent and intelligent seamen, likewise offers a sphere of peculiar usefulness to chaplains. In addition to his functions as a preacher, where men or boys are in need of instruction he is to select competent teachers for this purpose, and he is held responsible for the faithful discharge of their duties. There are at present five Baptist chaplains in the Navy. From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart