MANY DUTIES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 80, 5 April 1943, Page 4

MANY DUTIES

CHAPLAIN IN NAVY Some of the many duties which come the way of a naval chaplain were touched on by Commander C. A. Dittmar, of the American Navy, when he spoke to-day at the Auckland Rotary Club's luncheon at Milne and Choyce Reception Hall. Commander Dittmar said that the transition from a local church to a ship was a definite change, and there the nominal duties were the carrying out of Divine service, the giving of religious instruction, elementary education, operating a library,- and visiting the sick. If there was any secret in a chaplain's success, it was learning to know and love the men among whom he worked. Commander Dittmar said that the sailorman was not demonstratively religious, but inside and underneath in all men who "go down to the sea in ships" there was a developed and instinctive sense of God. The chaplain's duty was to know how to serve the man, and to help him to a right performance of duty. The speaker said that on a ship many odd jobs fell on the chaplain, and he had wide scope for the orga- . nisation of sport and recreation. He ' had to work in close co-operation : with the ship's officers, who had a ' keen appreciation of the situation. ■ The chaplain endeavoured to dis- . cover the need and meet it, and by • trying sincerely he could do a good)' job.