CATHOLIC SAILORS WITH UNCLE SAM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 21, 20 February 1891, Page 29

CATHOLIC SAILORS WITH UNCLE SAM.

(Brooklyn Catholic Ki'vurv.') Fob nearly a year in the Navy there has been ao attempt to eatabl sta the means for regular worship on board ship ; and, as the vast majority of the religiously inclined seamen are of the Catholic way of thinking, the Wavy Department has encouraged the establishment of sacristies and altars on their own territory. Toe most uouble two are the receiving ship Vermoat and the war ship Philadelphia. Tu<j Philadelphia is in the dry dock and has a regular Catholic chaplain, the Rev. Father Charle3 N. Parks, a bright and brainy young priest, who is doing excellent work among the jack tars. The services last Sunday were held on the gun deck of the Vermont and Chaplain Park 9 officiated. Almost the first visror of the day iB a pious little old lady who begs with tears in her eyes that you will not put her name in the paper. For forty yeara she has been coming here in rain and shine, iv snow storm and blizzird, to help her boys, as she calls the sailors, to keep to their religious vows and to see that the altar is properly arranged. She often came when there was no priest to celebrate Mass, but njw she rejoices with exceeding great joy that it can be celebra'ed with regularity, even when kind-hearted Father Danck, of the nearby St. Ana s Church, who has so often filled the gap, is unable to be present. With eager hands she goes to the storeroom and brings out the sacred utensils and sees that they are properly bestowed, and theD, like as not, she is around amung the sailor boys talking to them about their mothers, and stirring up the laggards to attend the services. Soon after her come a little b.nd of maidens who, with the help of a few tuoeful eailois and a par>our organ, make a very acceptable cnoir. Oo board the Philadelphia the singing is done by the men themselves, assisted by an organ and a very good orchestra, made up from the taleut aboard ship. Benches are brought up from the mess room, and ranged aloDg the holystoned floor. On gala occasions the flag of the nation is unfurled behind the altar. The Vermont battalion has a beautiful flag, just presented to it by the member? of St. Ann's io token of appreciation for the very creditable display it made at the recent golden jubilee of Bishop Loughlin. At half-past ten o'clock Bharp the worshippers fell in nearly two hundred strong. Fatber Parks makes his appearance in his robes of office, and the Mass begins. Groined arches and cathedral architecture could make the service do more solemn than it is in this oaken hall, filled with the signs of its nautical tenantry and the grim appliances of war. Ihe sermon is simple and straight-forward, and does not soar above the htads of the listeners. There i 3i 3 <* eimple magnetism about the preacher which has attracted many hsttners from among the more careless fellows, as he staves to wean them from the special temptations that seem to assail poor Jack when he is ashore, lhe sailurs like to feel that they are like other men — t.bey resent any attempt to make them different, ana they make a j&tj serious and sympathetic congregation, lhe otfic-rs of the Vermont have evea gone so far as to build a little confessional for the use of those of lhe Catholic faith, and noihing has been It ft undone to furnisn a complete and tasteful outfit for worship according to the canons of the Church. The Navy Yard officials say that about fifty per cent, of the men are inclined to attend the religious services, and that the proportion of Catholics to Protestants is two to one.