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Show AXTON 01 RELlGlfF II II 0, S, I Says Influence Has Reni Soldiers Kindly and Ma Friends of Mexicans. CHAPLAIN AMONG ! He Is the Companion o and Knows No Distir tion of Office. Chaplain John T. Aston, Twp United States infantry, who i8 ing a short vacation with his i at Fort Douglas, occupied the pui the First Presbyterian church ,s morning. His theme was "Rei Influences iu the United Army," and iu the course of h dress the chaplain took oceasi pay a glowing tribute to the o and men of the Twentieth infant the splendid manner in which thr Douglas regiment has handled tht men, women and children of (!' Mercado's Mexican army who refuge on American soil last Ja: . Befoio Villa' drove them out of ic.o these troops were knoy:n a division of the north the "Hot the Fed oral Army." After the ship? of crossiug the desert in winter they were dirty, bedragpjei titute no food, no clothing, no a nition, no heart for more fighti further marching. The officcrB came the unwilling guests of Sam, but the privates, the tho women and the five hundred pa little children, wore mighty glad cept the hospitality that was free corded them. Work Was Organized. Lieutenant Colonel Perkins, w so thoroughly well known in Salt was in command of tho Twentiel fantry when the tented citv was out for the refugees, said Mr. He organized a staff consisting o ior Manly as surgeon: Captain I Kstes as executive officer, Capta P. Nicklin as commissary; Capta O. Seamon as quartermaster, and tenant A. E. Alirends as sanitarv oer. To tho chaplain fell the' work. The regiment was dealing wi people whose taste in food and ing, whose habits of life, whose of sanitation aud whose languaf foreign; but iu forty-eight hours they were received their canvas was an orderly one; they were con ably housed, there' was system ; their .ceding, they had an ahum of fuei to keep warm, sanitary rt tions were being effectually enfr the 200 sick and wounded "were cared for in a splendid fiel.l 1)0? Two hundred shower baths were getting them clean, benevolent dined people had seen a publishe, peal for shoes and clothing for w and children and for laj-ettes for infants aud a stream of pari reached the chaplain by parcel sufficient to provide for the nee-all nee-all for the first three months they in camp. All Sought Protection. When Colonel R. H. R. Loughbot tool, command of the regiment, be sued the same kindly policy, empb ing to bis men the necessity tor tience Mid geDtleness in dealing these unfortunate people. The t moot must have been very murl their liking, for the problem of ei iug th?, camp soon resolved itself one of keeping out those who dei to take up their abode there with atives and friends. Every mor women were permitted to leave camp to gather brush and willows making brooms, and a check reye the fact. that, more were returniri the stockade than went out. The chaplain said he was conni that the careful attention given sick, the encouragement offered childreu and the instruction imps to tbein, tlie food provided for fants. and the delicacies for sick o ers, the clothing given to women childreu. the general kindliness handling these people, has given them a splendid idea of American tiee. brotherliness of real Christ ity in action. Favorite of All. lu his treatment of the quest!" religious work in the army, the n Iaiu gave a synopsis of the leps'8 touching the office of chaplain, m ing how tho position has p grown in importance until the pres df the militant ecclesiast in garnsco on tho field is welcomed alike t cers aud men. The position ot mental chaplain is unique. He I. commissioned officer, yet without v. maud. On this score no question ot. ative rank brings him into rivalry anv other officer. He mav he coined alike bv brigadier general t" vato without 'the fear of any seer inconsistency of association, if 01V has the power of making himselt . sonallv and socially agreeable anil ful. He can he 'among the enu men as one entirely in syinptr i them without anv thought on tie I of either that lie is stepping c. his sphere or crossing the lines must, divide the enlisted men as ' from officers as a class. Ofnpp!-' 1 enlisted men seem to relish naH.. their army life one person U . ;. t.hcv mav 'speak in entire , lhat is, if the chaplain ban ties and the experience to m such confidences. That chaplain on the tiring line with Ins ""2',r:-cares ""2',r:-cares for the sick and the "c, who encourages and helps hf1" never lacks an audience I preaches the soldier's duty ot l fortitude and good cheer. . Speaking of the qualil v iu the service, the chaplain i; (he statement that among "f f0 as large a percentage as rou'1' n: anvwhere of men of sound conviction, strict inteeritv "''.' ,,, it v. "Fervent as Mel limi" , cious of truth as Baptists. N" Episcopalians, conservative . , torians and liberal as CeiiC''.- ,., ists are (he men of our anip-eluded anip-eluded Captain Axtou. |