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Show Chap. Describes Unusual Chapel Pfc. Wesley Burnside Paints Decorative Picture of Soldier For Chapel Decoration In The Pacific Area Washington, D. C Chaplain Charles W. Brockwell, now with an Air Service Group in the Pacific, Pa-cific, has described how he and his men solved the problem of planning chapel for worship service. To a representative of the General Commission on Army and Navy Chaplains, Washington, Washing-ton, D. C, the Chaplain wrote as follows: "When we came to our present location we had to face the problem prob-lem of erecting a chapel. Finally we decided to use a circus tent for the roof. For the floor we have nice clean sweet smelling mahogany saw-dust. The pews are metal bomo fincrates. It seems rather ironical to use in the church, the crates which once held bombs to destroy life and property. It is also wonderful how God can convert things and men which were once a menace to society to useful things and beings. In the pulpit there are lecterns of plywood and the alter is made of the same material. "Over the alter we have a beautiful oil painting of a soldier kneeling in prayer in his foxhole with a wounded comrade to his right. In the distance there is the cross which radiates light and hope upon the uncovered head of. the praying soldier. As we did not have canvas at hand we used celotex screen wire, which is a wonderful substitute. This picture, which was painted by Pfc. Wesley Burnside of Mt. Pleasant, Utah, is illuminated by electirc lights at night and is very effective. Shortly after the picture was placed in the chapel, the Group Commanding Officer stopped by the office and said: 'Chaplain, the picture is very impressive when lighted up. It also lights the way home for the boys at night.' Thus the light of the World does show the way at our Father's house even out here in the jungle. I am glad the church has its representatives with our men wherever they are. The rear of the chapel is enclosed with large bamboo and over the pulpit hangs a large white parachute. para-chute. Of course this is not like a city church, but it is our church and we appreciate it. "One of the happiest experiences of my ministry was the Easter Sunrise Service. The fellows had been rehearsing hard on the Easter music. I had worked on the Easter message. Just as the sun was lifting its burnished rays above the tree tops the choir began be-gan the processional. As the service progressed, the sun lighted light-ed the chapel with its golden light. Never before have I felt so keenly the responsibility which was mine as on that morning. The chapel was full to over-flowing. As the men looked toward their chaplain to tell them the old, old story of the resurrection, I breathed a prayer that God would help me to measure meas-ure up to my responsibility. "One interesting thing about the Easter service was that forty-two forty-two states were represented plus the District of Columbia and Australia. Aus-tralia. Also there were forty different dif-ferent religious denominations represented and some men of no church affiliation were present." Chaplain Brockwell was born in Mobile, Alabama but lived most of his early years in Pa-colet, Pa-colet, South Carolina. He attended attend-ed Emory University, Georgia, and is a graduate of Wofford Col-lee. Col-lee. Spratanburg, Ga. He is an ordained minister of the Methoa-istthurch Methoa-istthurch and has held pastorates pastor-ates at the following places in South Carolina: Plum Branch Phoenix Circuit, and Newberry Circuit His wife and two children chil-dren now reside at 925 Cornelia Street, Newberry, South Carolina. |