Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 July 1898 — Capt Philips' Kaith- [ARTICLE]

Capt Philips' Kaith-

Tbe New York Herald correspondent was furnish’d with the following statemeni about Capt. J. Wv Philip o the Texas and his strong religious faith | by chaplain Harry W. Jones of | that battleship: “I wish to make a confession that I have implicit faith in God and in the officers and crew of the Texas, but my faith in you s onl y secondary to m y faith in Go \ We seen what He has done f r us. ui allowing us to achieve so great a victory, and 1 want to ask you all, or at least every man who has no scruples, to uncover hish a d wth me and silent", ly oiler aw ut of thanks to God for His goodness to us all-’ This is wil d Capt. J W Philip said to his officers and men immediately aft-u the great battle off ba.itiagoon Sunday July 3It w is a beautiful afternoon. »->od’s heavens never looked so dear, and tue stripes n-iver seemed so pure as they did when we lay a longs de tie Cristobal Coloa, after she k had been beached and had surren"* dered to us.

We had I een enge ged in a fierce fight to the d ath, when these words came trom the lips of the same man who ha l a few moments before giyer the various orders for attack, and I wish to show to the people of my country what kind ot man Capt Philio of the ba Heship T xas is.

I have had the honor o be* iug the chaplain ot the Texas since Oct. 19. i 96, so I have beenwilh o‘i plain Philip ever since he took command last October. During our first conversation he said: ‘ jiaplain, lam i firm believer in pra ver, and I think it is a duty we owe to G d to have prayers on board ship ev-. ery evening.’ So wnen Lieut Commander Harber came to us as executive] officer, the captain spoke to me then abou having prayers, and I told himjl 1 snould be very glad, indeed to conduct them every evening at quarters, and that custom has been observed ever since. The men would be marched aft, ani I offered a humble petition 'or each one, our lov~ e 1 ones, our c mntry our pr idenl, and always closed with an earnest prayer for peace. Capt Philips always sp 'ke about the late w ir,and remin ied us that the side that open"* ed fire first on the Sabbath would lose ever} time; so 1 was very glad last Sabbath when 1 saw the Maria Teresa fire th j > first shot. Often during the weary days on the blockade, the captain would say something about prayer, and his unflinching laith in God. One evening, Soon after our second bombardment,we were walking up and down the qaarter-deck together—and, by the way, it was after the Spanish had kii ied him, but 1 guess they found m him a very live corps on Sunday morning during the fight.

He mentioned how It is wife had felt about him, reading the account of his alleged death as shw iid in the papers, but he said: 1 am just as safe here as 1 would be walking up Broadway with you, because God is with us and He Is lists ening.to our prayer.’

On another occasion tie was called on board th 3 flagship, to gether with tue commanding officer of the fleet, for a coiin-* oil of war, and went on board at 9:30 o’clock that Sunday morning. The decision was reached to bombard the forts at 2 o’clock that afternoon, when Uapt L’hilip spoke up and said:

‘Admiral, this is JSmndav; 1 do not think we sfiould fight today. We may be sorry if we do. Whereupon the admiral apologized for even calling them together * t all that day, but admitted he had been so pressed he had entirely lost track of th 3 days, so the battle was deferred until the next morning, with the result of no damage to us. As a captam, he has been most kind to me, never absent fiom divine service unless de** tained on account of duty, as he was always anxious to set his men a good example, and the example had its effect, or my congregatio js were always very gratifying to me, to hive so many men, proteStants and catholics, meet of their own free will and listen to the si ms pie gospel of Jesus 1 always tried to give them. 1 Capt Philip for his manly stand for the gospel o t Jesus. When, after the battle, the bugle sounded all hands on deck, 1 went up, : knowing what i' was for. The captain did not know 1 was there, and when 1 heard what he said 1 Was very glad he did not.

Mr. Harper cam to me and J said, 'chaplain, did y u hear i what the captain sa d* 1 r plied,‘yes, sir.’ ‘A very manly I thini, indeed,to do, and a most > impiessive sight,’ said he. ; 1 went in the cab n fter the captain had gone there. Hold* \ ing out my hand to him, 1 s ud.! ‘eaptain, 1 congratulate y m, not alone for your tr ».m mdous. victory, but or tne sta d you tooK after the ati n ills counte .ancebri hteued ipas hereplie : ‘Why, chaplain, 1 was sure of it when 1 ent on the bridge, f r surely God lias been with us and it has ueen I all on accou.it of prayer.’

this i a glimpse ol on oi the commanding officers of th- ’ United States nav . You see whut nis faith is. Let me, one! one of the orps of naval ha? j lains, ask you just one ques*, tion. Mave you faith to be - lieve? Do things seem dark to, you* H s sor.ow’filled your life* if so, go tllit to Jesus j and all wi .i be well,’ and the Uod who was with us in the battle of July 3d, will be with you in all y ur battles of lile, ,if you have only faith to b - 11 ev-. 1 1 trus this little sketch will help every one of the many readers 0‘ the Herald to have more faith in G d. ihe laith the little child is the faith 1 would re omme dto you .11. Thanking all if you (and 1 know there were many) wli<» prayed for t e arinj and the u vy, bee? us s l>y your prayers you str* ngthened us when we iiad to face the foe. Yours very sincerely, HARRY vV. JONES, t ha plain iiattlesh p Texas.