FROM THE EDITORS
Marshall Shelley
April 1, 1992
One Sunday last fall, I witnessed two events, stark in their contrast but sharing something significant. I worshiped that morning at the Cadet Chapel of the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. "Chapel" is dramatically underdescriptive of the massive Protestant cathedral, sculpted of stone and overlooking the verdant Hudson River valley. As a worshiper, you're surrounded by stained-glass reminders of Christian history-images of Christ and the disciples, plus saints throughout the centuries. Above the chancel, light filtered through the glass, spelling out the noble words of military tradition: Duty. Honor. Country. The service began with the Cadet Choir proceeding down the center aisle as the congregation sang, "I love your kingdom, Lord, / the house of your abode, / the church our blest Redeemer saved / with his own precious blood. " Then followed a hymn, a prayer of confession, The Lord's Prayer, a reading of Hebrews 4:12-16, and a solo, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path," which led into my reason for being there. I serve as a board member of the American Tract Society, which for 123 years has given Bibles to first-year cadets. After the Presentation of the Plebe Bible, we were ready for the sermon. And Chaplain Richard Camp did not disappoint. "Rally! Rally! Rally!" he began, referring to the fall tradition at West Point by which any cadet, anywhere on campus, will shout those words to start a noisy and impromptu pep rally for the football team. The rallies take place during unscheduled parts of the day. And, as Chaplain Camp reported humorously, they may even happen after taps, in at least one case, quite a while after taps and atop the roof of the Camps' home! He went on to describe ...
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