Gatlin Back

Chaplain Laurel Garnett Gatlin was back on active service in the U.S. Navy last week. Said the 45-year-old Southern Baptist: "The Lord has overruled the injustices meted out to me in my removal from active duty by recalling me to do the thing I felt I had a right to do."

The thing handsome fundamentalist Chaplain Gatlin felt he had a right to do was to win sailors to Christ. In eight months, he converted 31 men. But the Navy found the Kentucky-born chaplain's sawdust-trail activities "embarrassing and disquieting," asked him to resign. When he stood his ground and refused, he was put on the inactive list (TIME, July 10).

Led by the Christian Beacon, funda mentalist weekly, a hue & cry arose, startled the Navy Department into reviewing the Gatlin case. Chaplain Gatlin was invited back, put under the district chaplain of the Third Naval District (New York, Connecticut, part of New Jersey), who told him to "follow the leadership of the Lord" in his duties.

Since his return, Chaplain Gatlin has preached the Gospel without hindrance. For a while he was in charge of a WAVES barracks in Manhattan. Most of his other sermons have been to sailors on Manhattan piers. Said he last week: "During the month of August it has been my pleasure with the help of God to lead to Christ 47 men, 43 of whom declared their faith at one service, and 20 others rededicated their lives to God."

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