Four Chaplains

The Four Chaplains Breakfast: emphasizes the importance of brotherhood and self-sacrifice as evidenced by four chaplains, including Rabbi Alexander Goode, who gave their lives for others during WWII. Excess revenues from the breakfast help support the York City Dollars for Scholars program.     

The Inaugural Four Chaplains Prayer Breakfast was held in February 1993 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of The Four Chaplains aboard the troop ship Dorchester on February 3, 1943.

The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. As the ship began to sink in the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Greenland, it quickly became apparent that there were not enough life jackets for all of the men on board. The four chaplains gave their own life jackets and gloves to the other men, linked arms and disappeard from view as the ship sank beneath the black waters.

One of the four chaplains was Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, who left his pulpit at York's Temple Beth Israel to enlist in the military. The other three chaplains were: Fr. Johnny P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest; Rev. George L. Fox, a Methodist minister; and Rev. Clark V. Poling, a Dutch Reformed Minister.  

The 2012 Four Chaplains Breakfast will be held May 9 at the Yorktowne Hotel, 48 East Market Street, York. Doors will open for registration at 7 am. The guest speaker is Major General Donald Rutherford, Chief of Chaplains, United States Army.

Sponsorships are available: Gold Sponsor $500.00; Silver Sponsor, $300.00. 

Tickets will be sold to the public beginning on March 1, 2012, and must be purchased in advance. Cost per ticket is $15.00. For more information or to reserve your seat contact Cindy Schoeder,  717-854-5589.