m §UuttB. GEORGE H. STUART, Chairman, 11 Bank Street. JOSEPH PATTERSON, Treasurer, Western Bank. Rev. W. E. BOARDMAN, Secretary, 11 Bank Street. Rev. ROLLIN H. NEALE, D.D., Boston. CHARLES DExMOND, Esq., J3osto7i. Rev. Bishop E. S. JANES, D.D., New York. Rev. JAMES EELLS, D.D.; Brooklyn. MITCHELL H. MILLER, Esq., Washington. GEORGE H. STUART, Esq., Fhiladelphia. JOHN P. CROZER, Esq., PJdladelpJda. JAY COOKE, Esq., Fhiladelphia. Rev. M. L. R. P. THOMPSON, D.I>., Cincin7uui. Col. CLINTON B. FISK, St. Louis. JOHN V. FARWELL, Esq., Chicago. JOHN D. HILL, M.D., Buffalo. ^^uiitik Cominiitn. GEORGE H. STUART, Chairman, Philadelphia. Rev. Bishop E. S. JANES, D.D., New York. CHARLES DEMOND, Boston. JOHN P. CROZER, Philadelphia. JAY COOKE, Phihulelphiu. ARMY COMMITTEE or THE §odon |fluiig pen's Cj)iistian ^ssonation, roo:ms r> trkmoistt xkmfle, BOSTON. EDWARD S. TOBEY, Chairmax, 103 State Street. JACOB SLEEPER, 158 Devonshire Street. J. SUELIVAN WARREN, 6 Park Street. RUSSELI; STTTRGIS, Jk., 13 Joy Street. JOSEPH S'J'ORY, TuEAST-KKK, 112 Tremont Street. 1,. i*. PvOWl.ANI), Jii., Agent, Rooms of the Assoeiation. The Anny Committee is acting for the Christian Commission in Xcw I'higiand. }*Ioiiey shouhl he sent to Josi-nr Sxoky, 112 Tremont Street, .-rail IlCspital Supplies, l^ooks, etc., to L. P. Rowland, Jk., .!t tlto Assoeiation Rooms, 5 Tremont Temple. Boston. UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, F A. C T S3 PRINCIPLES AND PROGRESS. October, 186 3. PHILADELPHIA: C. SHERMAN, SON & CO., PRINTERS. CONTENT^ ^"^^ PAGE OFFICIAL SANCTION. Letter from President Lincoln, ....... o Memorandum from Secretary Stanton, 8 Letter from the Secretary of the Navy, 4 Letter from the Postmaster-General, 4 Letter from General Meade to the United States Christian Com- mission, .......... 5 Letter from Surgeon-General Hammond to the United States Christian Commission, .6 UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. Origin, ........... 7 Aim, .7 Comprehensiveness, ......... 1 Specialities, .......... 7 Agencies for the Field, • . . .8 1. Men, 8 2. Stores, 9 3. Publications, 10 Agencies at Home, 10 Facilities, . . . . . . • • • • .11 Economy, .......... 11 Kesults, 12 Necessities, . . . . ... • . • .13 To Meet these Necessities, 15 DELEGATE AVORK. Nature of the Work, 16 Battle-field Work, 17 Personal Outfit, 18 Supplies for Distribution, 18 Terms and Expense Money, 18 Hints to Committees and Others about Delegates, . . ,18 INCIDENTS. Body and Soul, 20 A Little Help, just at the Right Time, 21 A Life Saved, 22 A Protestant Professor Praying in a Catholic Church, . . 23 The Right Doctor, 24 A Rebel Penitent, 2(5 Mother and Son on the Battle-field, ...... 26 Taking the Bitter out of the War, 27 An Impressive Service, . . .28 That Is Christianity, 29 No Red Tape Here, 30 Example of Delegate Work on the Battle-field, . . . .30 Army Conversions, . . . . . . . . .31 An Ohio Soldier, 31 INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION ABOUT STORES. Objects and Methods of Distribution, 32 WHAT TO SEND, 34 HOW TO PACK, 35 HOW TO MARK, . . . 36 OFFICIAL SANCTION. From President Lincoln. Executive Mansion, Washington, December 12, 1861. My dear Sir : Your letter of the 11th inst., and accompanying plan, both of which are returned as a convenient mode of connecting this with them, have just been received. Your Christian and be- nevolent undertaking for the benefit of the soldiers, is too ob- viously proper and praiseworthy to admit any difference of opinion. I sincerely hope your plan may be as successful in execution as it is just and generous in conception. Your obedient servant, A. Lincoln. Geo. H. Stuart, Esq., Chairman U. S. Christian Commission, Philadelphia. From the Secretary of War. MEMORANDUM OF HON. E. M. STANTON. Washington City, January 24, 186-3. Bishop Janes is authorized to state, that he has received assurance from the Secretary of War, that every facility con- sistent with the exigencies of the service will be afforded to the Christian Commission, for the performance of their reli- gious and benevolent purposes in the armies of the United States, and in the forts, garrisons, camps, and military posts. From the Secretary of the Navy. Navy Department, December 16, 1861. Sir: I have received your letter of the 11th inst., asking an ex- pression of the Department as to the objects of the United States Christian Commission, to promote the welfiire of the soldiers, sailors, marines, &c. The Department will be gratified with any legitimate means to promote the welfare, present and future, of all who are in the Hervice. I am, very respect Tally, Your oli.dient servant, Gideon Welles. Mr. Geo. H. Stuart, Chairman U. S. Christian Commission, Philadelphia. From t!ic Postmaster-General. Washington, January 6, 1863. Dear Sir: The Christian Commission, of which you are chairman, have in hand a noble work, and are performing it, I am well as- sured, 3B only a labor of love can be performed. Yours, respectfully, M. Blair. To Gbo, H. Stuart, Chairman U. S. Christian Commission, Philadelphia. General Meade to tlie United States Christian Commission. Headquarters Army of the Potomac, August 5, 1863. George H. Stuart, Chairman United States Christian Commission, 13 Bank Street, Philadelphia. Dear Sir: I received recently, through the hands of Mr, Cole, your kind letter of the 27th ult. It will afford me very great plea- sure to render you every encouragement and facility in nij power to prosecute the good and holy work you have entered upon. I assure you, no one looks with more favor upon the true Christian, who ministers to the spiritual wants of the dying, or the physical wants of the wounded, than those who are most instrumental in the line of their duty in causing this suf- fering; hence, you may rest satisfied that in this army your agents and assistants will receive every co-operation, and be treated with all the consideration due the important and noblo work they are engaged upon. I shall be glad to hear from you whenever anything occursi requiring my action, and shall always be ready, as far as the exigencies of the service and my authority will permit, to comply with your wishes. Very respectfully and truly yours, Geo. G. Meade, Major-General Commanding. Surgeon-General Hammond to tlic United States Christian Commission. Surgeon-General's Office, Washington, D. C, July 20, 1868. Dear Sir: I beg that you will accept my most heartfelt thanks for the devotion to the service of the sick and wounded soldiers at Gettysburg, manifested by the Christian Commission and its agents. Owing to the military necessities of the occasion, the suffer- ing would have been much greater than it was but for the aid afforded the medical ofi&cers by the benevolent individuals who came to their assistance. I trust you will convey my thanks to those of your body who acted with the Medical Department at Gettysburg, and assure them how highly I value their labors. Begging you to accept my warmest acknowledgments for your own service in the cause of humanity. Believe me yours sincerely, William A. Hammond, Surgeon-General. Q-eorge H. Stuart, Esq., Chairman U. S. Christian Commission. Philadelphia, Pa. U. S. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION, ORIGIN. The United States Christian Commission originated at a Convention of Young Men's Christian Associations of the loyal States, called for the purpose, November 16, 1861, in the city of New York. AIM. Its object is to promote the spiritual and temporal welfare of the brave men in* arras to put down a wicked rebellion. COMPREHENSIVENESS. As indicated by its name, the commission is both National and Christian. Like the Government, it embraces all the States, and minis- ters with impartial hand to our national forces, military and naval, without local or State distinction ) and like the Great Founder of Christianity, it embraces both body and soul in the scope of its beneficence. SPECIALITIES. Regarding our brave men as warriors exposed to the perils of battle, the Commission gives the help that saves life in the 8 day of extremity, and relieves anguish on the field and in the hospital. Regarding them as mortal yet immortal, it hrings to them the light of life in death, and affords Christian burial to the body when the soul has gone to the spirit-world. Looking upon them as citizen soldiers, only for a time en- gaged in the pursuits of war, exposed to temptations peculiar to the camp, and in danger of corruption, the Commission brings to bear upon them influences to keep them pure against the day of their return to civil life. Looking upon them as our national defence, and under God our sole dependence to save the Union and put down the re- bellion, the Commission cheers and strengthens them for duty and for complete success. Viewing them as absent members of Christian homes and Christian communities, the Commission supplies to them in their absence, as well as possible, imperfectly at best, the place of father, mother, brother, sister, wife and friend, minis- ter and church, to cheer and sustain them in their hardships, toils and perils, temptations and privations. And esteeming them above all as those for whom the Re- deemer tasted death, and to whom He sends the message of life eternal, amongst whom there is opportunity for hopeful labor unpanilleled in the past, and never again perhaps to offer in the future, the Commission sends the living Christian teacher and the printed truth, in hope and confidence of glo- rious fruit. AGENCIES FOR THE FIELD. These are three, — Men, Stores, and Publications. 1. Men. Christian ministers and laymen, enlisted as unpaid volun- teers, and sent as delegates to battle-fields, hospitals, and 9 \ camps, form the first great distinctive feature and principal reliance of the Christian Commission. One, two, or more of these delegates, tried and proven in their adaptations to the work, are retained in each army as Field Agents (one as General Field Agent), to superintend and direct the work, establish stations, obtain facilities, order stores and publications, procure subsistence, and report to the Commission the work done by delegates. 2. Stores. For distribution by the delegates, that is to say, the dis- tribution of stores by the delegates, is another most important feature of the plans and operations of the Commission. Without stores to use at the right moment, under direction of the surgeon, the delegate could do little to aid the surgeon in saving life or relieving anguish. He would be paralyzed. But combining the two — delegates and stores — sending trust- worthy kind Christian men to distribute stores, under direction of the surgeons, and to aid them with w\^rm hearts and willing hands filled full of the needful stores, — this is the plan for saving life and relieving misery. The distribution of stores opens the hearts of those who re- ceive them to the glad reception of the Gospel, from the lips of delegates who dispense them. It touches the soldiers hearts too with gratitude, to the people at home who send the stores, and keeps alive the bonds of affection between the two. This plan also gives assurance to the generous donors, that the stores they contribute will safely reach the men for whom they are designed. The delegates who distribute the stores are the chosen representatives of the people themselves who give them, — men who go, without pay, to labor and suffer, if need be ; inspired by the same noble desire as that of the donors themselves, — to relieve and save our suffering heroes. 10 3. Publications. The Government furnish none. Chaplains are thrown upon their own resources for religious reading matter to distribute to their men. Many regiments are without chaplains. The Christian Commission, with its one head and all-em- bracing plans, is capable of expansion as a distributing agency for the supply of the entire army and navy with the Scriptures, books, papers, and tracts ; and these publications are a power in the hands of delegates, enabling them to cheer and aid faithful chaplains in their work, by filling their hands with means of good, and adding also to the personal influence of the delegates themselves the power of the press through all the ranks of our national forces. AGENCIES AT HOME. Besides the General Executive Committee and its Central Office in Philadelphia, under direction of the Chairman, aided by the Secretary, there are Army Committees of Young Men's Christian Associations in some places, as in Philadelphia, Boston, Washington, Buffalo, Chicago, Peoria, and St. Louis, and in others Branches, formed by the Commission itself, as in New York, Baltimore, Pittsburg, Detroit, and Cincinnati, and also local committees appointed by the people and recog- nized by the Commission. These all co-operate in gathering stores and collecting money to carry on the work in the field. Returned delegates, full of the facts and fire of the work in the army, on the battle-field, and in the hospitals, act as volun- tary agents at home to enlist other good men to go as delegates, and in the collection of money and stores for the work. Ladies also, in various organizations, as Ladies' Aid Socie- ties and Ladies' Christian Commissions, render most eJ0&cient service in the home field^ — the field of supply. 11 FACILITIES. The Government not only recognizes and commends the Christian Commission, but cheerfully grants free transportation of men and supplies over all military railways and upon all Government transports, and gives freely every facility, limited .only by absolute military necessities. Railways almost all generously grant free passes, under proper regulations, for all delegates of the Commission, and transportation of supplies either entirely free or at greatly re- duced rates. Telegraph companies generally, transmit all despatches on business of the Commission without charge. Military and medical officers afford all information and every opportunity consistently in their power to enable the Commis- sion to pursue its work intelligently and with success. ECONOMY. Work in the field by delegates without salary. Collections at home by committees and delegates withourt pay. Travel and transportation from home to the field and from the field home again free. Telegraphic despatches sent and received without charge. Tents, ambulances, and railroad transportation within army lines given by the Government. Stores in vast quantities made up and sent in freely by the ladies. Bibles and Testaments furnished gratuitously and abun- dantly by the American Bible Society. Offices and store-rooms in most places afforded without charge for rent. 12 The chief executive work almost everywhere done by men of business without pecuniary reward. These are the unparalleled economic advantages enjoyed by the Christian Commission for the prosecution of its work. RESULTS. Pressure of duties, probably, growing out of the recent bat- tles, has prevented various branches from reporting their work to the general ofl&ce in time for this pamphlet. An approxi- mate statement in many particulars is all that can be made. This is done because the facts are often urgently requested by those who desire to use them in extending interest amongst the people. Could the actual figures be given, doubtless the various items would be greatly increased. It is now October 1st, 1863. The first delegates and stores sent by the Commission left Philadelphia for the Peninsula, May 14th, 1862. The statement following will show the figures of the work during; the sixteen intervening; months. O O O Delegates sent. ........ 1,154 Stores and Publications distributed, boxes, barrels, Ac, over 10,000 Value of Stores donated to Commission, over $200,000 Money received, over .... 200,000 Value of fjcratuitous services and facilities, over 100,000 Total for sixteen montbs, over . . . $500,000 Volumes of the Scriptures, and parts of the Scriptures, distributed, donated by the Americm Bible Soc, 480,763 The same, donated by the British and Foreign Bible Society, 15,000 Religious Newspapers, weekly and monthly, over . 1,300,000 Magazines and good secular reading, over . . ] 00, 000 Soldiers" small Knapsack Books, over . . . 750,000 Hymn and Psalm Books, over ..... 400,000 Pages of Tracts, over 18,000,000 13 These figures show something of the work of distribution, the generosity of the people, and the self-sacrificing spirit of the noble men who have volunteered their services, but they do not give the results in saving life, relieving misery, cheering men to duty, and leading them to the Savior. It has been repeatedly stated as the calm conviction of sur- geons and others conversant with the circumstances at Get- tysburg, and witnesses of what was done by delegates of the Commission, that the stores they distributed, besides an untold amount of suffering relieved, more than a thousand lives were saved by them, and on that field alone. What then must the results have been of the work of the whole thousand and more, on all fields and in all armies? Who shall tell the joy in thousands of households over these saved ones ? Who will estimate the consolations afforded the friends of those who died by the transmission of their dying messages and t^jkcns of remembrance to them ? Who will count the number won to Jesus, and the joy in heaven over their salvation ? Some of our commanders know well and tell in glowing words the influence of the Commission on their men, to steady them and inspire them with the courage that faces death, and the endurance that wins the victory. NECESSITIES. The Government is wisely filling up the ranks of our thinned armies everywhere. Already the drafted men are going for- ward. New strength is accumulating to be hurled against the rebellion, with plans improved and skill perfected. The Commission ought also to extend its plans and perfect its operations, so as to meet more fully than ever before the wants of our national forces. With MEN and means this can be done. There can be the u permanent organization of a corps of delegates in each army corps, or its equivalent, provided with tents, stores, publica- tions, and means of transportation, to move when the army moves, and be present with the needed stores, to give the sur- geons their personal assistance in every battle ; the nucleus, with which delegates sent as minute men, especially for battle- field work, may combine and become practically of greater value. This, however, will require say three hundred delegates in the regular army work, always in the field ; more than double tlie number heretofore engaged, aside from minute men. Men, therefore, are needed. Good men, strong men, men of three classes, first rate in each. 1st. Preachers who have head, heart, and lungs to command audience in the open air. 2d. Workers who can distribute wisely, help dress wounds, wash and dress helpless men, make soup and give it, speak to soldiers about salvation, pray with the dying, write letters for them, or do anything the varying circumstances demand. 3d. Business men to manage affairs, at offices and stations, obtain facilities and papers and direct the work as field agents. Men of these three classes are a first necessity. Let this be marked especially by ministers and working Christians of all denominations, and let them volunteer. Stores and Publications will be needed in proportion, twice as much as heretofore. And Money in still larger measure. The purchase of well-selected Field Hospital Libraries will form a new item of cash expenditure necessarily large if the want is met. The purchase of tents, teams, and wagons, indispensable to the proposed corps organization of delegates in the various 15 army corps, is another new and large line of investment re- quiring money. This, in addition to the purchase of nt least double the amount heretofore required as supplies for distribution, creates necessi- ties which must be met by corresponding liberality on the part of those who supply the sinews of the work. TO MEET THESE NECESSITIES, 1. Delegates returned, ministers of all denominations, and friends in general of the Commission, are authorized and urged to form committees of three, five, or more in every lo- cality where needed, and report their names for recognition and enrolment to the General Office in Philadelphia, or the District Office nearest to the Committee. 2. All Committees are requested to enlist and recommend to the general officers of the Commission, one, two, or more of the very best men for the work in their community, to go as delegates for the regular term of six weeks or more in the regular army work. 3. x\ll returned delegates, ministers, friends, and com- mittees, are urged to secure and forward stores and money to the General Office or the District Office nearest them. 4. The ladies everywhere are invited to form Ladies' Christian Commissions if they choose, or if already organized under other names, then they are requested to co-operate with the Commission, and in every suitable way aid in the supply of men, money, and stores for the prosecution of its work upon the enlarged scale proposed. 5. Churches are requested to hold monthly meetings of prayer for the soldiers and sailors, and make monthly contri- butions in aid of work of the Commission amoncjst them. 16 DELEGATE WOKK. nature of the Work. Battle-field Work differs in some respects essentially from army work. Care for the body is first on the batlle-field, while in the army the great aim is to save the soul. On the battle field, life saving and the relief of hunger, thirst, and pain, strain every nerve and muscle. In the army, talent, energy, and enterprise are tasked in public preaching, private teaching, social meetings, and the dis- tribution of printed truth. Army Work affords rare opportunities for promoting correspon- dence between the soldiers and their friends at home, of benefiting them in health and spirits, and unparalleled advantages for preach- ing the Gospel to them, and winning them to the Saviour. It is ar- ranged as follows : The general field agent selects various army centres convenient both as positions from which to reach surrounding sections of the army, and as places of assembly for the soldiers who may desire to attend religious services. Six, eight, or more of these stations may be established in each army while at rest, and at each station, store, subsistence, and chapel tents -are set up, supplied, and manned. At these stations daily religious services are held. At some of them, two services a day, one social and the other preaching, and from them Bibles, Testaments, and religious publications are sup- plied to chaplains, and other good men, in such regiments as have those who will take the pains to come in for them, and make the proper distribution. And from these stations also, delegates go out canvassing, supplying, cheering, benefiting the soldiers, regiment by regiment, and hospital by hospital, through all the army. In all regiments and hospitals having chaplains, delegates report to the chaplains, and offer them such reading matter for distribution as' they may have at command, and render such service in aid of the chaplains, if desired, as they may have time to render. In all cases ihe chaplains are to he strengthened, not iceakened, and as- sisted, not hindered, in meeting ihe responsibilities of their position. IT Battle-field Work. A battle-field may be as follows, or something like it. In leiiCTth say ten miles, and five in breadth. Lengthwise from end to end, the two opposing lines of battle are formed a mile or two apart. The battle begins as an artillery duel. Men fall along both lines, and are carried back. The surgeons of each army corps select a l)oint conveniently in the rear for their own wounded men. Thus five, six, or more corps hospitals are formed in an irregular line at wide intervals apart in the rear of each army. As the battle pro- ceeds, one of the contending armies, in advancing line or solid column, assaults the other, and either succeeds or is repulsed, when the intermediate space between the two lines becomes the scene of terrific carnage. The tide of battle may sway from line to line until one or the other yields at last, and is driven back or routed, when carnage is extended as far as the victors pursue the vanquished. Ov»r all this field lie strewn the dead and wounded. Those who can crawl, hobble, or walk, seek shelter in some house or barn, or make their way to the hospitals of their own army corps, whilst others must lie and suffer hunger, thirst, and anguish, until taken up and carried on stretchers or in ambulances to the hospital. Thus the field. Delegate work on the field is arranged as follows : All is under direction of a general field agent. He selects a place central to the general field for headquarters. There a store is se- cured, or two if needed (or tents are pitched), and placed in charge of a delegate, who acts as agent, with one, two, or more to assist him in receiving and opening stores, and giving them out to the proper persons. The delegation is divided into committees, each having its own chairman or captain, and a corps hospital is assigned to each committee. The committees, each for itself, pitch tent and open out central to the tents of the several hospitals to ' which they are assigned, and from thence seek supplies from Commission head- quarters at the general station for their work. This the arrangement. The work begins while the battle rages. The delegate, under direction of the surgeon, — for, whatever is done for the wounded or sick, must, in every possible instance, be done under the direction of the surgeon, — assists in gathering the wounded from the field, even under the guns of the enemy if need be, and at the hospital assists the surgeons at the amputating table, or strips *** 18 of? tlie bloody garments from the mangled men, washes them, and puts clean clothes upon them, or prepares and gives food or drink to them, as the case may be. When the conflict is over, then comes the work of saving life abroad upon the field, by seeking out and ministering to men in ex- tremity, and also in the hospitals, where gathering thousands need timely service, or they must die. This, with receiving messages from the suffering heroes and writing for them to their friends, directing them to the Great Phy- sician, giving Christian burial to the dead, and such religious ser- vices as the circumstances will permit, is the general delegate work on the battle-field. This in brief is the work of delegates. The term of service is, for battle-field work, two weeks or the emergency ; for the army work, six weeks or over. Personal Outfit. This should be very simple. A respectable suit, with a few shirts, collars, and socks, will be better than any more elaborate outfit to be taken from home. A blanket and strap and haversack are fur- nished by the Commission. Supplies for Distribution. Bibles, Testaments, soldiers' books, papers, and tracts, with stores, are provided by the Commission iki the field at each station for gra- tuitous distribution. Terms and Expense Money. Delegates receive no paij for their services, but their expenses are borne by the Commission. Money for expenses, if need be, is advanced, and the Commission has subsistence arrangements for delegates at all stations made by field agents. Application can be made in person or by letter at the Central Office, 11 Bank Street. Philadelphia; or to C. Deraond, 4 Court Street, Boston ; or to N. Bishop, HO Bible House, New York ; or to Joseph Albree, 71 Wood Street, Pittsburg; or W. T. Perkins, 17 West Third Street, Cincinnati; E. D. Jones, at Exchange Bank, St. Louis; J. V. Farwell, Chicago; William Reynolds, Peoria; Dr. J. D. Hill, Buffalo; 0. D. Grosvenor, Rochester, N.Y.; Charles F, Clark, Detroit, Michigan, or to any committee of the Christian Com- mission in any other place. 19 Hints to Committees and Others about Delegates. From all this it will be seen that three classes of talent and adap- tation are required in the delegate work, — Preaching, Business, and Working. The enlistment of ministers who can command audience in the open air, of rank and file, is of first importance. Next, perhaps, and quite as indispensable, is it to secure those who have a knowledge of the world, experience in business, and ability in affiiirs. Scarcely less in value are the services of those who are adapted to in- terest and benefit others in social meetings and personal intercour.se. Four things are indispensable in all, — piety and patriotism, good common sense and energy. Men who do not succeed elsewhere should never be sent to the army, for they will surely fail. None should be accepted who desire to visit the army or a battle- field for any purpose whatever aside from the work of the Commission. No matter what the position and ability of the man may be, or how worthy the object he has in view, if he does not wish to put himself under direction of the Commission and its field agents, and make it his paramount business to do the proper work of the Com- mission, he should not be sent as a delegate. It is right and proper to aid all worthy men in worthy objects, by letters or otherwise, but the name and facilities of the Commission are sacred to the purposes of its organization, and cannot be lent to any one for any private purpose. He cannot be commissioned. That such a person is willing to pay his own expenses to the field, and on it, does not alter the case. Even if he were by contribution to add largely to the means of the Commission, besides paying his own expenses, it would be giving the name and aid of the Commission in getting passes for private ends undercolor of a sacred public purpose. Delegates when enlisted should be instructed specially to report themselves on the field to the field agent, and put themselves under his direction, and should stand pledged to do it. The Commission is greatly injured whenever delegates refuse to comply with our regulations and instructions, and perhaps most of all by those who visit the various points of interest as self appointed inspectors or as curiosity seekers, instead of entering heartily into the work at such points as may be assigned to them. 20 INCIDENTS. A few only can be given. They arc selected without order as to time or place, and rather for variety of illustration than peculiar impressiveness. They will exhibit the work of the Commission in its processes and fruits in some of their many phases. The first two following are given by Rev. Robert J. Parvin, of Cheltenham^ and illustrate the work of delegates for both the Body and Soul. ^'Charles C , an orphan from Columbia County, New York, aged eighteen years, received a fatal wound from a ball passing through the upper part of his left lung. He lay for some two weeks in a barn belonging to the hospital of the Fifth Army Corps, and received there some little attention from us daily. Early in the morning of the day of his death, I said to him, 'Charley, the surgeon thinks that you cannot recover, and that you may not live a great while longer; is there anything you can think of which you would like to have me do for you, or any message which you would like to leave with me ?' He turned his full blue eyes upon me, and said most earnestly, ' Oh ! I must see my folks again ! Can't I be taken home?' I answered, 'There is no possible thing for your comfort which we would not do for you, but you are not in a condition to be removed.' ^ Pray for me,' was his next request. After praying for him, I said, ' Now, Charley, will you not look in simple trust to the precious Sa- vior, and pray for yourself ?' With his eyes fixed upwards, and his hands clasped over his breast, he offered, in simple, touching termSj a prayer of dedication and supplication, in 21 which his whole soul seemed to be deepl}' engaged. 'Lord Jesus, receive me.' 'I come just as I am; Lord, pardon my sins, and save my soul !' ' Create in me a clean heart.' ' Make me thy child, and when I die, take me to heaven, for Jesus sake/ Such are a few of the petitions which in distinct tones he uttered. Soon afterward he fell into a quiet slumber, which lasted for over an hour. Awaking from it, he said, with a smile, 'I feel better now. . . . Tell uncle I am going home to die no more !' These were his last words on earth, for almost whilst yet the words trembled on his lips, his soul, as I believe, cleansed in the Savior's blood, ascended to ' the home of the blessed,' Ho die no more.' A Little Help, just at the Eig'ht Time, of Great Value, and a Subsequent Acknowledgment a most Abundant Ee- ward. " Lieut. , of — Regiment, was shot through the lower part of the body. He was lying on the hard ground, and had been for several days, when I found him, having only hii- rubber blanket under him. I had in my trunk a bed-sack, made from a large sheet. I filled it with hay, and succeeded in getting him on it without causing him a great deal of pain. His sense of relief, and his thankfulness for it I cannot de- scribe. Nourishment, which we then prepared for him, he partook of and enjoyed, and his case and his feelings took a hopeful turn. A few days later, he was removed by ambu- lance and cars, still on his ' bed,' which he would not part with. Two weeks later I called on him at his own home in Philadelphia, and as I entered his room, with tearful eyes, his first words after a welcome were, addressing his wife, ' My dear, this is the gentleman I have told you of; he gave me that bed, and I believe he saved my life.' " 99 A Life Saved. Mr. James Grant, delegate, gives the following : '' When moving round amongst the wounded, who were lying scattered about the outside of the building used as an hospital by General Sedgwick's division, on the night after the Battle of Antietara, my attention was called by a wounded officer to a friend of his, whom he said was very badly wounded in the face, and was lying out somewhere without a covering. ^'Directing me to the neighborhood where he was to be found, I started for the purpose, and throwing the rays of my lantern at the foot of a wooden fence, I soon discovered the object of my search. " He was a Lieutenant in one of the Pennsylvania Regi- ments, and had during the battle been shot in the face. The ball had entered in at one side of the cheek, and passed out at the other, grazing his tongue, and carrying away several of his teeth. His face was horribly swollen, and as he could not move his jaw, he could not speak. On asking him if he was Lieutenant M , of Philadelphia, he assented by a nod of his head. When I found him, he was reclining at the foot of a fence, and as it was raining pretty heavily, he was quite wet. "Procuring a few bundles of straw, a bed was made for him, and after making him as comfortable as possible, he was left for the night. During the two following days, his wound^ which had been hurriedly dressed upon the field, had remained untouched. The surgeons were all very busy, and being of a very amiable disposition, he showed no signs of impatience. He had tasted no food, and itwas pitiable to see him attempt to swallow even a mouthful of water. In the inflamed, wounded condition of his mouth, nothing could be passed down his throat. 23 " On the tbird day after our arrival here, as the surgeons had more to do than they could manage, we proceeded to assist them in washing and redressing the wounds of the men, most of which had remained untouched since the day of the battle. After some consideration, I took the Lieutenant's case in hand, and after about two hours' labor, succeeded in cutting away his whiskers, and washing the wound pretty thoroughly, both inside and outside the mouth. As soon as this was done, and all the clotted blood and matter cleared away, the swelling'- went down gradually, and he began to articulate a little. A day or so afterwards, he was able to swallow liquid, and being carefully cleaned and washed every day, in less than a week he was so far recovered as to be able to travel towards Phila- delphia. The next time I saw him was in his own house, getting along wonderfully well. Tears of gratitude filled his own e3^es, and those of his wife, and it amply repaid me for all the privations endured whilst working among the wounded of that bloody field, to be introduced to Mrs. M. by the gallant soldier, as ^ the man who picked him up at midnight, and dressed his wound, when he had given himself up to die.' " A Protestant Professor Praying in a Catholic Church, at the request of a Catholic Lady, for a Dyings Man. Rev. I. 0. Sloan relates the following, to show how both jKilitical and religious differences are forgotten by those who love Jesus, in such scenes as those which follow a great battle. ''The Catholic Church as well as others, was at first used as an hospital. The Sabbath after the battle, Professor Stoever was visiting the wounded brought to this church, as he did constantly wherever he could find sufferers to relieve. A brave 24 boy, who had been laid in the chancel, was dying, and as Professor Stoever came down near him, a kind-hearted Catholic lady came to him, and said, ^ Oh ! I want you to go and talk and pray with that boy, for he is dying, and he is not converted/ He went and knelt by his side in the altar, thinking only of Christ and his pardoning grace, and prayed that God would be merciful, and forgive and bless that suffering, dying boy. Soon he died, and as we hope, leaning on the Savior, and re- joicing in the faith of the righteous." The Big^ht Doctor. Kev. B. B. Hotchkin, of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, gives, from Hagerstown, Maryland, under date of July 27th, the following touching incident : '' The first Sabbath after our arrival, and all the week suc- ceeding, was filled up with the indispensable work of bodily re- lief, to save the lives of wounded men. ^ There was no time nor opportunity for public worship, and our directly religious efforts were confined to labors at the bedside, chiefly commend- ing the dying to Christ. " Yesterday (Sabbath) we proposed to the authorities of the Washington House Hospital, the largest in Hagerstown, to hold a public service with such of the patients as were able to be gathered into one company. The proposal was instantly acceded to, with what spirit you may judge from the reply of the surgeon, whose principal duty was in the large dining- room, then filled with four long rows of patients, all severe sur- gical cases. Said he, ' I have work here to keep me busy the whole day, but I will stop to give you time for worship any Lour you wish. It will be good for the men.' " The large door of the dining-room opened into the hotel office, which, with the hall, afforded room for all who were 25 well enough to come down from the upper stories, A joyous thrill ran through the hospital as the word went from story to story, and from room to room. 'They are going to have preaching!' ^ What is it? Are you going to have meet- ing?' said a patient in the dining-room to me, as he saw them bringing seats around the door. Being answered in the affirma- tive, he clasped his hands and cried, ' that is good ! it is good ! it is .so long since I have had any such privilege l^ He was a member of the Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, but in the army had long failed of falling in with the religious privileges which some camps and regiments aflford. He had longed for them, and now to him this one day in the courts of the Lord was better than a thousand. " I spoke to the audience of Christ, the Great Physician, — the Physician whose exceeding excellency is that His services are of surest and highest avail, when the skill of the earthly physician utterly fails. In the hands of the best surgeon they might die; some of them probably must die; but with the grace of the Heavenly Physician, whose medicine is for the heart, they had the surety of everlasting life. "To-day, passing along the dining-room, I heard a call, ' Preacher I preacher !' I went to the bed from which it came, and said to the sufferer, ' My poor friend, how do you feel ?' '0 better, better,' said he, 'better a great deal.' 'Do you feel like getting well?' '0 I don't know about that, but I have got the Doctor you told us about; He is my Doctor now ; He has been with me all night; He is with me now, and I am better.' The sparkle of his eye and glow of his face spoke all that he meant. He may die, but I am persuaded he ii better, *' Time fails me to add incidents. None know until thej participate in this work, the value, the timeliness, and the blessedness of the Gospel preached amid such scenes, and t© 26 such assemblies. Preacher of God's comfort for the mourn- ing, leave for a Sabbath or two your frescoed church and your draperied pulpit, and try the power of the word of salvation among the dying victims of war, and you will believe what I say. A Rebel Penitent. " Oh for a gift to speak of the great good the Christian Com- mission is doing ! Oh that the good people that give could see how much they do ! I have just left the bedside of a rebel, who was reading a little Christian book and crying. Through his tears he said to me, ^ The good Christian Association gave this book to me, and this cooling drink, and these pre- served peaches. But oh, better than this, they have led me to the Savior, and now, if I can hop on one foot into heaven I will not regret the loss of my leg. If only through it I have found my heavenly Father, I shall be more than satisfied. Go and see Mr. Stuart, and give him the thanks of a rebel penitent.' "Rev. George F. WillIs." Mother and Son on the Battle-field. Mr. John Wiest, in a very interesting account of work done on the battle-field of Gettysburg, gives the following in- cident : "On Saturday, Adjutant J. J. Blinn observed a woman in a tent near his own, when he exclaimed, * My mother ! my mother !' On Wednesday his mother was telegraphed to come on and see her son before he died. I was in this lovely young man's tent when his mother arrived. The scene was most touching and affecting. Weak and exhausted, he told his mother that those around him were his friends, to which 27 I added, that her dear son had not only those around him as friends, but Christ Jesus, the best of all friends, was also his friend. With tears of joy, Mrs. Bliiin rejoined, 'Then your mother can willingly see her son die/ This noble and brave young man left home out of Christ, became a Christian in his country's service, and died a most happy death. Such triumphs of the glorious Gospel may well encourage the, at times, dis- heartened laborer in the vineyard of Christ. Very few of the men, yes, very few indeed, are indifferent to their spiritual interests/^ Taking the Bitter out of the War. Mr. Joseph Ward, delegate, relates the following : "Our work for many days was almost entirely for the bodies of the men, but from time to time occasion was found to speak a word to the soul. At one time ten men were brought from a barn, a few miles from town, where they had been lying since the battle of Falling Waters, more than ten days, with little or no care. One of them was an old man, apparently just ready to die from exhaustion and fatigue. He had only strength to say, ^ So sick, so sick ) tired.' After I had washed his face and hands and bathed his head, I gave him a little tea (he was too weak to take more than one swallow without resting), which revived him a little, so that he said, ' God bless you ! and God will bless you ; I know He will.' After giving him time to sleep, I washed him and put on clean clothes, when his grati- tude seemed boundless. ' Oh ! I am a new man ; but I don't understand it. Are you a surgeon ?' ' No.' ' Are you ward- master ?' ' No.' ' Do you live in this town V ' No.' ' Well, who are you ?' ' An agent of the Christian Commission.' ' Oh ! I might have known that if I had thought a moment. They are doing a great deal of good, and taking a great deal of the 28 bitter out of this war.' He improved every day, and when I left him was able to walk all about the camp. " A part of our work was among the rebels, one hundred and twenty of them being in the Seminary Hospital, and after the men were moved to tents, they were in the same camp with us. They received our aid thankfully in most cases. Among others there was a Colonel of a Georgia regiment, who made special inquiry concerning the work of the Commission, and mourned that they had nothing of the kind at the South. When I left the camp, one of their officers came to our tent, and bade me goodbye, and thanked me in their name for the work of the Commission.'' An Impressive Service. The following is the closing paragraph of the report of Rev. Geo. W. Shiun : '^ Perhaps the most impressive service I ever attended, was held on Sunday evening last, in the square between the tents. It was a beautiful evening. The sun's rays had hardly disap- peared, and the moon had risen. A few clouds were off in the west, and occasionally flashes of lightning would dart from one to another. The camp was in a beautiful field of clover, and the rows of white tents stretched along the four sides of the field. In full view was the Eound Top Mountain, the Bcene of the desperate struggle of three weeks ago. '' There were three army chaplains and three clergymen of us on the ground, besides the laymen of the Commission. Most of the attendants, ladies, and the other well persons on the ground, assembled, and the service began by singing a hymn. The music drew together as many of the wounded as could hobble about, and others who were able to do so turned over on their couches to listen. Prayer was offered, and ad- dresses were made, interspersed with the singing of hymns. 29 Nothing could have been more interesting or affecting than this scene. I shall never forget it. I felt it my duty to tell the men that it seemed to me to be highly probable they would never be placed in any situation where it would be so easy to become Christians as there and at that time. The gates of the eternal world seemed swung wide open. The air seemed continually bearing along upon it the name of the Savior. Hymns of praise to Him — cries for mercy to Him — words of trust upon Him — were continually uttered. "It has never been my privilege to see such a large body of men so much interested in religion as the men of Corps No. 2 are now. Some clergymen should be continually on the ground to satisfy the craving of souls for the bread of life. " I shall ever remember the past week as one of the best I have ever spent/' "That IS Christianity." The following striking incidents are from the report of Rev. W. D. Siegfried, one of the numerous workers on the memo- rable battle-field of Pennsylvania : " A young man from Wisconsin, badly wounded, after re- ceiving food and drink, and such delicacies as he seemed to need, from my hand, wept tears of gratitude, and inquired, ' What is the Christian Commission intended for, — only for soldiers? How do they afford all these things they give us?' Several of his fellow-soldiers turned eagerly towards me, as I proceeded to answer the question, they evidently feeling inte- rested in it. After assuring him that the Commission work was prosecuted entirely through Christian benevolence, he re- marked, ' Well, that is Christianity — that is religion I I shall never forget the Christian Commission delegates at Gettys- burg.' Several voices responded, * Neither will I.' " 30 ''No Red Tape Here." *' A brave young man, not seriously wounded, came limping up to our tent, and requested some cloths and other articles to dress his wound, himself, as all hands were busy with worse cases. The articles I handed him at once, at the same time giving him a drink of ice-cold lemonade just prepared. ' Ah !' said he, ' there's no red tape process here ! You men of the Christian Commission give a fellow what he needs, when he needs it, without a tedious process of waiting for orders, and then waiting for them to be filled. Thank you, gentlemen.' And he turned away with a glad heart." Example of Delegate Work on the Battle-field. Rev. J. E. Adams, of Maine, writes, under date of July 29th, 1863 : " We were the first on the ground of the 3d Division, 2d Corps Hospital, Gettysburg, both with delegates and supplies. Two delegates were there Saturday, Mr. Cook from Baltimore, and Mr. Stittson of Rochester, New York. Several others arrived Sabbath morning after the battle. We at once gave ourselves to the work of distributing cordials and bread and clothing to the wounded and dying. We gave them water, bound up their wounds, made them as comfortable as was pos- gible under the circumstances, and in all this ministering to the hodily wants of these poor men, we pointed their souls to Christ, and urged them to seek pardon for their sins and con- secrate themselves to God and his service. On Monday the cry was ' Bread ! bread !' Fortunately, one of our delegates found some good farmers at the town with a load of nice loaves, and after our case was stated they drove into camp with it, and gave it into our hands for distribution. How grateful the hungry boys were. '■ God bless you !' ' God bless the oi Christian Commission !' ' This is like home !' ' Oh, how good !' rang out continually as we passed along. Thus our work con- tinued for days, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giv- ing drink to the thirsting, binding up the wounds, and chang- ing the position of the suffering, breathing consolation to the disheartened and the dying. None but those who witnessed this can appreciate the gratitude of the soldiers, and realize the good that was done. No doubt many valuable lives were saved.'' Army Conversions. Rev. J. L. Heysinger, delegate, mentions the following : ''J. B. Church, 47th New York. Badly wounded. Doubt- ful case. Says he was converted to God about a year ago in camp, through the agency of T. 0. Crawford, of the Christian Commission. G. H. Hawes, 7th Wisconsin, converted at the station of the Christian Commission, Belle Plain. Wrote a letter to his mother full of hope." An Ohio Soldier. Rev. Geo. H. Morss, in his report says : ^' A soldier from an Ohio regiment was suffering from a very painful wound in the knee by a shell. I approached his bed and said to him, ' My friend, how do you feel to-day ?' ' 0, I am rather poorly to-day,' he said; ' but sometimes I am more cheerful,' and he beckoned for me to come around to the other side of his bed. I did so, when he said he wanted to sit up and see if he wouldn't feel better. I carefully raised him up, and after sitting a little while he called for his nurse to help lay him back again. Together we carefully lowered him upon his pillow ; still he suffered much pain and cried out from its severity. I stood by him trying to cheer and comfort him, when feeling that he needed quiet rest, I said to him, ' I will 32 leave you now, for you need rest, and I am afraid I shall weary you by talking.' '0 no,' said lie; 'don't leave me, don'fe leave me; stay here,' and he caught hold of my coat and pulled me closer to his side. 'Oh, well,' said I, ' if you wish me to stay, certainly I will stay with you,' and I stooped down over him and began to talk to him of Jesus, the blessed Comforter, the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with grief, who was willing to be near all his sorrowing, suffering children, to help them to bear their griefs. ' Oh !' said he, ' how good it is to have some one to talk to me so now.' ' Then 3'ou love the name of Jesus, do you ?' said I. ' Yes, he is my strength and .support now ; I could not do without him.' 'When did you first find Jesus a Savior?' 'On the battle-field, sir.' 'How was that,' T asked. ' Why, I had heard much of Jesus, and I determined to know myself if he was such a Savior as I had heard he was. I sought him on the battle-field and found him, and he has been a precious Savior to me since.' INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTION ABOUT STORES. Objects and Methods of Bistribution. There is no ground of rivalry between the Christian and the Sanitary Commissions. Their purposes and plans are widely diiferent, and not at all in conflict. Leaving chiefly to the Sanitary Commission the great and beneficent work of supplementing governmental supplies to the Medical Department, and filling the hands of surgeons with needed stores otherwise unsupplied, the Christian Com- mission asks only or mainly to have the means furnished to fill the hands of its delegates to meet the multitudes of cases in the army, on the battle-field, and in the crowded camps, re- quiring from them personal, direct administration. 33 In many places the delegates of the Christian Commission find suffering to relieve, where the Sanitary Commission have no stations. On the battle-field also, and in the great camps at times when overcrowded, the delegates find overwhelming want and terrible suffering, which can alone be met and mitigated by personal ministrations and personal administration of stores under direction of the surgeons. In multitudes of instances the delegates of the Christian Commission give relief to those who are not under care of the surgeons, and with whom the alternative is relief direct from the delegate himself or certain death, or if not death con- tinued suffering at least. Incidentally too, in cases requiring it, surgeons are supplied; but this is apart from the main object of the Christian Commission. For the battle-field work especially, a large amount of stores is indispensable, and not a little for the army work and tho camps. All good and suitable stores are welcomed, and all necessary freight and charges paid on them by the Commission. Societies and Committees will do well to secure free trans- portation for their stores, by any reliable line if not too slow, if possible. If not, then to send without prepayment. Better to send all the money they can, and let the Commission settle for freight, as special arrangements have been made with many lines. It is better not to designate particular hospitals, places, regiments, or armies, in sending stores, but leave the Com- mission free to distribute them where most urgently needed. Special cases and particular requests will, however, be faith- fully attended to. Private boxes cannot be delivered. LofC. H; WHAT TO SEND. Money, by all means, if possible. To invest money in articles to send is unwise. The Commission can purchase exactly what is wanted, at the very moment when needed most, and as a Commission at wholesale cheaper than others. CLOTHING, ETC. Cotton shirts, Cotton drawers, Canton flannel shirts and draw- ers, Surgical shirts and drawers (with tape strings to tie in- stead of seams at the sides). Large cotton drawers (to wear in-doors as pants), Dressing gowns. Slippers (if of cloth or carpet with stiff soles), Sheets, Pillow-cases, Bed ticks (single for filling with straw). Pillows, Pads, for fractured limbs, Ring pads, for wounds, Fans, Netting, to protect from flies, Housewives, stored with needles, thread, buttons, ^ pins, &c.. Handkerchiefs, c(^ Wash -rags, Old linen. k Oat meal. Farina, Corn-starch, Dried rusk. Jellies, Soda biscuit, Butter crackers, Boston crackers^ POOD, ETC. Good butter, in small jars, Jams, Onions, in barrels, Apples, in barrels, Cranberries, Pickles, Dried fruits. 4tJK> ■ »»*>0 IX y lac^ui^ i./^.aOf>U Viiti finU'* In special cases, eggs, bread, cakes, &c., are needed, but not generally. They should never be sent unless specially called for. FOR BEVERAGES. Good black tea, Lemons, Chocolate, Syrups. All preparations of the Blackberry are of double value. STIMULANTS. Good brandy, Port wine, Madeira wine. Cordials, Domestic wines are excellent in winter, apt to spoil in summer. Good Reading Matter. — Send no trash, Soldiers de- serve the best. A library is a valuable hygienic appliance. For the able-bodied, good publications are mental and spiritual food. For convalescents, lively, interesting books, the month- lies, the pictorials, works of art, science, and literature, as well as those for moral and spiritual culture, such as you would put into the hands of a brother recovering. Stationery is much needed, paper, envelopes, and pen- cils. HOW TO PACK. Pack in boxes. Barrels are not as good. Secure well. Boxes should not be so large that two cannot conveniently lift them into a wagon. Pack eatables by themselves. Never pack perishable articles, such as oranges, lemons, bread, cakes, nor jars of jellies and jams, with other goods. Tin cans should be soldered; all other modes fail. Stone jars should be corked and firmly bound with oiled linen or leather over the cork, and packed closely in saw-dust or hay, in boxes never 36 ^'^lilTA^T /, exceeding a dozen and a half in a box, and nailed strongly, to bear rough handling. Jellies in tumblers, covered with paper, and wines, cordials, &c., in bottles, with paper or other poor stoppers, are liable to spill out, and if packed with other things, fcure to injure them. HOW TO MARK. Mark with paint or ink on the boards, — cards' rub off, — in plain letters and figures. On one corner, the number of the box according to the number sent by you in all, numbering your first box *1, your second *2, your third *3, and so on from the first sent to the last. On another corner, mark each box as from your Society, giving the name, and conspicuously also mark as follows : " George H. Stuart, Chairman Christian Commission, 11 Bank Street, Philadelphia.'' To secure acknowledgments, and to save trouble, also send an invoice or list by mail, on paper, the common letter sheet size, written only on one side, specifying each box or barrel by number, and giving the contents of each by itself. Give your own name and post-office in full, with the name of your State- Place also another list or invoice of the same kind in the box under the lid, and if with this last you place also an envelope addressed to yourself, with a postage stamp upon it, you may sometimes, — not always, — have it returned to you through the mail, with the signature of the delegate, and the name of the hospital or camp, where he distributed it. Write plain. Above all, write your own name distinctly, and to save embarrassment, give your address in full, espe- cially whether Miss or Mrs. or Rev. Money should be sent to Joseph Patterjson, E^q., Treasu- rer, at Western Bank, Philadelphia. A PATRIOT MOTHERS THANK-OFFERING. The following letter breathes a tenderness of maternal affection, purity of patriotism, and depth of love to the Gospel of Jesus, which make it a gem worthy of the granddaughter of the sainted Isabella Graham an(^ sister of the lamented Dr. Bethune : ' Detroit, Septei tjBORGE H. Stuart, Esq. j Dear Sir: Having, with great th.inkfulness to God, heard by tele- graph that my youngest son, Adjutant 11. M. DuflBeld, is not Avounded, and quite well at Chattanooga, I send you twenty dollars, as a thank- offering from a mother for the preservation of her son at the Battle of Chickaraauga. I should like the money appropriated where the most Michigan regiments are, but still I do not dictate. AH souls are precious, and you can use it as you think best. May the blessing of our Father in heaven go -with it. » ■ I think of the Christian Commission and the Sanitary Commission as twin brothers going forward to their glorious work. Oh ! my friend, what a field is open to Christians now, and how ought they to improve it in jtrying to rescue those who are "led captive by the Devil at his will.-'"' God bless you and the dear, precious Christian Commission I Surely tlte 'blessing of those who are ready to jierish will rest upon you. Ah ! little do you know how much eojnfort you give to anxious mothers when they hear of your locations, " My boy is there,'* is her thought, and then sfee bows the "knee and prays, that your labors may be blessed to him and others. Surely it is like going out into the highways and hedges, when you look after the spiritual wants of soldiers. You encourage Christian soldiers, while you «^t'a/;e/^ the impenitent. Oh I how noble to be near the sick- {^bed and cheer him with your blessed words, j '' When the groan his faint heart giveth, Seems the last sigh cf despair." p. Oh I how 1 have wept and prayed for our beloved country. Two soni^ — one a Colonel, and the youngest, the Adjutant — I gave. The Colonel is wounded so that he cannot go back to the army, and the dear young Ad- jutant has been in this battle. But I put him under the shadow of GocVs wing, and He has kept him safe. I am anxious, but still I say, j If new sorrow should befall, If my noble hoy should fall, ' If the bright head I have blest. On the cold earth finds its rest, -^ Still with all the mother's heart. Torn and quivering with the smart, ' I yield him, 'ncath thy chast'ning rod, ,, 'I'o my country and niy God. You will never know the good you have done till " God shall wipe away all tears from your eyes," and you see how many gems shall sparkle in your crown, which have been gathered from our army. How much good your Commission has done ! God bless you all ! In baste. Your sister in Chri.st, I.SABELT>A G. DUFFIKLP. i^m