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GENESEE EVANGELIST.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1862
JOHN W. MEARS,
?BAYER HEARD FOR OUR BRAVE SOL
BIERS.
THERE is no question about it, the brave
,yoUth who have gone from our: congregations,
and who have been made objects of frequent
prayer in the pulpits and praying circles of
the church, have been 'protected to a wonderful
degree, from the casualties of battle and the
perils—still more forMidable—of the camp. We
have conversed with several of our city pastors
whose young men, to the number of thirty, or
forty in each charge, have enlisted and are now
in the service, many of them having undergone
the exposure and peril of the campaign before
Riehmond, and some of them connected with
regiments famous for their bravery and sufferings
in the week of battles ; and , so far as we have
heard but one has been killed, very few have
been ,wounded, (none mortally) and we have
heard of but one or two who have fallen victims
to difiease.
The case of Captain Orr, of the 61st. Pennsyl
vania, Company H, is worthy of special notice.
This brave officer is connected with the congre
gation of the. First Church, Mr. Barnes'. He
volunteered in the three months' service, immedi
ately upon the President's first call for troops.
We happened to be in the church on the mem
orable Sabbath after that call, when solemn'
requests for prayers from mothers and. ‘ relatives
of men arming themselves for the dire conflict,
and from the' volunteers themselves, were read
and remembered by. the Pastor,in the devotions
of the days A serious and ?ppropriate request
from Captain Orr was among them. The pray
er was heard as regards the three months' service,
and -the ,Captain returned in safety. Again
having'offered his services to his country, we
bear of him acting an heroic Peirtirtho thickest'
of the conflict, and coming out' unscathed, with
scores and hundreds of his'comrades in arms
fallen at his side. Surely this is encouragement
to pray for our volunteers, and enceuragement
for, such as are the objects of spepial Prayer to
enlist. We quote from. an : aepountof the terrible
battle of Fair Oaks, which we find in the Press
of this city. It is a portion of Saturday's fight
that is described, after the first line is broken by
the enemy and the lamented Colonel Rippey of
the 61st had fallen with many of his officers and
men. In fact companies H. and G., with the
broken remnants of a few other companies, num
bering 170 men, were all of the regiment that
could be rallied, and of thane Captain Orr took
command. General' Sumner's opportune arrival
had just occurred
" Gen. Couch now ordered the 30th Pennsyl
vania to form on the road facing the woods, while
the Ist U. S.Chasseurs and the detachment of the
elst, under the command of Capt. Robert L. Orr,
of Company li, were ordered to form line in a
newly-ploughed' ivheat-field, :facing the woods
towards 'the left; our detachment to form on the
right ofthe Chassettrs. We had scarcely-reached
our position, and had not yet got fronted, when
from the woods in front, `not ten paces off, burst
forth a perfect shower of fire—a oloud of balls—
from the enemy, who were there concealed, over
8,000 strong (as was afterwards stated by some
prisoners we took). All immediately"fell on their
faces. During the confusion attending this un
expected onslaught from the concealed foe, some
horses, belonging to the officers of the Chasseurs,
broke through the second platoon of Company. 11,
throwing it into confusion, and injuring one of our
men for life. The first sight that met our eyes,
after the smoke cleared away, was Gen. Aber
crombie, dismounted and bareheaded, with sword
inland, and the blood streaming over his lace
from a wound in the head, which has since hap
pily proved to be slight. Capt. Urban, his ad
jutant-general, was also unhorsed, and both were
gallantly cheering on their men. This, however,
was scarcely necessary, for no sooner had the con
fusion attending the first movements of the on
slaught passed away, than in an instant our men
were on their feet, and poured in a withering and
telling volley along the entire line. A rail fence
bordered the verge of the woods immediately in
front of us. Down on their knees,.behind this
fence, our line got, and sent in volley after volley
on the astounded enemy, who expected no resis
tance at this point. They outnumbered us 3to
1, but so well directed was our fire, and so steady
was it kept up that we threw them into confusion;
and broke their ranks. Three several times did
they charge on us ; one time, getting within tin
yards of the fence ; but each time were they re
puleed and driven back with many'a vacant , rank,
as 4 view of the field testified next morning, for
they lay in heaps` along our entire Vont. It was
here we proved to them that the 61. at was not all
gone yet i but that, some were left to avenge 'their
colonel and their comrade& Bravely did that
little band sustain their well-earned reputation,
and prove themselves true sons of the ' Quaker
City.' [II and, (31. are all Philadelphians.] Reci
ted by the gallant example of their brave leader,
Captain Orr, who'extorte.d the enthusiasm and
admiration of not only his own battalion, but also
of other regiments on out right, and who, after
the fight was over, cheered , him again and again;
and. well he deserved it,Tor by his diseretion and ,
courage, we were enabled to, take the enemy at
his weakest point, and at the right moment, and
to pay, with fearful interest, for the slaughter of
our brave comrades during the afternoon. Cap
tain Orr is a native of, and well known in, Phila
delphia, having beeri connected with the local
military of the city for a long time as lieutenant
of the old'corps of Independent Grays. Ile was
with that company in the three-months' campaign,
in the old 4 nth,' under. Colonel (now General)
Frank Patterson, in which regiment he had DO
superior as an efficient officer. During ourglori
otis triumph, he was nobly sustained and seconded
by Captain Crosby and Lieutenants Ifaldeman, of
Company G, and Wilson, of Company - 11.
" By dark we had driven the enemy entirely
out of the woods, which "they had entered with
nearly eight thousand troops, expecting to find
no opposition, and then fall on the rear of our
division and. capture or destroy it entire. But
in this they were most terribly mistaken. The
rail fence, slight as it was, proved a good protec
tion, and doubtless saved many a life."
Superstitious men do not fear God, but are
afraid of God.
THE NEGRO IN WAIL
SHALL negroes be employed by Government in
time of wards not a new question in this country,
although the presentaphappy disturbances has
• .1
given prominence to this discussion in the Con
gress lately adjourned.
In glancing over the pages of the American
archives, it will - be seen that in the very first
'days of the conflict with Great Britain, when the
colonies were all slave-holding, each party in the
contest endeavored to employ the African to the
detriment of the other.
Editor.
One week after Washington, at Cambridge, as
sumed the chief command, he wrote to Congress,
that he fonnd his, various regiments both goys
and ltegroes. At a Council of War, held October
Bth, 1775, at his headquarters, and at Which
were present Major-Generals Ward, Lee and Put.
nam, and Brigadier-Generals Thomas, Spencer,
Heath, Stillivan, - Greene, and Gates,, the :follow
inc., query was proposed by Washin.7ton.
" Whether it will be advisable to enlist any
negroes in the new army; or whether there be a
distinction between such as are slaves, and those
who are free ?"
After a full discussion it was agrbed to reject
neirroes altoo•ether.
o ~,,,
The announcement of the deciiion, operated un
favorably and the blacks finding that their ser
vices were undervalued began to desert to
_the
enemy. General Washington, 'writing to Con
gress under date of December 31st, 1875, says
"It has been represented to me that the free
negroes who have served in the army are very
much dissatisfied at being discarded. As it
,
be apprehended that they may seek employment
in the Ministerial army, I have presumed to
,de
part-from the resolution respecting them, and
have given license for their being enlisted."
Finding that -the Americans enlisted negroes
and used them in every possible way to annoy the
Kings forces, 4ord Dunmore, in Novemher of
the same year, as Governor-General of Virginia,
issued a Proclamatien, in which he declared all
negroes ;free that were willing to bear arms for
Great Britain.:
In an address reviewing this proclamation, and
written at Williamsburgh, Virginia,•the writer
says, Should there ,be any amongst ; the negroes
weak enough to, believe that Lord Dunmore in
tends,to do them a kindness, let them further
consider, what -must be their fate should 4he
English prove conquerors.
" Long have the'Americans, Moved by Compas
sion, and' actuated by sound pal* y, endeavored to
stop the progress of slavery. Our. AssemblieS have
repeatedly passed acts laying heavy dutieti upon
imported negroes, by which they meant altogeth
er to prevent the horrid traffic, but their humane'
intentions have been as often frustratecliby the
cruelty and covetousness of a set of English. mer
chants, who prevailed upon the King to repeal
our kind and merciful acts, little indeed to the
credit of his humanity. Can it then be supposed
that the negroes will be better used by the
English, who have 'always encouraged and "up-
held this slavery, than by :their present masters,
who pity their condition, and who : wish in gen
eral to make it as easy and comfortable as possi
ble, and who would were it in their power, or were
they permitted not only prevent any more ne
groes from losing their freedom, but restore it to
such, as have already unhappily /oat* I" •
Dunmore, witlfa zeal not surpassed by d:eneral„ ,
Hunter at Hilton Head, commenced the raising
of a regiment of blacks, at Crwin's Island, in
Elizabeth river, but the attempt to dress the..
slaves in red coats and maintain them in an or:.
ganized body proved a failure. Indolent, unclean=
ly and irregular in their habits, a malignant fe-,,
ver crept in among his " Ethiopian Corps," as
he styles them in a communication to the Brit-
ish Secretary of State, and " carries off a great
many very fine fellows."
As the French a few years before had learned
that Indians would not march in platoons, but at
all hazards would walk in single file, so the Brit
ish discovered that an .Ethiopian 'is indisposed
. to endure the rigors and activity Of the disci T
plined soldier.
But, throughout the Revolutionary straggle,
there were formed bright exceptions to the in
ertia of the mass and history records the " vim'-'
and acuteness of Africans who .rendered signal
service to the British , as well - as the American
With a heroism, akin to that of the Charleston
pilot, Robert - Small, a negro offered his services,
to Pennsylvania's brave son, familiarly"called the
" Quaker General," or " mad' Anthony Wayne,"
and at the hour of midnight, amid the' explosion
of bombs, successfully guided' him - within the
strong fortification of the enemy at - Stony ,Point.
While, then, we apprehend that Government
will be led by past experietede, and that we shall
not see many negro regiments, we believe that
the black man Can be made of inestimable ser
vice to our artily in the conflict that is uponus.
labo;rets . „ inured to the climate and to toil;
they may saye to the Government an amount of
pbsidal expenditure, by white men,equivalentito
many regiment& The adoption of the old policy
of the Revolution, to employ them whenever
available to us, and to deprive the ,traitor of
service, will take the strongest: sinew' out of the w.
monster. Rebellion, and - conduce to the great end
before its of conquering a peace. '.4l#
131:141ATi±:4tp4:; . 741.48k0g;,. '.?-•-:. r.i"..',.!
.WE sorrowfully recorded last week, the death : ,
of our friend, associate arid brother, the Reif::
Dr. Wallace—and,gave utterance to our estimate
of the low.whicii that death inflicted'. Inrtitor
funeral services,.held at Green Hill church;in
this eity,on Tuesday afternoon; the 29th
that estiMate was shown to be the estimate of his:,
brethren in the, ministry; whilst the very large ,
attendance of Christian friends evinced the ap
preciation of his life and death by the community
in which he'had lived for many years.
Addresses were made by Messrs. Barnes and.
W. W. Taylor, and Dr. Jenkins, assisted in :the
services by Messrs Brown, Dowling, Mears , and.
Dulles. To one point, : not touched upon in our
tribute to his memory; attention, was called. Dr.
Wallace had been Manifestly _growing in grace.
This, had been frequently. noted by his intimate
associates for month4pa4: „is now recalled
with peculiar satisAtion, since he has gone
from us.
The services were solemn, appropriate and in
teresting. The burial was in that beautiful city
of the dead, Laurel Elill, at the still hour of twi
light on the 'Cloie of a bright Summer day. There
rests the body until the resurrection of there-
deemed. The spirit, with the multitude of the
redeemed that have, gone before, - awaits in joy
that hour of the consummation of the Church's
atintriran fruilltttriait and Orittort (.6vitirgeliot.
" THE SPIRIT OF '76."
WHEN Congress was deliberating over the ar
ticles of Confederation, for the young Republic
in 1776, the men to whom were entrusted the
destinies of the country, had no scruples when
they - deemed it needful for the country's good,-
to keep secret their doings, until the proper time
for disclosure- came. They did not affect the
dangerous liberation of' that mad generosity
which would transact, all public business, even
that purely ,
executive; with open doors; and thus
communicate, without scruple, the most impor
tant matters of state to 'foreign powers, which, in
their negetiations this country, take good
care never, to' reciprocate such ,uncalculating pro
digality .of communication They knew, that
there wean book whit': taught them there was a
.time to be silent, as well a time to speak. It
did not Shock the .republicanism of these early
Senators of our country, to print'but eighty copies
of their 'plan of confederation; and 'to bind - them;
selves, their secretary,,and their printer, alike,
to an inviolable silence as to the contents of the
paper,and to lay all under an injunction to fur.
nish no person with a-copy.
Had they pursued any other course, in all
human prohability, the effort at confederation
wotildlave failed entirely . : forlthere were con ,
flieting interests to'be reconciled,.so diverse from
each other;and habits of thought and action so very
diffe.rent; among the men there assembled,' from
the Northand from the Sonth; that theSe, added
to the` gloomy aspect of American affairs, would
have been quite, sufficient, had the public been
,
invited to partake in the discussion, effectually
to close the door against the possibility of calmly,
and wisely reconciling -differences. As it, was,
though the plan was submitted in July, 1776,
it was not until after repeated deliberationi that
it was finally adopted, in November, '1777:
Griswold's Republican Court.
When news - cf the Boston Port Bill' reached
Charleston, expresses were ..sent over the State
to call a general meeting of the inhabitants,
They came, and it was easy to induce them,to
appoint delegates to a. general Congress; but then
came propositions io instruct them,how far they
might go in supporting the Bostonians.' join(
RUTLIDGZ rose in 'all his Might; his subject
was " instruCtions — tv tha i4resentedines," but
full authority to
,:exercise their discretion, and :a
pledge to the men of New England, that South
Carolina ~would, ,to the death, stand by all her
delegates provided for her. I
Some one in opposition, asked what should be
done if the delegates made . an improper use of
this large grant of power ? - With an energy of
manner which was in itself as forcible as'an ar
gument, the clear sound of his voice rose above
the listening auditory, and rang out in his short
words, full alike of decision and honesty, " HANG
THEM l " - Griswold'.Republican Court.
" I DO g 0 I,ITI'LE"
WHAT Christian has not said this Ida
so little good I My - usefulness is so small ! "
Did this sense of uselessness excite to renewed
induitry, zeal, activity, the oftener it were felt
the letter. Bat, for the most part, it is an ut
.
terance of discouragement. The view of little
gooddone in the past leads to doubts of the fu
ture. " If, after years of attetipting, so little is
effected,: why try?'lt is of Jib' avail I have
done so 'little in the past, that'l shill do little in
the future. lam not usefuL I cannot he use
fuL " Thus Christians first lament, then donbt,
then despond, and , finally , yielding to despon
dency, fulfill their own fears and truly do, very
little good in, the world,
This is so wide spread a source of loss to the
'cause of Christ, that it claims attention. The
plain Christian man or woman, is lamenting that
he is doing so little as a Christian for Christ.
The Sabbath School teacher is grieving that in
his class he sees so little fruit of his labors: The
parent mourns that he does not'see his children
converted.'' The Pastor greens over' the truth
that seems lost upon dull' hearts and leaden ears.
Desponding,' the sinews &their 'strength 'afe . cut;
and their hands hang feebly down.,
We would ume on these who thus speak and
thus despond, a thought or two.
Itkis quite, true, douhtlessi l that, yoripmve done
no great things for the cause of Religion' and
of Christ. .But, low 'many are there Who • have
done :eriat things. The nuMber'of such' is very
have not
smell. Themass of us have not the opportunity,
or the ability, to be distinguished: In hnman
warfare, a few are eminent;:the thousands are
unheard of, save in theogregate„ as so many
men. If, then, lam not' the archiever of great
things,4 is no ,great wonder. Few men, are.
I may not;be one of the few to whom Providence
has bpened the path to high deeds iirthe Church.'
I may be' illiterate, or poor ; br sickly, or of ' fee
ble speech; or lalor under weights that keep me'
down in a low sphere. ' shin then despond . ?
By no means. It is required of a man according
to that' which ie hath and not according to that
which he, hath not. If you despond you
lose the :little power which, you- have and are
good for, nothing. Nay - worie than nothing. It
has been said that" a defeat depend&not on the
number of men killed, but' the number of ' men
frightened... So in;sod's army ;--a Christian fall=
ing out ,of linebrings , weakness to the, cause.
Resolve, little or much, tondo
: font best. If You,
have only 4 one talent, and that a light one,' so ,
much the More e,are.ful should yoube not to bury
it. Put it Ont at usury. , See if you cannot do
jig a /1104 'more.
Then, you may be doing more than you think.
In fact, the ljtost useless Christians often fret
least about their uselessness.,:Are you sincerely,
grieved that you, do so little for, your master ?1 .
Your sincere desires for usefulness are not un
seen by him. Poieibly, the example of your 'fi
delity in the > church, in the prayer-meeting, in
the Sabbath sehdol; in , the 'family, is having a.'
weighty influence upon others. In just walking
to the prayer-meeting and sitting there attentive
ly, seriously, prayerfully; many a one is strength
ening pastor and people: In 'faithful labors in
the family and in the Sabbath school, seed is
sown. "The husbandman waiteth for the'pre
cious fruit of the earth;and hath long patience
for it," says James. So must you have patience,
'and 'faith that;the seed, sown is not lost!
A godly'life, is always an influ s ence. is like
a star, ever, radiating light. You may be doing
more than you think. Do not despond. Seep on.
Only, do better if you can.
Encourage yourself with the thought that,
&ran if a feeble member, you are a member of a
great organization. You are one of a great army
—part, of a gloriotis, 0M:4,, advancing move
ment. Gather. from this thought, (which is a
fact as well as thought). strength, courage, 41,r
spiration. What, despond because you are not
'eminent ! Never I Do not thus contribute a
mite of feeblems to the church. The little cor
al worker under the. Waves might ask, "To
what purpose de Ltlpijabor and butt myself a
tiny s_epulchure, to be ever washed and worn by
the salt sea, and to be lost in this'da:rkness ?"
But, is he not one,of a host and by their,united
building, will notanistand emerge from the waves,
crowned with the palm tree and trodden by
man ? You 'tire part of a grand advancing
Kingdom.. Know, this ind be strong to do your
Above` all, • God is with you.:' Look to , him.
Do all you can. Be it much or little, he will
guide, aid, bless sand crown you: ' '
HOSPITALS IN THE SEAT OF 'WAR.
C==!!
HAmo just returned from a visit io our sick
and wounded in ;Baltimore AnnepOlis and
Washington, a few notes and incidents may be
acceptable to your readers.
The patients: are principally from ,General
McClellan's array, and sufferer's in the campaign
.before' Richmond, who have been removed, to
,thesc , plates i and ilfsi to New York, •Philadel.:
'phia; Ciunbeilati‘Frederick . and Olaryville; (a
new hospital lii4rouji in the hails'above Curiaa
berland) as fast as, transportation could be had.
Most of them arckitt iz eon lefieent The se
verer cases havetarminitted„ and the snfferers,
repose, peacefully Ali the, graye. ,The simple
wounds are-lie '* g, and the Well are wilking,or.
limping, or : th gOn crutches about - the
yard:' Only some' 6 the more terrible nonipOtind
fractures, or a smallproportion of low fever cases,
attract the sympathizin g sister to the'bedside of
i
the sufferer`; perhaps two or three in a ward,
But 'though , the yroPortiou is ,small the actual
number is very great: For instanee, though, there
are but two or three n a ward confined to• bed,
there are now eigh wards-in the general hos
pital at Annapolis and more than four times
that number at W in ton. Few who have not
visited a large 'Ge eraf Hospital have any idea
of the amount of ffering it contains ;'suffering
for the' Most t - part borne' with utmost heroiSm.
Among 7 or 8000 patienta I only isn" et two ornm
bier's • and they croaked without cause.
11l Baltimore, t eihouses of secessionists, and ,
some of the firsC '
„hotels, are converted into
hospitals ; and.^onrc virounded heroes repose, as
they ought ;to do, ii. palaces. The General'
Hospital at Annapolis located in the buildings
of the U. 28. Naval school;
,and the ' College
i
buildings- were 'being.. fitted •tiP to accommodate
700, or 800, 'in addition to the :1400 now there.
In Washington, the houses Occupied by Deuglas
and Breckinridge, and others ewned by secession
ists, liaAre been - converted. into hospitals • and.
,there, as also ill Philadelphia and Baltimore,
large Wooden buildings have been erected for the
purpose. -Berne of these having been injured by a
storm, quite'a number of the chnrcheshave been .,
occupied'for hospitali. 'A floor has been laid on
the backs of the pews, and the whole space of
floor and , gallery occupied with beds. These
are fine airy'eheerful_ leggings for poor fellows
who have just come from the mud and filth of the
open fteld. :, When they first - arrive, and look
around ,on:ithet,Stained glass windows, the neat
iron bedsgsultettnetomfortable beds, with white
sheets, aJditipiiilfransquito nets, thetables - be
side the beds with bdoks and papers, and cOrdials,
.
and flowers, and'
see tadies waiting on them, and
hear their ,gentle inquiries how they can make
them comfortable, they are quite overcome, and
many of them melt into tears. Even the wooden
barracks are greatly superior, in a sanitary-view, 1
to the accomthodatien afforded a sick man;in a
boarding house. •
In the cities, the attentions of kind.Ohristian
friends supply those thousand little delidacies
'which no Government raiions can possibly inelude:
Our soldiers fortunate - enough to lie in Phila
delphia; Baltimore, and :Washington, have every
attention possible. 'The medical officers in corn
Nand are gentlemen worthy of their, position, and
thonah.- among so many::assistant neoroes and
nurses,.soine will.firove incompetent, it is known
that' proof - incapacity or unfaithfulness en
'mires instant removal, It is in the field hospitals
afar from female syniriathy, or in port hospitals
.among Secessionists, Where the sympathy is all
,or chiefly with the enemy, that.our sick need the
care and kindness ortheir friends and in such
places they are reached and efficiently relieved
bye the .Phristiamteconmission. While I was at
.Annapolis <last week, ,two men were brought in
who had gone - tc few rods beyond the hospital
wall, blitekberryheg,: One'.had three bnek-shot
holes in his skull; and the other had been' pois
ened by a man . who asked him to drink. Such
is the sympathy of theie barbarians= for our sick
and wanuded,,soldjer „There, howeyer, Mrs.
Judge 'Brewer and, her :family, ' NM Governor
Bradford, and,a few other loyal , Christian,ladies
went . to work, and. b'efore the:hospital was estab
lished:took,'eare:of our siek, cookedforlhemin
their own kitehens, - and ast their own expense,
and .now'fake charge of the kitehens'of the loyi
diet patients, and personally Superintend the,
preparatiOnnf Chalk
lain, is a devoted servant of Him Who went about''
doing good ;„apti: the surgeon y in pharge,
Gehty,.is :: ! .gent,littian , of rare , ' executive ability,-
and has. his city of the sick.in:perfect Order—.
post-dffice,, readintroomi laundry,-medic al and"
eidinary stores, s nurses, and .all admirably ar-,
ringed. Chaplain. Ambler; 67th PenniYlVania;
also faithfully labors in his regiment and in the ,
General Hoipital: Rev. W. W. Parker'is now
there assisting the_ehaplain in behalf of the
Commission. We have thirty boxes of stores
and, books there:
:While there, Iwitnessed,4 may Bay,' the eon,:
version of a noble young man, wounded in the'
arm. The chaplain visits eaeh bed weekly, and
if the occupant igl i aat of doors, leaves. trace in'
his bed. He left in this young. man's bad a leaf
with the Hymn,
• .
We"re going home to heaven above
Wilfyou go?"
He came in, took up the tract,.read.it, took
out his pencil, and wrote "By the grace ,of • God
I'll try .t o . g o "—signed his name, and . company,
and regiment, and. handed it in to'the chaplain;
- froth whorn I obtained the tract thus endorstit.
I `SAW flied stand` in prayer-meeting next'eve
ening, heard s him say, "I am not ashamed
of Christ; but int heartily ashamed of myself
for being so long ashamed of Him" Surely this
one instance is worth all our pains and cost of
tract distribution.
In reply to my inquiry, another fine grenadier
of a Michigan •Regiment said, that he felt. no
anxiety about himself during the five:. days he
was engaged; as he was a believer in the good
doctrine, that God foreordains all things, whatso
se.
ever comes to pass, and had committed the
psalm book to memory in his childhood. Hav
ing lost his knapsack as most of the wounded
did, in the retreat containing his little Bible with
the psalms, I supplied that deficiency. Our
Chiistian soldiers take greatly to the Psalms.
Further incidents next week. - •
(FOr the American Fieshyterian.)
A WOEirlil;:
NEWPORT NEWS, VA.,
July 29, 1862. -
Editor .American Presbyteriaq w
DEAR Bacrraza.:—Excuse my freedom in ap
pealing to you in behalf of nearly five hundred
sick, and-wounded soldiers here, who are the ob- •
jects °flu) , special care and attention. , On en
tering upon. the duties assigned me. here last,
week [ fOuiid three'hundred men with but little
reading matter of any ,kind. Since then, we
have received one hundred and forty-four from
the tobacco prisons at ltiebinooa,• many of . them. ; .
entirely destitute, ,not.unly 'of reading , matter, but
almost of every thing. We have, made them as
comfortable, aei we can, and it seeins to•many a ••
paradiie compared with the place they hiiie left
They represent the rebels who had them in
charge as heartily sick of the war.
Nov if iou can send me . a;Thiindie l of Yditi
iier•for tliPod, of 9ieSepoble soldiers who hays,,
fought and ble(rfor (AT •01._litrY.1 .may be
meaos ofgrest,good. The, benesolentare : t4
•terest themse,lyes in thisbehWtot the worlc.viill
not be•done;. as we, have no finds -for the pur
pose. "And then I wish you to personally 'ask
the publishers of good books to aid us in fepu
lag a U.S. Hospital Library at this place.
If it were , necessary to arouse the sympathy of
benevolent hearts` I might state many interesting
faets, constantly.
,con2iing under my notice. It
is only ,a day or two since I; found a sick man
who was so much interested, about •his soul he
could only say a few 'words and weep, now be is
rejoicing in the is of everlasting life. Ano
ther is interested to tell me how wicked lie was
before he enlisted, and how changed he is now
i`that his hear(has enlisted in the service of the
captain of our salvation. Trusting, my brother,
that you will be able to aid,me in , providing for
,the spiritual, wants, of there afflicted soldiers .I
lam as ever., - .
Yours, for:God and my Country,
• , •
.W..W. MEzon,„
.12fospiial;Chailain
[We Ihearthy second :this appeal."lt is but one
,
of many:that , came to our Presbyterian House,
addressed to Us arid t - cr' the 'Presbyterian Pribliea
tiou Cemtnittee. not our friends enable riS
to meet such calla? A small supply of books
lately sent to POrtsmouth, Hospital,
by the Committee was most gladly;received by
the dhaplain. Whilst some Hosititals are well
supplied, others are overlooked ; In our own city
we have a great field of effort—nearly twenty
hospitals: •
'Donstiens.sent eitherto us, or to the Presby
terian 'Thiblioation - Committee, will be applied,
according to the directions'a thedonors.
is, no reason why our people shbuld'nof use I their"
own organs in doiug.goOd.l7---D.
Ainer'icaai Pr4b,yter7tin.)
THE LORD'S; Wiimit---ta,- - viuor Is IT?
• ,
Oua " Army of the PotOM'ao, " so long prepar
ing, so ticirOughly trained; lb well appointed, so
proudly : ,..and doubtless so justly, pronounced one
of thrifineit.annies that, was ever led against an
enemy,:found•iteelf one month ago, in front of,
the. xebel.Capital; met by. an army which was
able"to . prevent its triumphant advance; and com
pel it, to.retiratowhat is indeed claimed to be a
better position, but 'which, at least is farther from:
the goal, having suffered fearful loss, only infe-•
rior to that which inflicted, there to wait,
throUgh, weary weeks , of summer, until it can be"'
strengthened andpreparad for another fierce, and
desperattand, we hope, th,e final struggle.
Why must that noble army—nobler in its
patient eaduirtince, and bravely upbearing under
disaster, than easy victory could .have proved it
= int why, xnust the nation of which that army
was tha pride, suffer this bitter disappointment;
this hiiiirfAiickenitig deferring ',of 'ita hip's?
Was. it, perhaps,, bepanse that army was our
prlde,,and our boast, and lg trusted, in
it, f end. its. leadcrimore than ~
:Did he,
and they, and we-all, need tO : bennbled and
chastened, and , taught to ; look ,more directly,
more simply, more, constantly,- to God ? Did
Ckid Mean to' compel us, ancl'thime who publicly
represent us, to acknowledget:ginl more
and, more explicitly ? ' ' •
'The yointg commander of that army ; ' since,
•
such great, responsibilities were rine,ipeoted)y,
laid. tipon him, has mkt! m a it'hecoming
,•ackno,w3,
lecigments. of God ' -°'ithe f3olo, : ,mitroy Juid ,og
tiattlesi , ':' according to his vain immortal phrase:
H . *); .done so in admiribleiordersi,'enjoin , :
lug' Akio the alniydub inispeottoe God's holy
44; and fof His iacriill'oiklizian s cos:f arid• he hiur
d ins so` (is .were sat en edlly infoimed) iii
lbws;", •
extlyOstoil to . a friepd r 1 of hi; habitual sense ARO of divine upholding, and slesirefor eon
stink remembrance ..in the prayers;or hrin
tian countrymen. ,
_ls it not strange, that- irabe.,very crisis of hi;
oWn sindliis army's historyiis.the two thrilling;
; Aid' otheiwise admirittoli'ltdclrosSes to. his army
-one issued when" lie 10'-fiiit placed them in
fieo -. c:fltitimend; an the 'caliefiller that
blo . ody week of `battles, . by wbii lx Oey'itebieN;ed
4,eir. Few w9rd 'of
•
acknowledgment of„l , ipmdetiqtt
.mention -; of. His .E44457:7 11 9 . TP 8 90, 1 440# of His
providence? ;.• • •• 4 ' • •1:
cannot that': has ,, folr•
gotten God. I trust . that bicheart 'truly feils
What his pen failocdt.tio qitter2 l 'ft has been Sig
ggsted thut May have p*posely: refrioinio
from religions' eiiressions;'..lest'they shOuld'te
taken for cant, or . for hypeerisy, or because he
felt that such expressions had been spoiled of
their proper significance by. the desecration Of
them in the' manifestoes of the rebel leader
against whom God and his country had sent him.
would fain choose the most avorable iinterpre
tstion, but the most favorable which has ceeurred
to me does not relieve my mind from the ittipreS
sion that such an omission, on the part of 'a
Christian commander, addressing, the army of a
Christian people, at so solemn and momentus a
crisis, is " a grievous fault," slid likely to be
" grievously answered, " under the. providence
of Him who - calls Himself " ajealoss
and who •solemnly says, will not giielmy
glory to' another "z=it Gad who; boil* stiodthein
• . •;1", , •
17IZZEMEI
positi3n and excellence, will 4 , hebooves 1140
insist upon being duly, acknowledged. by . . ; those
who depend upon His help and .favor, fer, the
'success of their cause.
I join not the outcry that some have raised
against this General—the censure of his delays,
the ridienTW'O'fliiirStrategY, the criticism hiS
plans. lam not competent to criticise the plans
of an educated military officer, and I protest
against the preialent tendeneY to hasty and
'harsh judgments of tbe men who " stand be
tween our loved licimes - and the War's desolation,"
venturing their lives, and' their dearer reputa
tion, in the 'cause of our country. In respect to
the remarkable'emission to which I haVe referred;
in the later addresses to the Armyy`of the Poto
mac?' make no judgment Of their author's motives.
I pronounced no censure upon shim -- bit I
de fear that " the. Lord our God," " jealOits,
now as ever, for the honor.of His name,selerunly,
regardful; now as ever, of what is 'due to.-Him.
from His servants; is, displeased at such -nfailure
toncknowledge Him, and is.'chastenineoitr Gen.
eral for it. May; his future furnish an illustra
tion of the truth ',that ".whom the Lord loveth;
He` chasteneth,"' - fiCtfng them thus l for the ,gle
rioui work, to which He hath choSen them.=
GTuE•Orifiqs ‘ Ol..Of our correspondent. is . a fair
one. la quite profane that Iv desire . to,' avoid,
the appearatee of _cant and' hyYoerisy may . liavO.
led tOn'negleet these iaild
other'nrilifaiY : orderi. gat 'Goa must be`a4aw-'
• , ~ • =1" -
ledged. '
Nor should we leek at this as the sin of an in
diviilual: Our sin, as a peOple is that we do not
sufficiently aCknowledge .our entire, dependence
upon God. We must acknowledge him. We must
see and; know that . all our help comes from him.
Christians have grown greatly, during our •trials,
in'this grace of submission looking to God. Yet
they have not all learned the lesson ; irbilst the
irreligious masses around them still beast, and
still look only to human' strength for deliverance.
Sdnae trust in ahariOta and some in, b[orse,s
burive will - remember the name of , the Lord our,
God 7 " Wait on ,the Lord; be of good ,eourage,
and. he,shall strengthen thine heart ; wait, I, say;
out the Lord I "I—En. •
GERMANY,
THE USE HE TELE APOPItyPRA and its pub
lication as a pertion of the Scripture
with - the warning, to be sure, that "it is not equal
to Scripture 'hut useful for reeding, " are warmly
maintained by many Lutherans = and other pro
fessed 'Christians in ,Germany. Even catechisms
quote passages of the Apocrypha as proof teats T
Dr.. Ebrard is ;against this false estimate of
the book, while Dr. 'Hengstenberg and Stier
defend their use by the people.
This controversy having extended over .a
period of ten years, has not been without, fruits.
Resolutions have been passed at:clerical confer
ences, that it is the duty of Christendoin to give
to' the world the Bible bound up by itself and
without the Apocrypha, as it is forind that - the .
warning printed every Bible, "that the Apo.
crypha is not" equal to the Holy Scripture; but
useful for reading, " has not the desired effect of
keeping up the distinction between Word of God
and, word of man, - The,Elberfield Bible-Society
resolved,in December 1.853, for the future, to
circulate no Bibles ' , With the Apocrypha, either
gratuitously or at reduced prices; a clause was
added, that, for the present, on express demand;
Bibles With the Apocrypha Would be sold at' he
depot at full cost price.
In proportion as the confessinnalism, or high
Lutteranism, Makes progress in a country, the.
demand for "entire" Biblesis . the: more ,fre
quently heard. Not so much -that the, Apacry=
pha is so ;very particularly wanted, as that the
" foreign" nr " mutilated" or " defective" Bibles,'
as learned and pious 'men •are not ashamed to
call the Word of God, are refused. This -re
firial does not at all come from the people, but
from the clergy' and schoolinasters, 'Who want to,
stand well with their superior& On inquiring,
" Whp told you that the Bible was defective P',
the invariable answer is, t . " the pastor or, the
schoolmaster.", One distinguished divine of
this class adVised his‘people lately from:the pal
pit, that itanyvagabcind came into the parish—
meaning any colporteur of the British or Edin
burgh Bible Society—offering Mutilated Bibles,
they oiight to hunt the dogs on him. No'
doubt this was an outbnrst.ot what the aid Lu-
.
therans of the church militant call' their " first,
love."
Tit REVIEW:—Our Old School •neighbor,
The Presb,yterian• Standarcl, says, in noticing'the
last number of the Presbyterian Quirterly Re
view
".On the cover, of this number it is intimated
that its publication has been delayed by the ill
ness of the.editor, who it is stated has improved
in health., The incertitude of ,all earthly things
is shown•hy.the feet that while we write, scrrow
ing friends are engaged in preparations for his
funeral; and thus the. labors of Dr. Wallace in
connexion witklhis , learned journal are brought
to a
close.
" apolOgy is' presented for the length to
Which tbe . first article has been carried. ,Its title
is !,The *adjustment of Christianity,' and we,
do, not hesitate to say, that it is • one of the most
valuable papers on; the great tptestion raised by
scientific Men in opposition to- popular Christi,:
anity, which has appeared in any journal on el.:
ther side of the Atlantic. Our chief objection
to it is the factthat important points have been
passed over, rather cursorily, but the object of
the author was to present the whole subject in a
Condensed aspect, and this.he has, done in a ma*
telly production, which,extends over eighty-nine
pages. The article maphohad in pamphlet form
at the Presbyterian House, 1334 Chestnut Street.
Churl f tWO.
AN ,EX -AMPLE WOtTIIT OF
A correspondent of the Bergl4, and R econ i er
writes very goad 'things of the Church at Oxford,
Ohio:. He says : "In order that every,meniber
the church may become acquainted:wit4aod
Teel a deeper responsibility for all its Operations,,
eve haVe our annual eonovegational meeting, not
simply to elect a Board of Trustees, bit alio to
hear a fulLreport of bae,year'n doi4,4ind to con
sult about and vote upon various matters Of gen
eral interest to the chureh.' snoh a - meeting was
Iheld in our church last Monday., In the xeviov,
of the_past year it- as most ,gratifying ,- tu,know
that - death 'bad not invaded- our ranks, neither
WOL=II
AUGUST 7,
has dimension nor dissatisfaction, but all were i n
the unity of the Spirit and the bonds of p eace.
Whilst we felt that tba graces of many had been
increased, thirty-six were; reported as added to
our number, mostly by examination. The con
gregation has also so increased-that pews could
"ialiifiiiiiishkrto all who have applied for them,
so, that one, of the. items. of buiiness was to de
,
vise some method of-better pacEng, if there was
any. Arintlitir-special'ttem waithe report of the
Treasurer, which was very full and accurately
kept. The amoutt received during the year
exceeded by $2OO-all the expenses of every kind,
, and was applied to an old.debt.sf $4OO, the s um
usually carrie4,over to, the tic xt,year. This debt
was several months ago voted a nuisance, and its
removal determined upon, and the $2OO not paid
was immediately advanced by-the Trustees, an d
the new year cOmMenced free from debt. The
minister !dry paid-up to date—a report most re.
freshirki to the congregation.
" The collections for benevolent objects show
ed a corresponding advance. ..Z.Totwithstarxdin z
'the extra . calls the past. year, the regular objects
were ~ alPpiesetited 'aid responded to. The in
crease per cent over the previous year is as fol
lows
Amer. For. Cline. Union
Home Migsions
, Bible 'Came
Edoea.tiow.Cause
Foreign:Nig -
" The agreoste; increase, was 51 per cent.
Several other matters .of interest were attended
to AmOnzthem,e a vacation of four weeks was
,‘-! •
given to the ,pastor, and a social gathering, is
the- , fiirm:of a Church Picnic, was decided upon
to be 'held - some time in ,the month of August."
TECE HOLY LAND.---The Rev. H. S. Osborn,
in connection with Rev. Dr. Lyman Coleman, is
preparing a large and: splendid map of the Holy
Land, ten feet long and six broad, containing all
the verified places of 'Scripture' and scenes of in
terest most aCeniaaly delineated. Although s. O
large, it is, by an ingenious - Contrivance, arrang
ed. for: eibibitiOn on a frame of only two feet,
handsomely furnished with' rollers so that, upon
the plaSof a dierama, any part may be exhibited,
or, hy unhinging the rollers the-whole if desired.
All the Scriptural places, the classical, and
many of 'the 4nodern sites care indicated by
black,blueand yellow letters re,spePtively ; every
authentic ruin, - castle, forest or mountain range,
together with the rivers and geolegioal features,
are indicated, making the Amp the most valuable
work of, the Irind.for the student, for the Sab
hath-schoor, the library or the pastor, that has
yet 'been published: :The , work--is nearly com
plete, and * l ath Rev. , Dr;-Coleman's Biblical At
las, pow on Publidation•Qommrttee s catalogue,
trill be aniostiidnable addition i to those methods
of Bib Hal Study.
sari, Tile Evgnge
dist, " has resigned' the.cha4laincy of the First,
Minnesota-Regiment He: hasisettn.a, good deal
of service, and may be looked tipim-as a " vete
ran!! His date regiment, though Wparticipant
in nearly every 'struggle of the week of battles
On the'Peninsula, is yet good 'state of effi
ciency, and reports six or seven hundred men in
the ranks. ,At the battle of Bill Run, a year
,
ago, through ,the carelessness of some one who
mistook his baggage for, thatof an officer, and
forwarded', it to,Centreville,,, Mr.. Neill suffered
the loss of valuables to the amount of $3OO, to
say nothing of fifty'of his best sermons. What
a sacrilege, if they Were- torn up to light secesh
segars duritig the enemrs long occupation of the
battle-fieldl the withdrawnl of such faithful,
conscientious, and able men as Mr. Neil from
the.chaplainey is a public loss;, yet, considering
the length and the dangers of his service, we
think he is entitled to a most honorable dis
charge."
We are happy to state that - Mr.:lleill has been
appointed one, of 'the Heapitar , Chaplains fur
Philadelphia. He thinks that he'cin be of more
service to the men when the Hospitals than
when - . itt the field and engaged, in active service
•
SHARON CaIIYROH.77-Thp Sharon (Ohio) Prei
,
byterian church has._ been lately repainted and
refurnished, and greatly improved in appearance.
It is now.a neat, .house of,;worship, conunodiou.i
and pleasant The Rev- John 'Hussey is pastor.
in conjunction with the church at Leekland.
The. metnhers have exhOited, good taste in alt
they have done .and indomitahle energy. The
two churches: also reeentlY made their pas
tor a substantial v'i'sit:
Arreki.AT PA - M.—Rev. F. A. No
ble was ordained and installed paitor of the
" Houser of give St.,Paul Minn. on the
, r 7
16th inet,: Sermon by,.Rev, John Mattocks, of
the FirskPreshyterian eltureh; ordaining prayer
and, charge:to tla6- pester by, Rev. Marcus Hicks,
of St Cloud; charge' to the people by Rev. it.
B. Bull; of Stillwater. -
gittv fubliationo.
.
Evanv Sabbath School Superintendent as
least, should be acquainted with Henry Hoyt's
list of helps of - various kinds in the work of in
struction, "and =of books for the Library. He has
just issued in qhf fornier "I+Arr x ANP
Wonlin,or questions upon Ephesians and Jame ,
a - little : Manual which shows Marksofgreat care
and skill in `..the preparationw hich 'II
a
much to facilitate the introduction of these epl;-
ties to the more: advanced classes ; of the Sabbath
School. I . the line'of library -.books, or relig
ious books, for :the young' generally, we bave
" 'Uncle Jabez,'! a very remarkable and skilfaily
written story, in 'which Christian simplicity and
eha.ritiare well contrasted ` with the utter zneatines
and i aoallms ness of avarice_ . "`Rose Darling " it
a goOd• story df, and for, a large class, somewbt
neglected by writers of juvenile books---servant
girls. Fors frileLby W. S. &A. Martien.
considerably talked of in some
circles : this city, Dr. Wm. Morris by name.
has written a volume of - 1/9 12 mo. pages with
the title WHAT IS MAN. It purports to b'
:published by the " Scriptural Knowledge Soeie
ty,Y another name we presume for the compan y'
of annibilationists whom the author has gathere.
'around him. The single notion of the annibila.-
„ ti fto •-the wicked does not appear in half its de
formity and objectionableness until we come to coa
-1 cider the method by which it is sustained. TheY
,who are,feceiving the terribly perverted exposit
-lons nf Scripture which the book contains, must bc
suffering a general breating up of the foundation•
of belief to say nothing of the undermining €
their - common sense. The pions sentiments all
- fragments of truth floating' through the argumer
cannot countervail, the destructive tendency,
ainterpietation Which so wrests and breaks
simple force of Scripture itself. We deplore it':
effect of Ch . * heresy upon some minds in our 0 01
and other :Evangelical churches in this city.
7 per cent
50 tt "
42 "
117 "
45 CC Ct