BECOME A 5 FIVER SA R Y
OF, THE
“" TI. 8. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.
Immense Meeting in the American Acade
my of Music, Philadelphia.
JTOBLE TESTIMOHY FROM DISTIN
GUISHED GENERALS 1: AND OTHERS.
[Specially reported for our columns.]
There have been few, if any, meetings, of a
religious character claiming-sucH a large.share
of public interest and attention as the second
anniversary of the TJ. S. Christian Commis
sion, held in the beautiful and commodious
Academy of Music, in this city, on the even
ing of the 280£ of'January. From the time
the, firsbintimation vras given to. the public that
such a meeting was to be held, up to the very
Hour that it took place, the demand for tickets
of admission was entirely unprecedented. . We
know associations and institutions which have
grown old holding anniversaries, and they halve
often found it difficult to get a sufficient num
ber of persons interested to fill an ordinary
sized hall. The great difficulty experienced,
by the members of the Christian Commission
was the impossibility of, getting a building of
auch enormous capacity as would accommodate
all who wished to be present. The Academy
of .Music has the largest auditorium of any
building in this city, of, we .'believe, in the
country. When filled as it was on Thursday
evening it'can accommodate between' four and
five thousand persons, and yet: thousands,
eager to attend, were unable to gain admission.
Large delegations, composed of gentlemen emi
nent in the waits of feligion an'd' business, and
foremost in the Reading enterprises of the
church, were present from Boston, New York,
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis,
Detroit, Rochester, and othee
Such an audience ne^er,'before: assembled
within the walls of tne’Academy since Its.dedi
cation. When the full glare of the numerous
gfta jofe in the magnifi<Knt l chandelier lit up the
vast audience chamber, the scene presented
■rtaS of the most brilliant and interesting cha
racter. ' Every seat in the house was occupied,
and standing room w»s diijigult of, obtaining,
even in the more remote parts of‘the'house.
The house itself was unusually attractive.
Around the front of the balcony and family
circle were Araped continuous folds of the tri
color, and looped in graceful festoonings, and
heavy flags formed ttellbaek ground of the
platform, while ~State and ( 4?*tio«al'
standards were arranged' around the sides of
the proscenium boxes, the fronts'of wliieh were
coveted with the stats stripes. It was a
grand ‘pageant, exhibitingtip every variety the
oojors that
the Red', White, and Blue; 'Thp;platform ,was :
occupied by- a of v the :
clergy of the city, among them being some Of
the must prominent divines in the community*;
together-with a number of our most eminent
citizens. The Germania Orchestra, one of the
finest in the country, wasp, resent and enlivened
the pcoasion with selepljipps. of
Some idea of Ihe interesting, character of
the meeting may be obtained when it,is .stated
that the vast assembly sat from seven till, half
patt eleven o’clock, and eveb at that late hour
the interest did not seem‘ diminished. The
f . ’■ ' . r t .. ,J !- .
addresses.as our will lcarn from our
▼ery /full report, were ypfr the most thrilling
character.': Majbr-Ge'nOralHoward, freChfrorri
the heroic fields of Chattanooga and Lookout
Mountain, stood before .tbeimmcnse audience,
with his armless coat sleeve pinned to his side,
and bore' U'glorioub te6tihioiii T ’to the power of
the Gospel and Gross of Jesus Christ. When
he arose to speak, the scene .presented'defied
description. The whole assembly arose-.to their
feet. Hats and handkerchiefs were waved,
amid the most unbounded enthusiasm. Sel
dom have we seen a more hearty ovation than
was tendered this gallant soldier of the Union
and of the. Cross of Christ, A lady, who was
present oh- the dccasiori,-'sent; next day, to
George.H. Stuart, Chairman of the Commis
sion, a - Kundrfed dollars, with an interesting
letter, from which we make.a single extract: —
11 1 esteem it a'privilege.: to have attended
the meeting, to listen jto those interesting ad
dresses, ana to have witnessed the enthusiasm
of feeling manifested; but above every thing
else, to have been permitted to hear the testi
mony of such a man as General Howard, in
favor of our holy, religion. To me that was
one of fhAgreatest Sermons I have ever heard.
If we many;’such men as he in the army,
we may surely look for the favor atid blessing
of Gdd. With him; I Isay, 1 God* the
Christian Ooijnnjssion,’;which,
not neglect the bodies of our soldiers,
cares especially for th|irj souls.”
As might he expected, the meeting was full
of true patriotism. Every allusion toiotit com
mon nationality, the'President of the United
States,.the old fl|g, find the brave iiien who
defend it on land : anp sea, called forth hearty
tokens of appxtajj. f .6 ■
At 7J o'clockpGeorge H.Stuart, Esq., Presi
dent of the Christian Commission, came for
ward and said :
Ladies akd ■ Genti-emen:—We shall: com
mence'the exercises of the second anniversary
of the United States Christian Commission for
the Army and Navy, by calling upon Mr. John
Bower toleadthe audience in singing God’s
praise in the first hymn on the programme.
The immense assembly then arose and, assist
ed by the. Germania Orchestra, united in sing
ing, to the tune of “ Old Hundred,” the follow
ing hymn: • V
Lord, while for.ail mankind we pray,
• Of every clime and coast, , .
0h hear us lor our native lard, —
The land we love tbe'jnost.
Oh guard our shores from eyery foe;
With pease .our borders-Hess—
:Onr oitiee-with prosperity, ’ '
■ Our'fleldsjbVith pfeuteousnese.
Unite us In',tße "sacred love
. Of knowledge, truth and thee, ,
And let our hills and, valleys'chant
The songs of liberty. *
Lord of the nations, thug to .thee -
Our country we commend"; ~ k
hei’frußt-
Her g. friend; *.
At the.close of the singing, Mr. Stuart said:
I had hoped to have been relieved from oc
cupying the chair this evening. The Committee
of Arrangements tendered that position to his
Excellency, Governor Curtin; and we had hoped
that his official,, duties would have permitted
him to comply with our invitation. The fol.
lowing letter, however, will give the reasons
for his absence. • ■ , ' ' i
GOVERNOR CURTIN’S LETTER,
Executive Chamber, Harrisburg, Pa.,
Jan. 23d,-1864.— George H. Stuart, Esq.,
Chairman, &c. Dear Sir: —Your very hind
letters of the 12th and 21st instants, inviting
me to preside at the anniversary meeting of
the United States Christian Commission, to
be held at the Academy of Music, in Phila
delphia, on Thursday evening, January, 28th,
have been received and' answered briefly by
telegraph. I find, upon consideration, that
my public duties during the ensuing week will
be such as to prevent my attendance at your
meeting. is ■ •
Believe me when I say. tlrpt I feel highly
honored by the preference shown by your
iCqmmission, and that I regret deeply that it
iSjORt ;of my power to lend my voice, on'the,
interesting occasion referred to. ,1 have long,
known your wide spread usefulness and bene
volence, and have looked .on.with pride and
pleasure when your agents, were ministering
to the comforts _ and welfare of the defenders
of the Constitution.
1 felt it my duty after each of the sangui
nary conflicts of Antietam,. Fredericksburg,
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, to visit the
Army of the Potomae and look after the
comfort of our men, and while I confess that
my heart sank -within me at the contempla
tion of scenes so terrific;and so far beyond all
description, it was ; gladdened by witnessing
the calm courage with which wounds.ahd dis
ease/wCrfe 1 horde by our soldiery, and the un
ceasing efforts of the benevolent and good in
their ministrations for the:partial?alleviation
of the distressed. Among the foremost in
discharge of these sacred- and self-sacrificing
duties I saw the Christian Commission.
, So long as this War lasts may yob continue
your career of usefulness ■ ant good, sustained
by the means of the affluent, and the prayers
and blessings of those ,to whom you have
proved benefactors.
I am sir, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, A. G. Curtin.
Opening Remarks of the Chairman.
After reading the above letter, .-Mr. Stuart
said: '
My friends, I decline occupying your valua
ble time by any remarks of iny own: I may
observe,’however, that this interesting occa;
sion: is one which calls for your profound
gratitude to God, for we are constrained to
believe that thehand of Providence has marked
this organization from the day'that it had its
birth down to the-present moment. I therefore
ask you to : unite with the Rev. Dr. Mnsgrave,.
of this, city, in giving thanks to God for the
means by which He has’ enabled you; during
the past year, to carry the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the noble men.whp.are defending, the
Stars and, Stripes, ef .onribeloybd country, (ap
plause) and also to invoke Heaven’s blessing
upon our nation, during the present desperate
struggle for-national- unityj-and- to-ask that
'those noble defenders of our country may be
sustained and upheld on every field of battle!
Prayer by Rev. Geo. W. Musgrave, Di D.
Oh, great God, the-Father offlighty from whom
cometji every good, and perfect gift, weeaf
nestly implore fThy
We thank Thee that'TKdu-hats-ipermitted Thy
servants to on.this,, the second anni
versary of the Christian iCbminission, iinder'cirt ’
cumstanbes so highly endouraiging. We bless
Thee for the organization of this Christian Com
mission/- -We bless'Thee forajl the-ptfiSmthropy
and Christian love which have characterized the
labors of Thy servants; and we rejoicearid give'
Thee thanks for the. immeasurable good that
has beer, accomplished by.its; instrumentality,,
for the thousands whose physical sufferings and
wants have been relieved and : supplied, -and e s
pecially for the hundreds who have been hope
fully converted to God and made the heirs of
eternal life. We invoke Thy continued favors
and'blessings upon this institution. WiitT-tiou'
give wisdom and grace to its President, tS'all its
officers dn.d managers, to aU'itßrepresentatives‘l
And do Thou crowh with Thy blessing all their
efforts to do good.
And we praise Thee for, the liberality which
has sustained this institution thus far. ' We in
voke the blessing of Godupon this people' and
pray that they may feel the truth of the’ divine
declaration, “It is more blessed'io-give than.to
receive.” And we pray that God would em
ploy this asseciation still more and 'morey
its sphere of usefulness may be extended: and'
that it may not only relieve the temporal wants,
of men but that it may be especially • insjHi- ?
mental in spreading the knowledge ■ off; the-i
Truth.as it is in Jesus and in .leading iunltihides’'
to the Cross of Christ. We, pray for tjiy blessii
ing on our beloved country. WelJikank ;God
that we are still a nation; that! onri^Svefnment
has been providentially preserved. A-id we re
joice, this night, that: under,jifS; protection we
can meet in safety and engage in these patriotic
efforts. . "
Bless our respected and beloved Chief Ma.-,
gistrate, the President of the United States.
Do Thou give him wisdom and strength that he
may-faiffifullyand‘successfully discharge All his
official duties. Do Thou bless his admintration
and make it a blessing to this great country.
We pray Thee to preside over the deliberations
of our National Congress. Do Thou guide them.
Aid them in the adoption of wise laws and ne
cessary measures. Rebuke all factious opposi
tion to the government and make all our pub
lic-servants truly patriotic. And we praise God
for the loyalty of the masses of the people and
beseech Thee to give us all faith and fortafede
i and courage and perseverance,. -'Make the peo
ple willing to. endure all things, to submit to
every necessary 'sacrifice, to put forth all ne
cessary efforts to sustain the government, to
preserve our country undivided, to restore
peace, harmony and prosperity to our whole
land. 0 Lord, bring this civil war. to a speedy
close by subduing the rebels in arms, by bang
ing them to see the folly, the wickedness, the
desperation oftheir rebellion. Do Thou quicken
their consciences that they may realize that
their treason is a crime against their country
not Only, but a crime against the Almighty him
self, that they are resisting bis servants, his di- :
vinely established ordinance.
And d,o Thou, bless onr army and our navy. .
Give their commanders skill and-courage and ’
PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, EEBRUAEY 4, 1 8 64.
success. Bless all the people of our land that
they maybe patient, that they may be faithful to
suffer, if needs be, death itseli in the support
of a righteous cause. And we pray Thee to
give them strength and courage in the hour- of
conflict ; and grant them decisive victory: The
Lord bless the sick and the wounded connected
with our army and navy; And do Thou mi
nister to their, wants; comfort them in their dis
tress, spare their lives if consistent with Thy
will. 1 Butif appointed to die, prepare them for
that solemn event and take them to. Thyself in
heaven. Now, Lord, we ask Thy blessing upon
those who shall address this large assembly.
Db'.Thbu give thhm wisdom that their words,
their thoughts, their sentiments may be ap
proved, off God and be made useful t§ all who
■hear them. Do Thou bless the people here
piesent. Make us all yet more and, more pa
triotic. Help us to seek the glory of .‘God, the
welfare of our country and, the happihfe of our
race—r Which We,-ask, with the pardon of our,
sins; wholly in the name and for the sake of
Jesus Christ, - our Mediator and Redeemer;
Ainep. . .
Reading-the Scriptures by Rev. Benjamin
.The -Rev. Dr. Watson, of this city, was then
introduced, ahd proceeded to read the XXY
chapter, of the gospel, as recorded by Matthew,
from the 31st verse to, of the chapter.
Mr. Stuart— Yeliave received a number
of letters which will be published in the report
of the proceedings of this anniversary. . I will
not take up the time of the meeting further
than simply to refer to; one or. two of them.
The letter I hold in-my hand is from the Secre
tary of State, Hon. Williain -H. Seward. ■,
SECRETARY SEWARD'S LETTER.-
* ’Department of State, Washington,’
January 23d, 1864;—T0 George H? Stuart,
Chairman United States, Christian Commis
sion, No. l?3Bank Street, Philadelphia.—My
Dear Sir: —I rejoice more than I can express
in the manifestations which appear 'in ,$6
many quarters,’ that the “social and religious
forces of the country are being diverteairom
the. .unprofitable and hurtful controversies,
with' which this great national trial- of ours
opened, _ to ah earnest, popular, harmonious 1
and, united; co-operation with the President,
the Congress, the Army and the Nayy. the
loyal States, the loyal Governors, the loyal
Courts, the loyal Ministers, the loyal Consuls,
the loyal Doctors, the ; loyal Clergy, the loyal
Teachers, and the loykl Pi-ess in maintaining
this Union in its broadest proportions, and
upon its impregnable material and moral
foundations, against all’ assaults at home or
from abroad. ;It is the only true way now to.
preserve either national or individual prospe
rity, or civilor religious freedom. ; ;
: Relief to the sufferers and consolation to the.
mourners in the cause, is a suggestion equally
pf'patridtisin and of Christianity. If it were
possible, : therefore, I would be with 'the
C'hristian,Oommission, not only, in its proposed
demonstration here, but also in its projected
celebration in Philadelphia-; -I would be with
it, and with the - Sanitary, C.ommjssiop,; with
the Freedmen’S Association, and with all the?
other noble charities which are springing ujl/
among us,; always, and, wherever they might lx.
found. In f this,great struggle I know ho loyal
and humaite association with'which I do hdt
delight to -fraternize with- my whole soul, heart’
and mind. • I am, dear sir,
• Yery obedieqt servant,
.. i: iWmLTAsr'H.' SeWard.
- The following-letter-was; received' from the
Hon. S. P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury.
SECRETARY -CHASE’S'LETTER., p,
?toEASURY/DEpARTSfENT, January 14th,
■lB64.— My Dear Sir:-rThe-profound .interest
I; feel ih the work of the Christian ComnffiSfbii'
makes! me :very desiroufe iortee'present with
you on the 28th instent, if praqtiqable., I,fete-,.
hbwfeVef, that itaperative quttes 1 here,will pfe
ventdti ft Vonte most truly; ? kr-i
.S.,P;;Chase...V
? M:R ;S®ui!BT-r i -"W?e Hadr.expected;td:have ot(
the platform this evening, that distinguished
son of Pennsylvania, General Meade, (applause)
Within :the past Bout,; we impressed General
Howard, one of his gallant Corps commanders,
into our service. General Meade deeply'regret®
; his inability to-be-present; and'he has sent-?a
note, written by his; son, which, being short, I
will roadyou. ... . ...•
• GENERAL MEADE'S LETTER, “
■ No-'2037 Pine Street, 'Jan!‘26th, 1864.
Geo. H. STUART,"CHairman’'’'U. S:?C.-C.:—
Dear Sir : —My father requests me,to acknow
ledge the receipt of. your, invitation'to' be pre-?
sen't at'the Second Anniversary of the Chris;
tian Commissioii, next Thursday evening?,
The;General, as you are probably aware*, has
been very sick, and delayed answering your
note in the hope that ho might be sufficiently
recovered to- be,present at 'the : anniverSagy.'
He was anxious to show,by his presence,
the interest he felt in the. good work of the
: Commission. ■■ He now desires ; me to’ ; 'stkte :
:fhat;it.will be .impossible for him to beipreft
sent. He is very much better,.Jbjit will be
confined to’the Abuse for several dir?s yet.~ ‘
Yerytruly yours, J; Sergeant, Meade;
Mi^^kuApT:—Let us pray to .God'.that his
life may be long spared to the country.! r
We had hoped to have the pleasnije of haying
Upon “the platform, as one of the speakers this
evening,'that apd gallant son of
the navy, -Admifal’ Duponf. He sends us a’
-letter, which, being'also short, I ask the liberty
of reading: ; uri
admiral dupont’s letter.
LomaEßg," near.WilmingtoN;, Del. Jan.
9,1864; — : My Dear Sir:—l have (he pleasure
to acknowledge your communication or the 6th.
inst., informing me that I had been recently
selected by the Executive Committee of the
United States Christian Commission to repre
sent the nayy at the approaching anniversary
of their organization.
I have followed with deep interest the work
of the Christian Comtnisssion during this Re
bellion—a work worthy of the Chairman and
of its other active members, and I hope it will
not be considered as any diminution of this in
terest on my part that I am compelled to de
cline the gratifying invitation extended to me.
Will yon do me the favor to present my
thanks to the Executive Committee, with my
heartfelt wishes for the success of their most
laudable endeavors which have already done
so much good. and which I shall deem it; a:
privilege to promote. ...r ...
Believe me, dear sir, yours, most truly,
t S. F. Dupont.'
Geor-H, Stuart, Esq. Chairman Christian
Commission, Philadelphia,
: Mb, SruxaT.— -TheJ£letter . ; was;3tcconiptfiniba
by R handsome check,, whicht was sent to our
Treasurer.: (Applause.) : .kU
The next'thing’upon tWC ‘programme is the
Watson, D. D.
reading of the Abstract of the Annual Report.
We shall dispense with this, as the audience
will find it upon the third page of the pro
gramme, and can all read it for themselves.
Abstract of the Animal Report for 1863.
Cash received at the Central Office and
Branch during the year, £358,239,29; value
of Stores donated, 385,829,07; value of
Scriptures contributed by American Bible So
ciety, 45.071,50; value of Scriptures contri
buted by British and Foreign Bible Society,
.1,677, 70; value of Railroad facilities contri
buted, 44,210,00 ; value of Telegraph facilities
contributed, 9,390;00; value ofDelegates ser
vices, 72,420,00—T0ta1,5916,837,65.
_ Cash expended in purchase Of Stores, Pub
lications, expenses of Delegates,’ &c.y $265,-
211,28; balance'on hand at Central Office, Ist
Januaty, 1864, 43,547, 41; balance on hand
at Branch office. Ist January, 1864;. 49,480,-
6Q; Christian Ministers and. Laymen commis-,
sioned to minister to men on Battle-fields and
Camps, Hospitals, and Ships during the year,'
1,207; copies of Scriptures distributed, 465,-
715; v. Hymn and Psalm Books distributed,
371,859; .Knapsack Books distributed; 1,254,-
5.91,; Library Books distributed, 39,713; Ma
gazines; and Pamphlets distributed, 120,492,;
Religious Newspapers distributed,, 2,931,469;
pages of Tracts distributed, 11,976,722; Si
lent. Copiforters, &c. , distributed, 3,285.
The .increasing work’of the Commission is
drawing heavily upon the Treasury from day
to.day. The balance on hand is small com
pared with the prospective. demands of the
winter and spring.
NECESSITIES JIET,
1. The necessity for a living link by living
messengers going and returning between the
home and the field.
2. That for full-handed, full-hearted dele
gates from home' to seek the the
sick, the worn, the wounded, wherever they
they might be found,, and .give them the per
sonal cheer, sympathy, and relief they require.
3. That for Stores to fill the hands of these
delegates with the means of immediate .per
sonal relief, by counsel and consent of surgeons,
id every case of want and suffering they can
find. 'ir.’ A: v
4. That for a special corps of minute men
to send .to. the field in time of battle, with am
ple battle-field stores to.relieve the weary, aid
the surgeons in saving the wounded, give
comfort aud counsel to the dying, and Chris
tian burial to the dead, maik their graves, and
transmit tenderly the sad tokens of love and
intelligence of death to the bereaved at home.
; 5. That for. securing and sending reading
matter, constant, various, and fresh from tbe
preSS of the various denominations, to alleviate
the famine for something to read incident to
military life and the vicissitudes of war.
16. That for ministerial laborers to supply
the lack of chaplain service in the large part
of our forces 'h aving no chaplains. .
7. That of aid and cheer to chaplains in the
service by supplying them on the ground with,
the Scriptures, books, papers, Una tracts, for
use and distribution, by. indispensable assis
! tance. in erecting chapels; and by the. personal
services: as required, of.ministerial- ahd lay
delegates in benefitting their men.
8. That of filling the hands and strengthen
ing tl)e. hearts of good men in the service,
surgeons, officers and privates, in their efforts
to aojrood to those'around them.
; 9: That of ah agency for a thorough, con
? tinuoiis, systematic distribution of the Scrip
tures furnished by the American ißible Society; :
land reading matter from, all sources beyond
..thpse,portions of: our! National- forqeß.whieh
may b.e supplied through chaplains and others
in the'“service. , , . .. .
. j, im ; PBINOIELES OF ACTION. ;..'
; T.: iGatholicity: v : ■ b * "
11. Nationality.- : ! . ■' • '
J The church of Chris tof various names united !
in Behalf of the men. of e very State'gone to
thewat; , '
? 111. Voluntariness'. : ' :
i : Services of members of the "Commission,
iand its numerous branches with their chief
'executive officers, the use of offices and; store
rooms. The supply of? all the SordptifrCs ire
squired from the American; Bible ? Spciefy, gnd
ailarge fimount of publications, and'stores from
lithe religibus; press.and,. the pebple? ' The reg
,plated freedom of 20,000 rtiiles of railway and
,201000 miles oftelegraph; and the services of
more than 1500 ministers and laymen as d'ele
fßteskrall without pajj freely received,.freely
estewed.
. IY. Combination of benefits for body and
soul;'; ‘- ,
Y Reliahce upon men, Christian ministers
and laynien; mainly as the. agency for giving
the benefits heeded to tbe men in the fidd.'
. YI: Rersonal distribution with persOhal
ministrations. Stores given. - Never, if the
soldier, ig , under the surgeon’ s care without his
counsel and. consent, but ’always if .possible
directly by the delegate to the soldier. And
always 1 adding such personal service and reli
gious'counsel to the'Value bf the gift as the
case demands. - 1 , ; !
Yllf'iClo-Dperation with chaplains,surgeons,
officers and;alljgpqd. pien, _by. aupplyiiig and
aidinglhem io benefit thpse ground them.
YULl.^Respect.for authorities,. National,
medical. Strengthening confi
dence ingfche-Government, add faith’rn God
for ,6b e suppression Of the rebellion. And in
structing all delegates .to report to and coun
sel with, those; in-,authority,- wherever they go,
4nd ,obsejw,e‘eyery regulation egtablished, ,and
to repeat ,or report any thing affecting ;
public Or personal interest® without consent of,
tho'Se coneerned or in command.
Mk , ..STUART. r -I, have the pleasure of intro
ducing Bisiiop E. S, J anes, D. D-, of New York,
one of thejfqunders of tbe'U. S-ftGbristian-Com
mission, and one. from whom the Commission
has:derived;mueh' valnablehounSel and assist?
ance. :fj ■ f 1 ‘ ' :i: ■ '■ "■ ■ ■ - ’■
’ l5 j j 4 Bishop Janes's Statement,......
Among -the necessities of mankind, pressed
upon at all times and.under,all circumstances,
the want of daily, bread, the want of intellectual
food, the want of social enjoyment, the want of
a divipe religion are felt to be necessities of every
day aii'd'kvery place. Certain, circumstances
of need, and peculiar emergencies, demand to
be met with peculiar and special agencies.
'Sickness requires medicineand efficient nursing.
Afflictioni or age. or peril, or ; death, enhances
the value, of Christian ministrations, and makes
our Lord and Savious Jesus Christ peculiarly
precious.
Now all of these classes of necessities exist
urgently and extensively in the army and navy
of the United States. As a class, the men who
compose our army and: navy are intelligent.
They are men who have been accustomed to
have their newspayers, their books, and to
converse with intelligent minds, and those of
intellectual habits. Many of these men have
had domestic altars, and Christian saiictiiaries
and religious -meetings which they have'che-'
rished and. enjoyed. And the want of these r is
&: painful to them in their present
.condition. A large portion of these men are
suffering in hospittals from disease and from:
wounds. ; All of them are liable to the terrible
casualties • of the battle-field, or the more in
sidious yet oftentimes .equal dangers of the
.camp. I'bejieve'that our government has ap.
ireciatefi.these necessities of our soldiers, and"
ias. done all that.it could; to relieVe them, by
its narses l surgeons and chaplains. This’ ac.
tion of toe government'has been supplemented.
to some extent and in some particulars by
generous individual effort and by benevolent
associations. Still, the intelligent, watchful
Christian young men of the country saw that
these necessities were but partially relieved,
and that some of them were not even contem.
plated by the action to which we have referred.
They consequently called a convention of
delegates from the several Christian Associa*
tions of the country, which convention, with
prayer and conference, formed the Christian
Commission for the Army and Navy, the
second anniversary, of which we are now
celebrating. -
Up to that period, there had been no general,
organized, extensive plan for the supply of
these (Treat needs. The greatness of the
necessity may be partly inferred from the
extent of the work of the Commission during
the past year, in their attempts to supply it.
In 'this work they have -circulated 465,715
copies of the Holy .Scriptures; they have
circulated over a million and a half of religious
books, some of them small; to be sure, but all of
them suited to the circumstances, of the men
for whom they were designed. They have also
distributed three millions of'magazines and
religions papers,- aird some i . twelve million
pages of tracts; , Now .I - submit to the
imagination of this congregation the-estimaie
of the greatness of the benefit which this
amount of useful reading matter has been to
the army and navy of the country For I am
sure that my words cannot state these benefit^’.
; ; It has been found: a -more difficult work to
meet the social wants of the army;’ We cannot
take to these Husbands, fathers and brothers
their homes; And ! we bave'hvo' substitutes for
their .hoines to give ,them. No. The best,
which it has been possible for us to do was to
send faithful messengers to thein, inquire into
their wants, and welfare, and report home
their condition. Thus the Christian Commis
sion has sent m ore than 1,200 of these delegates
among our soldiers with instructions to assist
the surgeons in binding up, their .wounds* Jo
nurse them in the hospitals, to administer in
connection with their bodily needs the conso
lations of the gospel, to mark the place of
their burial, and to return to surviving friends
at Home the ; last sad mementoes of the dying.
They have therefore almost uniformly been
welcomed and received as ministers of healing
and comfort, as messengers of hope and mercy.
The Christian Commission has, however, al
ways felt that, the inpral and religious interests
of the army and navy were the more important
concerns. They have therefore sent out their
delegates to.preaeh.the gospel of Christ, to fur
nish the Holy Scriptures, and the reading mat
ter to Which T Have 1 -referred: : THey have in
structed their delegates,to co-operate with the
chaplains, and as they have opportunity to
hold social meetings for prayer and religious
conversation, and in every practical way pro
mote the religious: interests of those to whom
they were sent.' And lam happy to say, to my
certain knowledge, that many men who went
into the army wicked , men, as wicked as evil
agencies could make them, have been regene
rated by the grace of God,'and haVe returned
to their homes'to adorn the-doctrine of our
Lord and Sayionr Jesus Christ. , , ....
From these statements it will be seen that in
our work we do hot neglect the physical neces
sities of the men. On the contrary, we have
given to. them the deepest,, and tenderest
sympathy; and we have given to, sufferers the
most direct, effectual, and apprdpriate minis
tries which they have received.; Butthe dele
gates remember that the men are immortal, ac
countable, that they are destined'to a life be
yond this, and the^r,'therefore: seek to promote
their Christian character, their well-being here
and hereafter,'hotb now and forever.
■TEe CSristiahrComiriission illustrates as hap
pily as ever ban be illustrated, the maxim that
charity is twice blessed,,bf>th in him who gives
and in themyrho receive,, Tjje, messages which
• have'beeif seiit By every deWgate irbrn the sol
, diers in the army to their friends at home, often
the statement of,the .fact that they died as
Christians, that they received a Christian burial
• —a statement of these facts ‘ has been hailed
with joy and thanksgiving by many hearts, and
in many homes throughout this land. '
The enlisting ahd marshalling of the im
mense armies orohr 'conntry in so short a time,'-
has been a snbliine event, that will emblazon
one of the most. wonderful pages, of -human,
history. And the movement of. these immense,
armies, because of the vastness of .the interests
in peril, and the millions of the present and the
coming'’ generations, whose welfare was in
volved, has’had an importance and solemnity
which cannot be exceeded except it be by the
interests of. eternity ■ and the, transactions of
-the Deity. And yet I question whether, in the
whole history of the war, there has been an
hour of greater interest than will' he attached
to that hour when these armies shall be dis
banded, when’ these men’ shall return home.
The introduction of'such a number of persons
into new society, into the diffrrent homes and
neighborhoods of :the country, cannot but be
pregnant with great effects, and it becomes a
question of great interest, what shall be that
effect?- These nienwill not be obscure per
sons! Every one o’fthem has a history, and a
name, and a story'; and these returning soldiers
are to have the ear of the boyhood of the nation
the next thirty years, Whitt shallbe the charac
ter of :their,communications ? Shall they be cor
rupted, .or shall they-inspire this boyhood with
noble patriotism and with love to .jGod? I
answer that the influences which they shall
exert will be strikingly in accordance with
their- character'; and their character when
they return'" home will-'be very much in har
mony with the influences that have been
thrown, around them while, they were in the
army.
This fact makes the seeding of these men
with ,the.influence of- Christian homes, thei in
fluehce of good reading, the influence of home
associations, the influence of Christian circles
and faf religious service, a matter of the in
tensest ■ moment. I say;- therefore, that the
work of this Association is a work of patriot
ism as well as a work of philanthropy and of
piety—the three highest;'attributes that ever,
ennobled a human enterprise."
This is not only; a work of usefulness and
goodness. It is also a great work. Its vast
ness may be inferred from, the multitudes that
compose the army and the navy, from the in
fluences under which they are placed, and the
interests which gather around the circles and
families from which these men have come
And I. will here add that the number of those
for whom we care and .to whom, wo minister
is augmented by our attentions and ser
vices rendered to those Confederates who are
brought within, the. range of ' the influence
and aim of these labors'. The greatness of the
-work may also be inferred from what has been
contributed from the loyal land in money, and
in stores, and in other valuable gifts, of which
the Christian country, has made the Christian
Commission the, almoners to our array and
navy, of nearly a million of dollars’ worth.
I have but one thought more. I conclude
by saying that these, men to whom we propose
to minister are worthy of our ministry. (Ap
plause.) ■ They are soldiers fighting for onr
nationality. They are soldiers fighting the
battle, of .this world. ( Applause.) They are
well worthy of our loving and of onr kindest
offices: M-y task is done. 1 have given you
bjit a bird’s eye view of the. Christian Commis
sion, and I now leave :t.o the distinguished-ora
tors of'the evening to unfold the worb' : ahd
pray that the blessing of Almighty God’ may
rest 'upon- this congregation-and-uponi-the l
great interests of the Christian .Commission in
its work of. blessing to the army and navy of
our beloved country. , r
When Bishop Janes had concluded, the au
dience united in singing the following hymn :
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journeys run;
His kingdbm- spread from Bhbre'to shore,
Till moons shall wax and wane no more.
For him shall endless prayer be made,
And endless praises crown his head;
His name, like sweet perftune, shall rise
With every morning sacrifice.
Blessings abound where’er he reigns;
The prisoner leaps to loose his chains;
The weary finds eternal rest, “ - '
And all the sons of want are blest. .
Let every creature rise and,bring
Peculiar honors to our King;
Angels descend with songs again,
And earth repeat the loud Ajfnen.
Mr. Stuart —l desire to introduce as the
representative of that great national catholic
institntiohj the American Bible Society,' the
Rev. Dr. Taylor
Address of Rev. W. J. R. Taylor, D. D.
Mb. Chairman, and members op the Chris
tian Commission Tour Commission has the
sanction pf the heads of Departments, of Generals
in the Army, and of the President of the United
States. < ißnt, sir, you hold your title at a nobler
Hand. ~ Tour, Commission bears the .signature of
the'Prince of the Kingdoms of Earth. In that
worthy Name the Commission haß gone forth to*
prosecute its Christ-like labors of meroy and love. ■-
Put, sir, what has religion to do amid the conflict
of battle? What has Christianity to do in all this
horrid stri|p? One of the representatives of the
school of non-combatants said to me recently,
•‘ Does thee think that God has anything to do
with;this.war?”, “Most certainly I do!” “I:
do not,” was the quick reply, “God is, a Bock,
and he is not moved'by the passions and crimes
of men. He leaves them in their wickedness to
reap the awful results of their follies.”
God is indeed our Rock. But it is the glory of
our common faith that he, is the Rock of Ages in
whose cleft even the rebels may find a refuge
while we see his glory pafeing by. It is the glory
of our faith,thotwe have not a High Priest who >
cannot be touched with a feeling of onr infirmities,.,
but was tempted in all points like as we are, yet'
without sin. Why, sir, the sympathy of Jesus is
the key to, the work of your Commission. It is
because' Christ sits Upon the throne that his
church moves in her glorious pathway of light
and love. ,Andthis- Christian Commission repre r .
sents the Church of Christ in her most benevolent
efforts. Whyi Mr. President, when you went up
upon this Christian errand to our noble soldiers,
you soon found that you could not do thework.of
Christ witbo'ut having the Word of Christ to behr
in your hands to those to whom you ministered in
their sufferings. It was much every way in re- ,
sponsibility to that great Institution which God
in ,his providence has raised up and sustained
by the bencficence'of bis church forhaH a century,
were committed so largely the oracle'B of God.
And when you, came to it, it was not unmindful of
its responsibility and its privilege; for I here
give testimony that the large grants made to the
Christian Commission, have been most cheerfully
made by the Managers of the American Bible
Society; and distribution has been effected of
more than (five hundred thousand copieß,—and by
the grace of God, we will give more than five
hundred'thonsand copies more to such a cause!
(Applause.) :
We have been satisfied with your distribution.
We have known how your agents and delegates
have worked,. We have known how you have
taken these Books in mass and have carried them
by the single volume to those who needed them.
; .The reports which bare been made by your
delegates have often times written new chapters
in the history of this precious wold of God. What
has the Bibie to do witk.this war, sir? The dis
tinguished gentleman who administers the affairs
Of the Department of State, and whose letter of
ijecommendation and regard has -been read here
to-night, jSome; quarter of a century ago made
a public address in which was this statement:
“ That;buhfpfr;th,j Bible the . Government of the
United States, would have had no existence, and
that if there could be in every decade a copy of
the Holy Scripture placed in every family of the
Union, our institutions would be preserved. inde
finitely/* Alas! sir, alasl that this has not been
thoroughly accomplished. We knowthatthe basis
of .every human law .is the Law of God as we find
it Written' in’ fiiS inspired.word. But ft may not be
so Well known by the.mess of ibis' audience,
that according to the .testimony of the most emi
nent expounders ofthe-'system of international
law,: the whole system owes its origin clearly and
purely to Christianity. One of pur most distin
guished public characters, whose eloquence has
rung through-this stately hall as he eulogited
our Washington, said, so far as I recollect, in
these very words: “That the religious systems
of Greece andlßome, and originallybftall nations
of antiquity, formed the grgat obstacle to the
establishment of any great principle of interna
tionnllaw,-*butitbatit grew by necessity out of the
spiritual religion of the New Testament” And
he adduces this striking testimony: “That the
whole development of the publielawofthe world
was bat the simple application-and exponent of
I the principle announced by the Saviour in his
sermon on the Mount—‘Whatsoever ye would
that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto
them.”’ Now, sir, ,1 takeit that if that simple
law had been applied- to our foreign relations
during tie. progress of this! War, ;-we never should
have had the “Alabama” sent afloat in the place
of the .“GeorgeGriswold,” norwould the ocean
now be swarming with pirates. This is not all.
What do_we hear of the .mighty workings of this
Book of God among onr defenders upon the sea
&od )tbe l4|id| Iboger a question
whether’the men in the army will read the Bible.
We know thatftßfcy crave it, and with outetretched
hands.' It is ,no longer a question whether
they abuse the. Word of God. We know that the
instances of abuse are scarcely appreciable in
comparison with the effects of. its distribution. -
It iq no longer a guesiion . whether Christian men
in the-army love'the Word of Bcid as they did at
home. Sir, multitudes of them love it more than
they ever did .before. But sometimes a question
anses as to the waste, the consumption of volumes
sent out. 1 . It is even so. But supposing that it
were twice .as great as it is, or even three times
as great, it were worth all that it costed sir, if we
only putrtfie Testament, ot Book of Psalms, or the
Gospel- by. John, .in ; the..hauds of some poor dying
man whb“ languishing upon the battle-field.
But B would Ihave this Christinh‘audii>rice under
stand that these men will cling to their Testa
ments and Bibles when they throw away their
knapsacks, and even their arms. They carry the
Word of Gpd with them in their retreat! (Ap
plause.;
_ I might* appeal with confidence to these leaders ■
of pur armies, who are here to-night; for their,
testimony in regard to the influence of the Word
of God upon their soldiers. Tellme, sir,
ing Gen. Howard,) were the men whom you led to'
victory at Gettysburg, or iu the valley of the
Lookout at Chattanooga, less brave, less heroio
because the carried religion with them into .the
battle, and this Book of the wars of the Lord?
Tell me, were those who fought Hooker’s battle
above the clouds less heroic because they were
animated by the spirit of that Book, which taught
them to play the man for our people arid for the
cities of our God ?; Are the Christianimen in the
army—the men who love the Word of God, those
whe are trusted least or trusted mbs?? It is one
of the significant facte i> regard to this Bible
distribution, that our soldiers are beginning to
crave the whole Word Of Gbd-they want riot
merely to read the Testament, but they are be
ginning to long f„r the whole Old Bible. And,
s,r ’ s< ? ■ ar as tiie distribution can be discriminate,
ana the means of the Society will allow, I be
ll?7e . th® day is not far distant wh.en the dis
tribution of the whole Bib'e will be made very
largely to those who would appreciate it.
•v‘ * ’ t - e ver y spirit of an. immortal heroism
breathes in that Old Testament: -They who are
engaged in the effort to put; down ;this gigantic
rebellion will not forget Absalom and Ahithophd,
A,bijah, aricLthe rcvoltof the ten tiffbeb. HAriil%iW
who are longing for-pence arid prosperity will
uiot forget how God brought together the ancient
people from their severity ye«rs ; of captivity in a
strange land, where they hung their harps upon