torropottiota. OHAELAIN STEWART'S LETTER. BATTLE FIELD NEAR SPOTSYLVANIA C. H., 1. MONDAY, May 1.6th,1864. DEAR Bao. MEARS :—Since crossing he Rapid Ann on the 4th, we know little as to what you and the rest of mankind are thinking, doing, saying or publishing. Cut - off have we been altogether from COmmunications with home. No mail either to or from us. Not Wen a news paper to tell us whether you ,are cele brating victories or mourning over defeats of this Potomac army. A num ber of letters has your correspondent written to you and friends, starting them to the rear through uncertain Channels. Perhaps they got through. No military or civil restriction, so far As known, has been laid upon letter writing, getting, or sending—only that in these turmoils of battle the mails have stopped. It is now. the 12th day since this long death struggle commenced between these two immense armies, and with the , excep -Eon of yesterday, an almost unceasing strife, a rage and turmoil of bloodshed. 'Dttring this period the rebels have been pressed back towards Richmond some twenty miles—or rather they have fallen back, as we have not as yet been able to drive them from any of their strong posi tions; and well they know how to choose such. For this also, the country into which we have come, affords them every possible facility. Small streams, swamps, low ranges of hills, thick woods with dense underbrush, and they on the defen sive. Invariably do they await the attack. Our brave soldiers have to advance against them by wading through creeks and swamps; tearing through thick bushes and dense under growth in which many of them have their clothes almost torn from off them. Often not discovering the enemy until their deadly fire a few rods distant re veals their presence and strong position. The fighting of the past ten days much more resembles the old back-woods con tests with the. Indians, than modern or what may be termed civilized warfare. Often on account of thick woods our fighting soldiers are not able to see a dozenof their comrades ; or scarce obtain a glimpse of the enemy who at the same time is discharging such deadly volleys. „Many, many a brave soldier has been left unburied to decay in these jungles with no living person to tell where he lies. To fight and maintain discipline under such conditions requires the most exalted courage and devotion. This artily of the Potomac has started for -Richtnond, and seems determined to go there, no matter how many.enemies and •other obstacles may stand in the way. All opposition must finally yield to ob stinate and persevering valor. Very many incidents of the past two weeks are worthy, and Maybe recorded in ffiture letters should time and space permit. Solomon assures us, "_There is a time for every purpose under the heaven." Certain it is; however, although in our hearts to redeem any favourable occasion, yet hate the past ten days not been for us the time for religious service up to yesterday. Moses was chided for stop ping to pray, when he should have been acting. No chiding of this kind has been required in the army of the Potomac. Action, action.; terrible action both day and night. Yesterday, Sabbath, was - the first lull and happy exception. Whether by orders, from our Generals out of respect to the Sabbath, or merely from weariness in blood-shedding, was not announced, yet was the day one of rest from military toil, save those neces sary precautions in the immediate vicin ity of a powerful enemy. 'Scarcely a rifle-crack from picket or distant boom ing of cannon. How exceedingly gratefal,how almost unnatural, the quiet, to ears assailed and deafened for ten days and nights_ with all manner of comming ling earthquake sounds. Rest for the weary I What a multitude of holy sym pathies cluster in connection with Paul's assurance; "There is therefore a rest to the people of God." Although our soldiers were weary far beyond what ordinary labourers under stand by that term ; yet were religious services held and largely attended, so far as known, in every Regiment which has a chaplain. Not a few chaplains also visited destitute Regiments and held services. Many soldiers, too, in whose camps no worship was held went and joined with those who had. More than ordinary solemnity was manifested. Many who were not wont Assembled at the time of service. The Lord has been preaching solemn sermons of late, which the Most inattentive have been compelled to hear, and we would fain hope also to heed. The assembly for worship in our Regiment was larger than formerly. Yot, alas, so, many dear ibiailiar forms, who have so long stood up for Jesus in the 'I camp, on the march and battle-field; and whose full, strong voices in singing; served so often both as bell and trumpet for the assemblage to our regular even ing service—so many of them absent from the assembly on yesterday! Kil led or wounded in our late desperate battles. Dearly cherished brethren, ho - w can I get along without you ? you whom I feel fully persuaded God, through Christ, gave me in camp I Silence, how ever, murmurs : with them it is well. Their unction moreover, remains here, and God in their room, will give others, yea, more than those taken. My text yesterday was the Ni; . -ords of of David, in an hour when his life seemed greatlyperilled; "As God liveth—there is but a step between me and death." Few present who did not feel and almost exclaim, "Just so have I felt an hundred times within the past ten days." The Wonder to many being, not that so many were injured, but that any from, such peril escaped unhurt. So far -as external evidences can be trusted, the morale of our army is better than in any former period of its exis tance. The various religious services in so many places through our.tamps dur ing the past winter and spring, have not been withoui solutary influence. Not a few, like Elijah, were thus strengthen ed for many days of travel and trial. The fear is that the good impressions then made upon many, may too soon be shaken off amid these active excitements and battle-fields. Let no one 'imagine that scenes of danger and of death will, of tlkemselves, convert a man or keep him even by profession in the service of God. For a time they may produce seriousness, yet in the end only harden. Nothing efficacious but the converting grace of God—no not even should one rise from the dead ! There is great need of effective chaplain service here now, in the midst of these terrible scenes, not only to keep alive good impressions, but also by the blessing of God to infuse right ones. A. M. ST.BWART. UNION ‘OOMMISSION. A meeting was held May 12th, in Cooper Institute, to organize and carry into operation ..a plan to advance the cause of American and Christian Union, and the Prosperity of the country, by aiding Union portions of the South with Northern charities, employment facili ties, emigration,'ministers, teachers and publications. The Rev. Dr. E. N. Kirk, of Boston, presided. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Haskell. The President then stated that the meeting had been called to consider a subject of great importance. It was a meeting-of the friends of the oppressed of the South to organize and appoint a committee to take such action as they may deem advisable to carry out the objects stated above. Preambles and resolutions were then adopted, as follows: Whereas, A large proportion of the white inhabitants of the Slave States, by the social system of those States; have been prevented from possessing an interest in the landed property of this' country, and have also been deprived of the advantages of education and a Chris tian civilization ; therefore Resolved, That it becomes the inhabi tants . of the Free States deeply to com miserate their condition ; and Whereas, the ignorance and degrada tion of that people has made diem the willing and misguided instruments of the demagogues who projected the rebellion that has threatened our national exis tence; therefore Resolved, That we regard the removal of that ignorance. and social degradation as indispensable to, the : future peace of our country; and Whereas, The power of the doniinant Class in those States, which has entirely prevented the i4rodUction of the agency and influences of Christian civilization among their degraded neighbors, here totere prevented any foreign attempt at improving their condition ; therefore Resolved, That we deem it the duty of the citizens of the Free States; in con nection with the intelligent and loyal men of the Slave States, to prepare a, system of home missionary operation's which may follow the advance of our victorious armies. Resolved, That several gentlemen, citizens of Resolved„ York, be requested to act as a committee to take this subject into consideration and mature a plan °fiction to be presented to the public as soon as practicable, and that gentle men from other Cities and States be in vited to act with that committee. Resolved, That the committee consist of the following persons, with any that they may - add to their number : Rev. Isaac Ferris, D. D., LL. D., Rev. John McClintock, D. D., Francis Lieber, LL. D., Horace Webster, LL. D., H. M. Pierce, President of Rutger's Institute, Charles Butler,•Esq., Rev. S. H. Tyng, Jr., Rev. J. T. &ryes, R. H. McCurdy, Esq., Wm. C. Bryant, Esq., Jas. - Hum phrey, Esq., Wm., Booth, Esq., ev. S. B. Bell, D. D., Rev. L. C. Lockwood, of New York, Rev. E. N. Kirk, D. D., Rev. T. N. Haskell, Amos A. Lawrence Esq., John M. L. Williams, Esq., of Boston, Stephen Caldwell, Esq., George H. Stuart, Esq., of Philadelphia, Rev. J. J.Marks, D. D., Chaplain W. Y. Brown, of Washincrton D. C. The meeting was addressed by Rev. Dr.'"Kirk, Iron. Eli . Thayer; Rev: J. T. Duryea, Rev. L. C. Lockwood and others. ' 4:i ff:10 ai ri lEMNI Zi-;J Ve/PZ•IPT:I01 ERRATA on the inside pages. Page 167, 3d column, 4th line from the top ; read : " The village referred tohad not been before visited by a missionary. The Gospel" &c. sth col., 2d paragraph, 4th line from the bottom; read; He showed, on Kaou's principle" instead- ox " in." Last column, 10th line from the top; read ; " The second proof‘ that Human nature is formed for virtue c it is a con stitution where the tower principles should 'serve ,the higher;" stead of "higher principles should serve the lower." ,At a recent Meeting of libiadelphia Fourth PreSbyeit, Mr. Enoc K. Miller was ordained to the full'l%4ork of the ministry and Mr. Martin P:Jones, was licensed to preaeh the ,Gospel... THE UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. - Anniversaxy of the New York Branch. [SPECIALLY REPORTED FOR OUR COLUMNS.] On Sunday evening, May 15th, the. Anniversary meeting of the New York Branch of the Christian Commission, was held in the New York Academy of . Music. The evening was extremelyun favorable to the meeting, a 'drizzling, disagreeable rain having fallen through ont the day, which became more copious as the hourapproached for the commence- merit of the exercises. At an early hour, however, the building was well filled, and before the meeting was Otgailized, it was impossible to obtain standing room, many persons having been com pelled to turn, away, unable to train admission. The death of the 'lamented General Rice, whose body had arrived in the city, and whose funeral' services had been held in Rev. Dr. Adams' church in the afternoon, togither with' the memory of the great straggle in Vir inia filling every heart, combined to add unusual interest and solemnity to the meeting. This also, had a marked e ect em upon the address of Dr. Adams, ho was the first speaker. When he albal ed in his ropening remarks to the sol n work in which he had been engage the afternoon, he exhibited a feeling solemnity which communicated itsel the great assembly, and remained interrupted throughout the entire ev ing. When the Rev. Dr. Kirk arose speak, be had proceeded'iit a .w ~ sentences when the pent up f;nlings .f the audience sought an outlet, in applan4e. The' evening, however, forllt his, aid it was, at the request of thew irmßn, '1 ; dispensed" with. liariniltr: tuart!S address, the interest was so intens.l\that the slightest noise in any part ol\ the house could be distinctly heard. The people seemed anxious to catch -every word, and if possible treasure it up' in their memory. The enthusiasn for the Commission, the Soldiers and -the country, which has marked all the meetings which we 'have reported, was manifested to a great degree at this one. The chair was• occupied by 'William E. Dodge BK., chairman of the NeW York Branch of the Commissi% at half past seven o'clock, and the eoises of the evening introduced by singing " All hail the power of Jesus' name," after which the R. Rev. Chas. P. Moil vaine D. D., Bishop of Ohio, led the great audience in a most impressive and patri-1 °tic prayer. Mr. Dodge, the chairman, then came forward and delivered the following opening address : A.ddress of William E. Dodge, Esq. MY FRiENDS We are net tiigether, - this evening, to • celebrate the anniversary of WC -N. - 54 7 :.. Christian Commission. In looking 'forward to this meeting for the past few weeks; we had adopted a program - xi:id for 'Vie evening ; but the providence of God 'has brought us under such peculiar circirmstan ces as a nation,--we are surrounded by such momentous circumstances, that the exercises, of-the evening will have reference mainly-to the present position of our suffering, bleeding army. The report, the details, the statistics will be published hereafter: We- felt that the audience would not be in a state of mind to night to listen to statistics of what has been done, but they would be anxious to know what, was to be done—what could be - done now for thoSe who are suffering, for, those who have gone forth, periling thir lives for us. The Government, the Christian commis sion, and other organizations haVe made what was supposed most ample provision for expected battles ; but we all feel that we are surrounded now by such eircnrnstances as but few of-us had anticipated ; not a battle, —not one battle,—or two,—but eight, per haps now, ten ! Not one, two or five thous and of our citizens bleeding and dying, but tens of thousands ! - Ah 1 how we stagger as we try to contemplate those thirty thousand; nay perhaps forty thousand, bleeding,' dying nienota brothers, our fathers, our friends" those who have gone out to breast this terrible rebellion, who have gone in our place, in our stead, for us; to meet the terri ble onset 1 Ah ! go to your home, see that beloved one on the bed of sickness and anguish, see how love, tender, compassionate love watches every symptom ; how the. physician ; ,comes and goes ; how, everything is done for: that loved one. Multiply that loved one by all that are in this house to-night; multiply that by ten. They are not lying in that room, on that bed, surrounded, by tender care ; but they are, out on the field, they are down along • the road-side ; they ,are in the woods.; they are alone, solitary, dying, staunching" their own ."wounds, thirsting, looking:fin help, Crying fOr lib:L.:dying for us. silt.is under 'oircliMstanaes ;like theae that, we meet to-night ; sitting here, surrounded by blessings and comforts ; and .we have come here to try and turn away our thoughts from self, to go down amid these men,—and ask, " What am I called upon to do ? what shall I do? Oh I give me the opportunity, and I am ready to do it." We are here on the evening of God's holy day, 'under cir cumstances more- solemn, more impressive than any we have ever met before in our own history or the history of the land; and as we shall listen to-night to thrilling remarks, and as our hearts meet in spontaneous desire to show our approbation of them, let us, in view of the solemn circumstances in which we are placed, in which our country is situa ted' and as we think of the dying ones, as we think of the mourning, bleeding hearts. to-night, -throughout the, length and breadth of our laud; let us be sole= as we would at the funeral of a friend. .The audience will now be .addressed by Rev,-Dr..Ansms, of this city. , Address by Re*. Dr. Adams Just, coming from the funeral of that gal lant Christian soldier, General Rice, I am reminded of a little incident which seems to me to-be the most appropriate introduction to . our,- services. I am informed by my young friend, the aid of General Rice, who . is with us to-night, the representative of that brave, heroic, army, baptized, as I believe, by the Spirit of God, before he had his first baptism of blood, that when bearing.the form of: the General .to the rear,-the very first person who accosted him in the field hospital was a delegate of the Christian Commission; and when the fest appliances were made to his wound, this Christian man said to him, " General, how do : you feel? What do you think of, Christ " What of Christ? Oh ! very near, very near!" These are .the things that we love to hear. When we have been told how heroic and faithfully a man deports himself at the head' of his,command in the brunt of. battle, the• thing. most of all ,that we desire to know is how, did - he, die? What testimony did .he leave, expressive of his' faith in Christ ? I know, going from family to family, that have already been-bereaved,- and those in suspense, watching for the mails, watching to catch the first intelligence they can from loved ones, I know that in many a case this has been true with regard to the son, the brother, or friend the thing most desired, that bears a balm and balsam to the bleeding heart is. the. belief that the friend died in Christ, and after having served his country, prepared by, the grace of God for the translation, he has gone to the kirkgdom. of Heaven. Now, I refer .to this incident because it seems to me to describe the very object the Commission has in view—two-fold: care for the body, comfort and help for the brave soldier, and, as opportunity presents, in struction and comfort to the soul in the last agony of death. We, do not leave eitherof these undone. We do, in connection with other associations (and there is no kind 'Of rivalry between us and any other Commission except the noble emulation of endeavoring to do the greatest amount of good) what can be done to bear relief and comfort to those who are wounded and dying in our behalf ; but yet do not leave undone what can be accomplished for the solace and guidance of the departing soul. Mr. President, there is only one object in our thoughts tonight ; and I 'feel that if, after what has already been said, and the prayer to God in which we all joined, we were to cease from all conference with one another, and here do what we could for the, relief of our heroic soldiers, we should not have misspent the hour, and we should be richly compensated for the privilege of doing this. I see only One object in this hour. The time of exhiliration is past,; the time of caricature and ridicule and laughter has long since gone by. We have come to the point of actual suffering. We have ; come--new , where we are to take up our part infellaigliip With the great Captain of our salvation, in actual endurance and affliction ; and the objects of our thoughts are these—our 'bleed ing- citizens, our own children, our brothers and our friends, who are fasting, toiling and fighting, bleeding, and dying for us. A most natural question I heard put to a young soldier fresh from the field ; " How did you feel in that charge? How did you feel on Tuesday night, when you left the field and when ordered to advance ?" " Feel why we were worn out ; we have not had sleep ; and what have we had to eat but what we could eat by snatches, eat in , the midst of great and intense excitement ?" Why we have no idea of the endurance and suffering of thesemen. Did syou ever know anything like-it ,in history? ,An army fight ing eight, nine days in succession ? I cannot recall such a thing in the history of the world; and I think, to-night, we ought to forget everything but sympathy with and prayer for those noble men, who, from actual exhaustion, many times dropped in their very tracks. There are living men—decently dressed men, in this. community,. who read the papers, who 'saunter about the street and wonder why these men are not pushing farther and - farther ; who are content with reading the papers and making their sugges tions about this great strife, of, which they know nothing at all. For myself, I feel ashamed every hour I am here, that we sit down at the table with plenty, live in our commodious' houses; lie down at night upon our comfortable beds, while these brave felloWs are _exposed—l was going to say to such a rain as this, but I remember that those wounded men bless God for such a rain as this. When fevered with their wounds, and none to bring water and refresh ment to them, it is the greatest refreshment,. they say, they can have to let the sweet rain, of Heaven fall upon their wounds, and that . they may catch some - drops upon their parched tongues. Now; if I had been called upon to speak ten days or a week ago,. I should have en deavored to say something in regard to the impression I received in a recent personal view of thii noble Army of the Potomac. There are two things that would naturally preient themselves to us in regard to the - army ; and few of us understand what an army is. confess I never had a conception of what an army was, -until I saw it. An army in quarters and an army on the field of battle are two things. Now, if I had spoken, as I have said, a week or ten days ago, I should have endeavored to convey some of the impressions I had received in regard to the army, as I saw it in a state of comparative repose. I shall always count it as one of the greatest privileges of my life, that I' have been able to look upon the army ; and I think I did not go from mere curiosity; although, after having seen -some splendid military pageants in the old country, I con -fess, in regard to that host of men— , ”rere worth ten years of peaceful life, One glance at their arrayi" in of to I' shall alivap regard it as a solemn privi lege that I was able to see them; I went under the best of auspices—upon "an invita tion from headquarters, where I preached ; and you will agree with me it is something now, when following, these brave men from stage to stage in their glorious engagements, that you . have a distinct impression of the very men, that you have still upon your hand the pressure of such men as. Grant and Mead,' and S'eligwiCk, and 'Wadsworth, aro. HancoCk; and`-'many more ;` that yOu ha,d. oefo k thens ,59,-recently, as they passed in review l;efore their ; solemn, very serious, not a shout, not a word among that great host as they went under his eye ; no salutes except those that becme the occa sion—men on the eve of a great movement— and that it was my privilege to preach at headquarters, to that assembly of distinguish ed soldiers—an audience, not of civilians, not an old man, not a woman, not a child, but a large audience of armed men, just on the eve of that great conflict on which such great destinies depend. lam informed that it was the last sermon that was preached to them ; the tent was struck immediately ; and I have taken pains to recall the words that I addressed to them. I remember I was' speaking in your name, as well as in the name of Christ, and assured them Of your sympathy and praYe,rs as they were going 'out to this great 'contest: I told them as Plainly and solemrdy as I was capable of doing what I thought were the Christian instructions most appropriate to their solemn circriinstances. I endeavored to preach the Gospel -of Christ - to them. I told them those things they might remember at the head of a column, in, making a charge, in the midst of the storm ; the kind of prayer they might ejaculate to Almighty God for their guidance and. success. I thank Gid that in His name I had that privilege; al though the memory of it is now shadowed by the.recollection that some of them heard their last sermon. and have fallen asleep. I should have'delighted to have said some thing about the impressions left on my mind by that visit to the soldiers. A Voicz—Do say something about it. DR ADSm - s—l am .told to say something about - it ; and I remember, when looking into the New Testament; that the man dis tinguished above all others,—of whom it was said, " I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel,"—was a soldier, who said, - " I am a man under authority, having sol diers under me.; and. I. say to this man go and he goeth, and to another, come, and. he cometh, and to my servant, do this, and. he "doeth it The order and discipline to.which these men are subject I have been greatly impressed with, as one of the great lessons which our country has learned,—which is being kneaded into our life, never to .-be 'eradicated. • Then. I would say something about that noble set of men, the chaplains of the army. I speak of them in distinction from particu lar exception. It was to - be expected that some, in the beginning, who were not of the right character, should find -their way into these incumbencies. But I speak now of those with whom I-ca,me in contact, whom I know; and concerning whom -testimony has been borne by their Generals and the sol diers under their ministration. I cannot conceive of any circumstances in which a man could be placed where he would have so much prospect of doing good as that of an army chaplain. Look at them in their encampments,—all laid out in streets, com pany after company,—with their little hut or chapel in the rear for public worship. The hut is built by the soldiers; the can vass • covering is supplied by the Chris tian Commission. I tell you, my friends, it was easy to preach to these men, with faces upturned, drinking in the word of . grace. There has been a wonderful outpouring of God's spirit upon these men during the past season. This is not- all imagination or illu sion. There have been multitudes of these brave men, prepared by the spirit of God to die for their country and us. Then these chaplains have their confidence. We think 'the pastor has great opportunities of- obtain ing the confidence of his congregation, min g,ling •with them under circumstances of af fliction and suffering when the hearts are opened. - But just look at the chaplain, with a regiment under his ministry. He knows, every man by name; they come to look upon him as a friend ; isolated as they , are from home and family, see what a hold he has upon their affections—what opportuni ties of impressing upon them the message of God. I should like to have enlarged upon this ; but now these 'tents are struck ; that army is on its march, and we look upon it now in its series of bloody engagements as an army , in battle! I have, not seen that thing. I have been endeavoring to imagine something about it. When I saw, one morn ing, thirty thousand men passing in review before,their General. I have endeavored to recall what a scene that would be now ;- to see if I could think of thirty thousand men, lying on the ground, dead or wounded. We get very little conception of numbers. There is nothing about which we have generally so imperfect an estimate. Let me tell, you that is a very large congregation in this city that consists of a thousand people; but just sup pose a congregation of a thousand men, in the prime of life, lying dead (Sr wounded !- And here is one brigade, that of Gen. Rice, which on Tuesday night lost eight hundred and fifty-seven men, out of eighteen hun dred ! Just think of what we mean by a battle j Then, as it has been described to me, the oaths, the prayers, the shrieks of wounded and dying men on the open field! We talk of a wounded man! When we think of one wounded,--here,why immedi ately there comes to our min all the appli ances. He would be carried into the ftrst neighbor's house, into the apothecary's, into the hospital. All the people around would be ready to help him. But there are no houses there. On that field of' battle, as pictured before my eye, in the wonderful desolation of that scene, houses, fences, all the ordinary signs of civilization have disap peared, and it is a " wilderness" indeed. And now think of men dropping, dropping, one after another, wounded on the battle field. What then is needed ? Their fellow sol diers cannot leave their ranks, to give them attention. That is contrary to military order. , " Look at that young man !" said a Colonel to me, on a military parade, " when we went into the fort a" Rappahannock Station, his own brother, stood. in front, he fell, and his brother never flinched, but went on steadily into the fort, as if nothing had happened." Who is to give attention to these men ? The tide of battle is surging to and-fro.= Government has some appliances, some agencies, some surgeons in the rear. Musicians are for the •,time employed in carrying those that are wounded to the rear. But what can they do among so many ? You want all forms of agencies. The very first thing to be done;. (and you cannot have them:in too great numbers now) is to come to them with men perfectly prepared to minister, first, to their physical necessities. Your Christian Commission , delegate goes to the wounded man, with all the appliances, ;bandages and sponge, his pail of wine and water ' and asks " How are you wounded ? What is the matter ?" ,He gives him a draught and such help as he needs at the time. Perhaps he -is just dying ; then he takes his name, the last word he has to say, perhaps a last message to wife, or mother, or sister. " Tell my mother, tell my father, tell my wife something about me ;—how I fell,—that I have endeavored to do my duty to my country,—l die in Christ I" Perhaps your delegate is enabled to kneel and offer a short prayer to God- in his behalf, and help the departing spirit 6 . lay hold of -some-con solations:of the Gospel. This -is the form in which your agency works,—and this is why it needs now to be multiplied ten fold. The men to he chosen for thiswor k are noto t b be taken, without discretion. They must be the right class of Men, knowing what to .do, and having physical endurimee tondo 'it,— full of patriotism and full of the love of Jesus Christ. I do not enlarge the subject of giving physical relief to wounded soldiers because=what is to be done in that regard is so patent. But this other feature is peculiar to the. Christian Commission. It is a psychologeal fact, and I have given it some attention, that on the approach of death, if the man is not" given over to abselute stupidity, their is 11 wonderful activity of the human conscience. I have noticed that irreligious men are apt_ to catch the words of dying heroes, upon the field of battle or upon the quarter deck, which refer to some purpose in reference to the. fight, some expressions of personal bra,. very. These are the tbargs . they report, and about which we hear so inneir in history and poetry. But there is something if you will lieUd your ear Wand listen. It seems a il', when the soldier passes from- - the fray, from the rush and tumult Of-: embattled hosts, he feels as if he were isolated, as if he were going to eternity alone, as an individu al ; and the "expressions of teglanony to wiax I have referred, I think you: Will find in the faithful biographies of the most diatingnished sailors and soldiers. Lord ' Nelion, when borne from the quarter-deck to the 'cot pit, uttered the memorable words which were signalled through the fleet, and which are so well known ; but how many have forgotten what he said to Captain Hardy, as' he gave him the last pressure of the hand : 'Captain Hardy, I hope there is forgivennesdlor a soul with God." Sir Philip Sydney; When. wounded in :battle, and when he fell...upon. the neck of his faithful horse, that bore. him from, the field, was heard to speak of Jesus Christ and his hope of salvation through him. - Ah ! we who are sitting here, in our mah ioned indulgence, have forgotten the wonder ful rapidity of this action of the hum= conscience in the presence of death. I be lieve there has been a most wonderfullapid- IV of action, not only of the conscience, but -of" the heart, in committing itself to ' Christ in the last moments. Ido not believe it has taken such a long time for the conver sion of those men who have been convinced by the Spirit and have made consecration of themselves to God, I believe many have been saved. I would not convey the im pression that patriotism is synonomous with religion, or that there is any way of salva tion save through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ ; yet where there is such con secration of the soul, where the exigency is so sharp and critical, there is as much dif ference in the action of the mind as there is between the flash of damp powder, spread loosely over the surface of the earth, and half the amount, when rammed into a mus ket in the shape of a cartridge. I have no doubt of the testimony given us on this score from every quarter. Now, my fellow-citizens, this whole caring for these our fellow-citizens is rolled upon 'us. I wonder we can think of anything, talk of anything else but this. And I can not but feel that, as a people, there is a most beautiful deportment just now. I have been struck with it. There is very little of noisy elation. There is a quick pressure of the hand. Men talk quick, and feel deeply ; but there is very little of excitement show ing itself in the form .of noisy exultation. This is right, I believe this people will feel more and more the solemn meaning of this hour.- I believe that as these trials and these successes are multiplied, that the people will develope more and more a well balanced, solemn trust in God, and a quick, earnest sympathy for their fellow-citizens, who have been willing to endure so much in their be half. God hasten the time when there will be no more occasion for all these activities in behalf of the wounded ! God hasten the time when we shall meet togeth.m with . , all earnestness and gladness, to know how we can heal the wounds of our bleeding coun try,—when the cloud of war will pass away, and when we can stand forth on the Chris tian emulation hi doing the utmost in heal ing all these deep wounds of the country, and studying the, things by which We may edify one another. God bless our dear coun try ! dearer now than ever. God bless our wounded soldiers ! this army of heroes—and give them victory ; and when that victory is won, give the nation the power of conquer themselves, and bringing the whole land into willing subjection to Christian law and government. THE CRAIRMAM—You have been listening to the address of one of the Delegates of the Christian Commission. I now have the pleasure of introducing another, who has been recently down for - us to the front—the Rev. Dr. KIRK, of Boston. Rev. Dr. Kirk's Address. What heart is there in this assembly that does not bless God, this night, for being per mitted still to live ? The day that - Fort Sumter was struck thrilled on the hearts of many in this wise "I am glad it has come ; I knew it was coming; it is no accidental fall ing of a spark upon combustible material ; it is a deep, intense conflict of purpose ; the men on that side of the struggle understand what they are doing and mean to do it." We are meeting-our kindred, our neighbors, our fellow-citizens, face to face, over the great line" that divides right from wrong. The question is, have we manliness enough, have we godliness enough to lay ourselves on the altar? Not to send other men if we can go. Not a man ought to be in this house to-night that could be on the battle field, be cause there are wounds, and' groans, death in his gloomiest form there. No person ought to be willing to sit here to-night, whose heart is not with the soldier, in the tent., in the field, in the• hospital, in his suffering, in his dying,-.-wlio is not willing to, take his place, if God calls him to it. Yes, this is a solemn Sabbath ; this is a solemn meeting; not a gloomy one; I see nothing gloomy in it. It is, to my eye, all sublime. The conflict is sublime i the issues are sublime. God is educating this people -for a great future ; he Is turning the leaves of a book with hard lessons on every page ; he is teaching through deep anguish; making us fill up what is behind of the sufferings of Christ,-,that this poor world may"be pushed on, and this fallen race may be lifted up wards. We have come here to-night,"my fellow citizens, to think about the, soldiers--the citi zen. soldiers-4he A_merican sadiers. With my brother who just preceded me, I thank God I have seen the soldier in his tent ; I have seen him in the camp,; I have grasped the hand of the man that, under God, is guiding our forces to Victory, and I have grasped the hand' of the humblest man in his ranks. It is a privilege ; and I come fresh from the camp to speak to the citizens. I want, this night, to echo what I heard a brave general utter three nights ago " I honor the soldier ; I love the common sol dier ; I love him more, in his humble rank, than I should if he were occupying the seat of the Chief Magistrate of the Union." I, too, have learned to love him ; and I have come here, to-night, to contribute my hum ble share to kindle in your hearts a deeper and tenderer love for the soldier. I know not what cynical men may say; I know not what men who judge others by the narrowness of their own hearts may say; I believe a nobler band' never went .forth to war, under a nobler movement, no,r, from a higher impulse, thao tho army of the United States Federal Government have this daY- I have always had, since influenced by reli-
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