them dying at the rate of thirty per cent.
month, a rate of mortality which in for eighl
hours would depopulate any city in the tY ; world,
and send its people flying from it as from a
tilence. He would say nothing of the pes-,
cold
they
bloo d were kindneed murders,
ss wh itself ich werecom fr P equer, because
dying by inches which they experienced, that
morbid vacancy and preying of the mind upon
itself, while the heart despaired and the body
grew weaker and weaker, till at last the lamp
Of life Went . out. Oh, it was not thus " sweet
and pleasant. o die for one's country." If his
hearers could look in upon those cold, naked,
filthy'prisciii . floors, which it is a perversion of
the English tongue to call hospitals; if they
Could see the men lying there with their gaunt,
wasted forms, as the tide of life was slowly ebb
ing away; if they could wake up at any hour of
the night, and hear on every hand that terrible
sound in the tones of which almost every man
in the garrison seemed to be coughing his life
away; if they could hear the terrible rattle of
the death-cart, and could s'ee the rigid forms
piled up one upon another, without any sem
blance of a Christian sepulture; if they could
see those pale, ghastly faces, and those dropped
jaws, and those staring, stony eyes,. as that cart
passed on its way out with its precious freight,
to be thrown into the trenches and covered
with a little earth—oh, he felt that they' ould
at least appreciate as they never had before,
the longing for that blessed place where "the
wicked cease from troubling and the weary are
at rest."
A LIGHT SHINING IN A DARK PLACE
Now it was in similar scenes with these that
the work of the Christian Commission shone
out in its beauty and strength. Before his cap
tivity, the speaker thought he had known some
thing of its operations. He had met it on the
transport and gunboat, in the camp and bivou
ack, in the hospital and on the very field of
battle before the smoke of the conflict had
rolled away,—everywhere he had met its agents
performing their blessed work,•dispensing the
people's noiseless and all-abounding charities.
But he had seen more of its blessedness and
worth while in captivity than in all his" other
experience. PoSsibly it was because the voice
of sympathy so seldom sounded upon lonely
ears, and the hand of charity was so seldom
stretched out, it had sounded like sweetest
music, and the smallest relief was a boon direct
from heaven, but he had seen the benefactions
of the Commission penetrate even the impervi
ous walls of a repel prison and bring temporary
relief to sufferers there. The speaker then al
luded flatteringly to the labors of his Christian
soldier brother, General Fisk, in the Commis
sion's service; and to the soothing and sustain
ing friendship of his dear Brother McCabe, his
companion in the Richmond captivity, and the
Commission's mouth-piece and sweet singer,
who was to sing for them some of the same
stirring songs that resounded through . the dingy
walls of Libby,—" The Battle-Hymn of the Re
public," "Star Spangled Banner," "There is
Rest for the Weary," - and "
.We are Coming,
Father Abraham, Three Hundred Thousand
More l"—and who stood up boldly before even
the keepers of the prison, and preached to them
righteousness, and temperance, and the judg
ment to come. And the speaker had seen
another marvel in the power of a good man's
name, wielded in the name of the Christian
Commission, which had even commanded the
attention and respect of the rebel authorities,
for -When they had learned the practice and the
scope of the Commission, what it had done and
was doing in every camp and battle-field, and
learned that at the head of it stood an honored
citizen of Philadelphia, whose name,. eventhey
knew to be a synonym for every public and pri
vate charity, it touched even their obdurate
hearts, and they opened the prison doors to one
of the Commission's delegates, who had been
eaptured while in the discharge of his sacred .
duties. The work of the Commission had been
well known to the languishing sufferers in Sal
isbury. Often had they longed for its presence
and the bounties of its friends to cheer and re
lieve their loneliness and pain. This cry would
not go unheeded. The agonizing prayer of
many a heart of many a poor sufferer there,
was still heard, " Come over and help us."
This we cannot do now by our presence and
our active relief, but we can give to these our
suffering sons and brothers, our prayers, and
our sympathy, and our influence to secure the
adoption of some speedy and effective measures
for their release and relief.
THE ESCAPE
The speaker then narrated the circumstances
attending his escape and journey from the Sal
isbury prison to our lines. After sixteen
months constant effort to escape, he and two
of his associates at last succeeded on the after 7
noon of the 18th of December. By great good
fortune they had not been required to give any
parole. His two associates had been furnished
with passes by the prison authorities to go to
the rebel hospital outside, to bring in supplies.
Their faces, though not their names, as the
event proved, were so well known to the,senti
nels that they frequently walked in and out
without showing their passes—and presuming
upon this' they had given one of their passes to
the speaker, who, taking a large box of medi
cine bottles, to avoid suspicion, attempted to go
by the sentinel. 'FR was halted. "Have you
a pass?" " : I have," he answered ;
"haven't you seen i .:ten enough to remember
by this time?" "Very likely,' the guard re
plied, a little nonplussed; "but I was not quite
sure, and our orders are very strict." The
genuine pass of his colleague was then exhibit
ed. It was carefully read by the sentinel, who,
recognizing the signature, pronounced it " all
right," and the 'fluttering heart of the long
caged prisoner hounded into the new air of
freedom. But dangers and perils were before
him. Once outside, he hid the medical box
behind a fence, and with his two friends, who
had joined him, took refuge in an outbuilding,
until dark. They then walked through the
outer gate into the streets of Salisbury, in full
view of a guard who, seeing them come from
the rebel hospital, supposed them to be surgeons
or their assistants. .l or r the first thirty hours
they had not a morsel of food or a draught of
water; for the first fifty-six hours they had only
three ounces of corn bread to the man, and
about the same weight of tainted corned beef.
They were greatly weakened by hunger and ex
posure, but hope of freedom was so strong that
they were sustained wonderfully through it all.
For the first fifty miles they found few white
Union people—only two or three, but relied
exclusively on the negroes. And they never
disappointed them! (Applause.) They would
tell them with perfect frankness, "We are
Union prisoners, escaped from Salisbury, try
ing to reach our lines, and we want you to help
us." And they always did. They sheltered
us, fed us, piloted us, and prayed for us when
they could no longer go with us. We would
this day be in our graves had it not been for
their help! (Applause.) The weather was in
tensely cold; many of the nights were rainy—
they only dared to come from their hiding
places at night, and could only travel under
cover of the darkness, and fearing to build fires
.lest they should be discovered, they were com
pelled to let their wet clothing dry upon thinn.
They got but little sleep. Again and again
they seemed to have reached the very last point
of human endurance, when, in their hour of ex
tremity, God's kind opportunity was displayed
in his delivering providence.
FRIENDS IN NEED
In fifty miles we struck the mountains.
From that point to our lines, two hundred and
ninety miles by the route we travelled, we were
constantly among white friends. With what
gladness those men and women of the moun
tains—who had all suffered inconceivably for
their fidelity to the eause—many of whom have
had their nearest and dearest relatives mur
dered—welcomed and sheltered, and fed and
piloted us I With what overflowing love they
took us to their homes and hearts; and
periled their own lives to ail us t I have seen
much self-sacrifice during the war; but, ex
ctPt the negroes, I have witnessed no loyalty
worthy to be mentioned with theirs. I ap
proach it reverently, with uncovered head, as
the holy of holies in the temple of patriotism.
When we met them, they gave us a welcome
warmer than that of kindred ; when we parted
from them, I am sure that many a fervent
prayer went up from their humble hearths to
Our Father, that he would guide us through
the difficulties of our long, wearisome journey,
and guard us against the perils that beset and
'environed it. The two mountain ranges, in
mid-winter, covered with a foot of snow, were
sometimes appalling to our achingjoints and
frost-bitten feet; but we had passed through
the Slough of Despond and come out from the
Valley of the Shadow of Death. To' our eyes
those frowning hills were the Delectable Moun
tains, and every friendly log-cabin was the
Palace called Beautiful.
The speaker related several incidents of nar
row escapes, illustrating the lengths to which
the loyal North Carolians went in befriending
them. In one case they had been compelled
to hide in a loft where corn had been stored.
A neighbor came to the lady befriending them
to collect a bushel of corn that she owed. With
woman's instinct she asked whether, as it was
Christmas, the neighbor would not, by way of
a present, first haul her a little wood. To this
he assented, and their hiding place was undis
turbed.
DAN. ELLIS
Thus, with other hairbreadth escapes, they
came within one hundred and fifty miles of our
lines, when they fell in with a famous guide, a
man whose name is precious to many scores
altd hundreds of poor refugees and escaping
prisoners whom he had piloted through to the
Union lines—Dan. Ellis. Again and again
they were told, "If you meet with Dan. Ellis,
you are sure to be safe." He has taken through
More than four thousand refugees, never losing
but a single man, who was lost through his own
indiscretion.
The perils of the rest of the way, the kind
ness of the loyal East Tennesseans, the hero
ism of a noble Union girl, who mounted a horse
at midnight and piloted them for seven miles
through devious paths, out of dangerois nests
of rebels, were all depicted with graphic elo
quence. At last their day of deliverance
dawned. It was at Strawberry Plains, fifteen
miles east of Knoxville. There, on the twenty
seventh day out, after a final march of seven
miles, in which their heavy feet and aching
limbs grew wonderfully light and 'agile—in
silence, with full hearts and wet eyes, they
saluted once more the dear old flag !
TILE COLLECTION.
Singing, accompanied by the music of the
excellent orchestra, was the next order on the
programme, and a speech from the Rev. Dr.
Newton, of Philadelphia, to precede the most
practical part of the proceedings—the collection.
Most eloquently did the - reverend Doctor, lira
few words, plead the nobility, the hpliness of
the cause, the justice of its claims, and urged
in every sacred name the duties.of Christians
and patriots to support it with their means and
prayers. It was 'a telling appeal. Several
large subscriptions were announced. Two of
$2500 each ; four of $lOOO each, and others
for $5OO and smaller amounts were received.
During the collection, Mr. Stuart announced
several remarkable collections from abroad.
One was of $2O from the wife of a missionary
in India, who had already given a brother, who
fell on the bloody field of Gettysburg; another
was of $lBO from a native' convert in Syria,
who accompanied the gift with some relics
from the hills of Lebanon and its goodly cedars.
Thus, remarked the Chairman, " God is help
ing us l" Joseph Story, of Boston, Treasurer
of the Boston Army Comittee, was then intro
duced as the nephew of Judge Story, and the
merchant who had promptly honored the Com
mission's draft for $115,000, the sum collected
from the patriotic sons of Boston and vicinity
in the day of the Commission's emergency.
SPEECH OF JOS. STORY, ESQ.,
OF BOSTON
He felt that he had little that he could say
after the burning words that had been uttered.
If he could have come out of the dungeon, or
from the smoke and fire of battle, his heart
might be hot within him and his tongue a flame
of fire. But he had not the inspiration, and
felt like retiring in silence from the platform,
to go down still deeper into the love and labor
of the Commission, to pledge himself and his
friends in New England for a heartier and ful
ler consecration of heart and soul and body
and possessions to the cause which follows the
dear boys whom they had so freely given to the
battle. His province had been to further the
business interest of the Commission, to receive
and collect the contributions, and forward them
with the sympathies and prayers of the donors
to the central depot in Philadelphia. Most
affecting are the gifts they bad often received.
Even the little children were giving their pen
nies, "saved for the soldier," to the holy cause.
The acts of self-denial that accompanied these
mites were known fully only to God. The
speaker mentioned a few of them, displaying a
moral heroism beautiful to contemplate. Not
long before, he had been privileged to speak to
3,000 soldiers, from whom the smell of the
battle smoke had not yet departed—strong,
brave men, who were melted to tears as they
heardVhat the little ones at home were doing
for their comfort and safety. And when he
told these husbands, sons, and brothers that as
the evening sun went down, around many altars
mothers, sisters, wives were lifting , up their
prayers to God for l blessings upon "the absent
ones," these veteran soldiers were not too
strong to weep, nay, were not strong enough to
keep back the gushing flow that struggled to
relieve their full and thankful hearts.
DOUBTS DISPELLED
The speaker referred to the doubts that had
been expressed at his office at home, as to
whether the soldiers received the benefactions
that the Commission was entrusted with. He
had been subjected to all sorts of Yankee ques
tionings in this matter, and he was now going
back to give these cautious friends the answer,
not from the Commission, not from himself,
but from the soldiers themselves, whom he had
met and mingled with, and whose testiniony, was
as a sea of hands going up in answer to his
question whether they had ever received the
gifts and blessings of the people from the hands
of the Christian Commission. And not only
the soldiers, but the President, from his bur
den of cares, the members of his Cabinet, of
both houses of Congress, noble Generals from
the field of battle, Chaplains from their minis
trations, all had joined to, bear testimony to the
blessed work of this Commission for the king
dom and, glory of Christ in the army and navy
of the Union.
The speaker denounced in strong terms the
idea that the Commission should in any case `lie
regarded as a charity to the soldier, in the com
mon acceptation of that term. They ap
pealed to the Christian public as having a
just claim upon it, and as reminding them of
their privilege, of a debt they owed•the brave
defenders of all they held dear. The delegates
of the Commission going to the soldier with
the comforts and blessings of the people, go to
them as their wives and sisters and mothers.
Would a wife and mother 'and sister go to her
brother, son and husband, bathe his brow, kiss
his pale cheek, bind up his bleeding wounds,
and feel that it was an act of "charity?" Oh,
no, no 1. Neither in the field, at home, or any
where is this holy work to be regarded as a
"charity," except in the purest, noblest,
highest sense—the outgushing of love for these
noble soldiers, made stronger, deeper, holier,
because of their doings and their sufferings for
us!" (Applause.)
The great distinctive object of the Commis
sion was beautifully set forth by the speaker in
closing. It was not only to press the cup of
cold water to parched lips, which of itself would
meet its rich reward when done in Jesus's name,,
but it was the blessed work of offering the cup
of salvation to those ready to perish. This was
THE AMERICAN PRESBYTERIAN, T
the crowning glory of the work. And oh, how
eager the men were to receive ! He had never
more earnestly wanted to be a preacher of the
gospel, that he might better speak forth the
truths of everlasting life, than when in the sol
diers' prayer-meetings and among these brave
men ; and when he returned to his home, he
could gather his little family around the altar
and supplicate the 'throne of grace as -he had
never done before, in behalf Of this great cause
of God. In conclusion,
the speaker most ear
nestly urged his fellow Christians to PRAY for
the Commission and its work and workers.
The Rev: Edward Hawes, formerly of Water
ville, Maine, now pastor of the Central Con
gregational Church of Philadelphia, was the
next speaker.
REMARKS OF THE REV. HR. HAWES,
OF PHILADELPHIA
He loved the Christian Commission because
it' does, after its measure, just what the Saviour
of men did in his own blessed ministrations on
the earth. It is the embodiment of Christian
love. In the first place, it comes into imme
diate contact with the men in the field. It
brings the homes of the soldiers, with the dear
ones there, down to the very bedside of the
suffering and dying, and with such vivid reality
that the poor men sometimes die in the fond
belief that their own mother, wife, or sister,
has been the patient watcher, and that their last
kiss was from the dear one's lips. A poor boy
lay dying in the hospital. A delegate of the
Christian Commission laid his hand on his
fevered brow. "Oh ! don't do that !" he said,
almost impatiently pushing the 'hand away—
" don't do that, I can't • bear to have you do
that !" " Why ?" "0, it makes me think of
what my mother would do if she was here !"
Then, too, the Commission showed forth the
spirit of the Master in its usefulness—money
could not hire the delegates to do what they do
—and for its care of both body and soul, and
that it treated both friend and foe alike. A
rebel officer at Gettysburg, who had been kindly
cared for by a delegate, said, " You fight us
like fiends, but when you have us in your
power, you treat us like angels !" From the
beginning, also, the Commission has stood on
the side of philanthropy, of humanity, of loyalty,
.of justice, and of liberty, (applause) and the
speaker was glad to see that it had already
erected chapel tents among the colored troops
,of the Army of the James. What effect this
example had had upon the members of Con
gressl he could not say; but the Commission had
certainly led the way in 'proclaiming to the
world its faith in the equality of black and white
men. (Applduse.)
DOWN IN THE WORK
The speaker would take his hearers for a
moment down among the sick and dying in the
field hospitals near Chattanooga, after the
dreadful battle of Chickamauga. Here were
four delegates of the Christian Comraission
ministering to about 2000 men. Pushing aside
the canvas, we enter a hospital tent. In one
corner lies a man. "Can I do anything for you,
my friend ?" " Yes, sir, if you please. I have
lost my Testament, andwouldlike to have one."
We give him one. On the next cot is 'a man
who lies quietly, seemingly without pain. All
but his face is covered. You are not much
injured, I suppose, my dear fellow ?" He looks
up with a faint smile—" Not much, sir,"—but
he has been hit in nine places by a bursting
shell I We pass along, and the steward says,
"Chaplain, won't you come here? We think
this man is dying. Can't you say something to
him?" We bend over him. The cold 'sweat
is already upon his .brow, his eyes are fixed,
fastening themselves in death, but they grow
brilliant, and he mutters something—" See ! a
star I there's a star ! Oh how bright I It's
the star—" and his voice dies out in. death.
Perhaps he is thinking of the Star of Bethle
hem. We hope so, and that it will light him
through the dark valley. We go to another
man in-the next tent, and with the surgeon's
permission give him a single swallow of wine.
And he looks such a beam of gratitude from
those brightened eyes. " Oh, sir, that's good.
What is your name? I shall always remember
you." "How are you getting along, my bro
ther," we say to the man on the next bed.
" Oh, very well, thank you." "Have you a
family?" "Yes, a wife and two little children
in Ohio." "Have you written to them since
the battle ?" It's a foolish question, for we
see in a moment that the poor fellow's right
arm is shattered. "Shan't I write for you !"
He hesitates. Why don't he say gladly, "0,
yes, sir, if you please ?" We repeat, perhaps
he does not understand, " Shan't I write for
you, my friend ?" He looks at us with a queer
air and asks, "How much do you charge, sir?"
Oh how that cuts the delegate's sensitive heart.
" Oh, my dear brother soldier, that is. what I
am here for, to write for you, or to do anything
for you. I will thank you for l the privilege of
writing." " Oh, thank you! thank you! I
will be so glad !" We got paper and pen ready.
1 ` What shall I write?" He begins with ex
pressions of Christian trust, and
_goes on with
a brief description of his condition. "I will
now read it that you may see if it suits," and
we read what is written ; but the man is not
there; his eyes are shut, the big tears are
rolling down from beneath the closed lids, and,
makes no effort to wipe them away—(ah ! the
shattered arm, perhaps,) but no ; that is not it;
he is in. Ohio, with his dear wife and children,
and we will not disturb his sweet dreams.
After a pause, he opens his eyes, and we say as''
the letter is finished, " Will that do ?" And
with such, looks he speaks his gratitude, and
says, "0, yes sir, yes sir, THANK Ton !" and
we leave his side. In the corner lies a man
burdened with the sense of his guilt. "My
dear friend," we say to him, after talking for
some time, "can't you trust Jesus, now?""
"Oh, if I only could! It would be the hap
piest day of my life. Won't you pray for me ?"
And we kneel right down by his side and pour
out our soul before God. There may be card
playing in the opposite corner—but no matter,
the Spirit of God is with us, and the prayer
ascends, and we believe God hears us, for we
leave the man with a trembling hope in Jesus.
Passing out of that tent we come to a little
canvas shelter tent under which a man iis lying.
We bend over him and say, "You ktve the.
Christian's hope, I trust?" "0 yes, sir." I
see no Testament by him. "Have you no Tes
tament?" "No, sir." "Well you must have
one ;" and I proceed to open my haversack—
but he stops me, with "I cannot read, sir."
"You cannot read? Well, then, I will read
for you." We open the precious book, and
God directs us to that verse in Corinthians,
"For we know that if our earthly house of this
taberna-le were dissolved," &c. We read the
whole chapter and then leave him peering up
through the vent in, the canvas covering into
the deep blue sky beyond, where his spirit must
shortly be with the redeemed. This is the
work done in the daytime. And when the
shadows begin to settle down between the long
ranges of hills, and the sun sinks behind the
west, and the stars come out, do we rest from
our work? o,` no! We feel that this is the
quiet hour. We stand at the tent door to enjoy
the tranquil time—but the stillness is broken by
the groans extorted from suffering men, and it
is, borne on the still evening air. -Here and
there the voice of singing is heard. The men
are thinking of home. The night wind blowing
northward is carrying many hearts homeward ;
old, familiar faces peep into the tent door, the
patter of little feet is heard on the floor, and
oh the sweet dream, the soldier's waking dream
of home is upon him. It is the time for impres
sions. We then talk to them of Jesus 'and the
home in heaven, and the welcome awaiting the
faithful. And God blesses the labor. If there
is any privilege on earth that one might well
covet, the speaker knew that this was one—the
privilege of mingling with such men, of encour
aging those who believe in Christ, and of guid
ing those who know not his love to the Lamb of
God that taketh away the sins of the world.
How precious then the truths of the gospel
seem! How real they are! The results you
can hearin every tent. In one corner a man is
sobbing aloud. If you look into the face of an
other man you will see the tears flowing fast.
This man ilyanting to speak to you, to excuse
himself for not joining in the singing. When
RSDAY, MARCH 9, 1865.
he was weft, he could sing, he tells you; but now
he cannot.l And thus the work goes on in tent
after tent. , The delegates go through the whole
range of tlnat field hospital, of two or three
thousand rien, bearing these messages of love
from homeand from Christ to them all. Now,
multiply the work done in that single hospital
by the number of hospitals scattered through
the land, anll the work done by these four dele
gates by the number of men who have labored
for the Co4ission, and we will have some idea
of the vastness of the work and the greatness of
the results that may be expected therefrom.
~,..
SOLD ERS' .PRAYER-MEETINGS.
The speak • next alluded glowingly to the
soldiers' praye -meetings. He wished he could
portray one. B fore you are men in the uniform
of soldierS—tll clothes in which they have
fought.. Here ttre blue coats torn and stained
and faded—a remainder of hard marches, dusty
roads, shelterlitss, sleepless vigils, of battle
fields, fierce charges, bloodshed, and death.
See! One of: ihese heroes rises to speak. I
hear the utter4nces of men learned in Bible
truth. His heirt is full of the Spirit's fire. He
has a full, deetl, blessed religious experience.
The words of These men go through and through
you! So simile, so earnest, coming right out
of their brays, trustful, tender breasts! Why
it is worth, as one has said, a journey to the
Army ofthe Potomac to attend a soldiers'
prayer-meetarl.
CHAPEL TENTS
- - - - - -
And there are the, chapel tents." One
feels as if he *ere dreaming, as ha,goes from
City Point to the front, and finds his way by
telegraph wires, and sits in the cars and is
borne to within easy range of the enemy's guns.
BUt more than this. Who ever before heard of
establishing churches within - the lines .of great
armies, and of holding religious services regu
larly in, chapels, where bronzed soldiers who
fight in the day love'to grather at night to pray,
and where Christ nerves them to fight? These
chapels, standing in the very midst of a park of
artillery, form a sight that before this war the
world never isaw. And it is the result of the
faith and earnest-prayer and labor of the Chris
tian Commission, as expressive of, the interest
of the people of the North in the spiritial wel
fare of these noble men.
The speaker had stood upon Mount Washing
ton when the clouds were thick about him, and
he could not see any whither. But the winds
came and opened a door of vision, and looking
through he could see the beautiful landscape
afar off. These chapel tents seemed to him
like this point of look-out. The men are
brought up to them, and with the eye of faith
they see through the clouds of war, and see the
future of their country bright and glorious with
the blessings of peace. And they need to be
minded oftentimes that they are laying founda
tions, and that nothing great was ever purchased
for the world. but' at the price of blood ; they
need to be reminded that in our conflict the
oppressed of all nations are interested, and are
bending forward to catch the sound of the war
fare as it comes over the sea.
RELIGION* MARES PATRIOTS.
And more. When these men, are converted
to Christ, their love of country is increased.
These chapels -are dedicated to God and to
Liberty. At the close of service in one of them
at City Point, a noble soldier grasped the
speaker by the hand and said, " Thank God for
the Christian Commission 1 I have been in the .
army four years next April Six weeks ago I
came here and found'that I might write :a letter
in the reading-room of the;Christian Commis
sion.. I went. in and
,found a prayer-meeting
there. The Spirit touched my heart, and now
I love the Savionr and feel that I cannot do'too
much for him. :I loved my country before.
Before I went into the war I said that if I had
a hundred lives, I would give them all for it.
But now I love my country more than ever."
And this is the result always.
And now what is the conclusion of the mat
ter? Plainly that it belongs to the Church of
Christ to pour unceasing streams of beneficence
into the treasury of the Christian Commission,'
so long as there is need of it. We are fighting
against the demoralizing tendencies of war.
The church at home does not realize as she
should that many souls of men,
if converted - at
all,— must -be converted - while they are in the
army; and now, when the fallow ground of
humanity is being bruised and broken up by
God's great ploughshare of war and, revolu
tion, then is the time to cast in those great
ruling principles and truths which shall here
after spring up and shake like Lebanon !
Would to God that I could speak worthily
of the cause to-night, and could inspire all
hearts with an earnest desire and impress them
with a sense of the responsibility that rests
upon them in these awful times ! The fact is,
the men in the army are hungering and thirst
ing for the bread and the water of life. In a
sense, the army is like a newly-discovered coun
try, and God is saying to the church, "Go in
and possess the laud." Will the church do it?
If so, when the end shall come of this strife,
and we trust it is not far distant, the land shall
not only have rest, but it shall be ImmanuePs
land, loyal to the King of glory, blest by the
light and love and liberty of the law of Christ,
and shining among the nations because the
.glory of the Lord hath risen upon her. (Ap
plause.). -• " -
SINGING BY CHAPLAIN McCABE
OF ILLINOIS.
The grand " Battle Hymn of the Republic,"
written by Mrs. Howe, which has so often
stirred the fires in patriotic breasts, and kindled
the enthusiasm of great audiences, was now
sung by Chaplain McCabe. Once it was sung
under other circumstances. The dingy walls of
Libby Prison had echoed and re-echoed and
fairly trembled at the sound, when five hundred
swelling hearts hurst forth in the glad song of
jubilee over the Union triumph at Gettysburg.
Many of the poor captives had grown sick of
hope deferred. Their feeble, wasted, vermin
covered bodies were sinking sullenly to death..
The rebel news that General Lee had triumphed
over General Meade, and defeated his whole
army, and that forty thousand Union prisoners ,
were on their way to Southern dungeons, fell
upon them like a thunderbolt. But they could
not, did not believe it! The next day it was
found that the excited telegraph operator at
Martinsburg had ticked the instrument one
cipher too many, and four thousand instead of
forty thousand prisoners were captured ! And
even that was an exaggeration. How like the
baseless fabric of a vision was the whole story
soon discovered to be ! The tables were turned.
The nation was once more saved. And the ex
ultant hearts in Libby, that had often been led
in praise to God by Chaplain McCabe, now
went up in such " Glory, glory, hallelujahs,"
as only the glad and grateful can raise. The
hymn had long been a special favorite of the
chaplain. He had taken it from the Atlantic
Monthly, and finding that it would go well to
"The Hallelujah Chorus," had introduced it to
his fellow-captives. He would go to Libby
Prison again to feel the joy that they felt, and
to hear the song that they sang on that auspi
cious day. The hymn was then sung as follows,
the audience joining in the chorus :
"THE BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC."
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the
Lord :
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of
wrath are stored:
He bath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible
swift sword:
His truth is marching on.
CHORDS — GIory, glory, hallelujah
I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred cir
cling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the evening dews
and damps;
I have read . his righteous sentence by the dim and
flaring lamps
Ilia day is Marching' en.
Cuollus—Wory, glory, hallelujah
I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of
steel:
"As ye deal with my contemners, so with you my
grace shall deal :
Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with
his heel,?"
Since iiud is marching on.
CHORLIS — bIorY, glory, hallelujah I
He has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never
call retreat
He is siftingout the hearts of men before his judgment
Seat:
Oh, be swift, my sot* to answer him! be jubilant, my
feet:
Our God is marching on.
Cuoaus—Glory, glory, hallelujah!
In the beauties of the lilies Christ was born across the
sea,
With a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and
me:
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men
free.
While God Is marching on.
Cnoaus—Glory, glory, hallelujah!
SPEECH OF GENERAL GREGORY,
OF PHILADELPHIA
General Gregory was next introduced as the
leader of the gallant troops who seized arid held
the Weldon railroad below Petersburg. He
was greated with cheers. With pride and grati
fication he acknowledged the goodness and the
greatness of the Christian Commission and its
work, and the many kind offices which it had
done, under his own observation, for the sol
diers in the field. And yet his mind would
recur to the Scripture passage,
.".It is more
blessed to give than to receive." He could not
help feeling that, after all, the great blessing
of the Commission would be realized in the
homes of the North. The habit of giving had
been so developed, and the doors of so many
hearts had been opened by the appeals from
the army, that they would never shut again—
but in the far future, when other calls and other
claims upon benevolence and fraternal love
shall be made, they would be heeded, and
America would be a nation of open, generous,
liberal hearts, and the grace of brotherly love
would pervade the land.
THE BEAUTIFUL CHAPEL
He had abundant reason, however, as a sol
dier, to thank God for the Christian Commis
sion in the army. A few days before he left
camp, his men were building a brigade church.
God had provided the splendid round logs,
right on the ground, also the most beautiful of
carpets made of boughs of the pine tree hand
somely laid down as the boys knew how to do
it, and also the desk, which a curiously shaped
tree that in its infancy had been bent down and
around, making a most suitable pulpit. The
General declared his intention of some day
having it sent to Mr. Stuart as a relic of church
extension in war times, and on the field of war.
Altogether the chapel, which was 30x60 feet, was
a handsome thing. But where should the roof
come from? Oh., friends, when we could say
to the boys, the Christian Commission has sent
you a beautiful canvas, 40x60 feet, to let the
light of heaven through, and yet to shield you
from the weather—they were astonished, and
were unmeasured in their expressions of de
light and gratitude. An admiring sergeant
was reminded by the General that one thing
was yet wanted beside their snug and handsome
church building. They must have the presence
and the power of the Spirit of God. Well,"
said the sergeant, "it's just like God to give
us that, too !" When the chapel was com
pleted, the Lord sent them Bishop Janes, of
New York, to dedicate it,, and the General
knew that hearts were given away that night to
God along with the church, in , holy, solemn
dedication.
The General then expressed himself strongly
in reference to slavery, as the root. of bitterness
in our nation, and. prayed God that the war
might go on a hundred years longer rather than
this blight should still- rest upon the country.
He referred to our armies as the only proper
peace-makers, and to the time when the last
rebel should lay down his arms, as the time for
peace to come. These sentiments were re
peatedly and warmly applauded.
The General, in eloquent terms, alluded to
the comfort and sense of safety that Christian
soldiers derived from the prayers -of Christian
brethren at home ; and in conclusion urged- the
Commission to go on in its good work. "Go
on, Brother Stuart," he said, "go on; your
work is not done. I doubt if it will ever end
while time shall last ; for when the war is , over,
and the sick and wounded in hospitals are dis
missed to their earthly homes or to their long
homes, the Commission will develope itself in
some other of the forms of benevolence that
are carried on for the glory of God and the
good of the world." With a benediction upon
the institution, and upon all its officers and
delegates and friends, the General closed.
It now wanted but three minutes of midnight,
and the wonderful interest was still maintained.
The remaining moments of the day were spent
in praising God by the'grand old doxology, in
long metre, and in receiving the parting bene
diction from the Right Reverend Bishop Lee, of
Delaware.
11,tin5 Jai to eljitttijfo.
CAIRO ; ILLINOIS.—Rev. H. P. Roberts,
late chaplain in the army, has taken
charge of the church in this place.
DEDICATION.—The First Presbyterian
Church in Hoboken, New Jersey, has
just completed a fine house of worship,
which was dedicated to its holy service
on the 23d ult. Sermon by Rev. Dr.
Burchard, of New York.
REV. C. I. Siam, pastor of West
minster Church, Newton, Jasper County,
lowa, died in that town on the 24th ult.,
after a brief illness, greatly lamented not
only by his church and congregation,
but by the whole community.
BRIMFIELD, ILLINOIS.—The church'in
this place is about to receive a pastor in
the person of Rev. Isaac W. Atherton,
formerly of Terre Haute, who has re
covered- from the ill • health which, for
some time past, disabled him for active
service.
PARMA CENTRE, NEW YORK.-A letter
from Rev. E. Allen, of this place, says :
"We are having a deep interest in our
church. The Lord is doing a great work
for us. All the denominations are united
at my church as one people. There has
been a great breaking down both of
Christians and sinners. Quite a number
are already rejoicing in Christ, and some
twenty-five or thirty more seeking, and
more coming forward every night."
IN CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY, the church
of which Rev. I. N. Sprague is pastor,
experienced a revival of spirituality, fol
lowed by several hopeful conversions in
connection with the week of prayer.
Additions to the church are expected.
The "congregation, at its recent annual
meeting, added fifty per cent. to the
regular salary of the pastor, doubling
the amount named in his call some fif
teen years ago.
GALLIEOLIS, Ouio.—We are gratified
to hear that the church at Gallipolis,
under the pastoral care of Rev. R_ D.
Van Deursen, has recently enjoyed a
season of refreshing fr6m the Lord.
Meetings have been held nearly every
evening for six weeks, and some twelve
or fifteen persons have professed a hope
in the salvation of Christ. There has
been no peculiar excitement, but the
work seems to be the quiet work of the
Spirit of God accompanying the presen
tation of the word.— Christian Herald:
THE PRESBYTERY OF STEUBEN, at its
late meeting, appointed Rev. L. F. Laine
commissioner to the General Assembly,
and Rev. S. Vorhis alternate. Luther
Sturdevant was appointed lay commis
sioner.
CANISTEO, NEW YORK.—The friends
of the Canisteo pastor, Rev. L. F. Laine,
have helped him, that he may the better
meet the increased expenses of war times,
to the amount of two hundred and twenty
five dollars, at a recent social gathering.
TRANSFER OF A PASTOR.—ReV. John
Sailor, late pastor'pf the church in Niles,
Michigan, has changed his field of labor
to Allegan, in the same State. His late
charge in Niles exhibited their 'estimation
of him by a generous parting compli
ment of four hundred dollars.
WESTERNYILLE CHURCEE,in. central New
York, has added two hundred dollars to
the regular salary of its pastor, Rev. W.
B. Parmelee, presented him with a purse
of one hundred and eighty-three dollars,
and voted him a short leave of absence
to go out in the service of the Christian
Commission.
OXFORD, OBao.—We noticed, a short
time since the-progress of a revival in this
place. Our church there, (Rev. J. P.
E. Kumler, pastor,) received an acces
sion of thirty-seven new members, on
Sabbath, the 26th ult. A considerable
amount of religious interest still con
tinues.
REV. C. WATERBURY is about to
leave Cedar Falls Church, lowa. The
lowa Falls Church, according to The
Presbyterian Reporter, has suffered an
exode of five-sixths of all its members
during the past three and a-half 'years.
The war has drawn heavily on the male
population of the Cedar Valley Preby
tery.
CARLTON, N. Y.—A letter under date of
March 4 says:—"For about five weeks past
a protracted effort has been in progress
in the First Presbyterian Church in this
place, with the following results :—the
church has been greatly quickened;'the
backsliden reclaimed; the wavering es
tablished; and about twenty are indulg
ing a hope in Christ ; others are still in
quiring, and a deep
,feeling and solem
nity seems to prevail throughout the
community. We are still hoping, pray
ing, and laboring for greater blessings.
ORDINATION.—The Presbytery of Co
lumbus, at its late meeting, ordained as
an evangelist Mr. James A. Laurie. Rev.
Rev. H. S. Clarke, of Baraboo, preached
the sermon; Rev. J. G. Kanouse offered
the ordaining prayer, and Rev. B. G.
Riley gave the charge to the candidate.
Mr. Laurie is supplying the 'churches of
Lowville and Ashington with much ac
ceptance ; the former is sharing in a
revival under his faithful labors. The
Presbytery appointed Rev. D. A. Bas
sett and Elder Agustus P. Smith as
commissioners to General Assembly, and
Rev. Moses Ordway and Elder John B.
Dwinnell as alternates.
WYOMING, this race, Rev.
G. R. Carroll's church, commencing
with the week of prayer, continued
daily services, with little interruption, for
five weeks, the pastor being assisted a
portion of the time by Rev. Mr. Benton,
of Anamosa. The result is that about
fifty " have publicly avowed their deter
ruination to be on the Lord's side." The
pastor thinks that " about thirty give
evidence of the new birth." He says,
writing to the Evangelist In addi
tion to our regular weekly prayer-meet
ing, we have young converts' meetings,
and we can but hope that among the
anxious ones others may be truly born
again. We have great reason, as a
church, to remember the week of prayer.
Three years ago a glorious revival was
enjoyed here, which commenced with
that week, and now again a similar re
sult has attended its observance."
" GOOD" FOR A HOME MISSIONARY
PEOPLE.—The Presbyterian Churches of
IThadilla and Plainfield, Michigan,(which
received two hundred dollars Home. Mis
sionary aid toward a united salary of
five hundred dollars,) have lately in
dulged in a donation. Coming after
both the Methodist and Baptist donations,
many were fearful of small results. But
Plainfield, in this its efirst (fort, aston
ished both people and pastor, in at
tendance, bountiful entertainment, and
net results, amounting to nearly one
hundred and ten dollars. Nor was Una
dilla wanting in any of these essentials,
bringing in some eighty-eight dollars.
Sum total, one hundred and ninety-eight
dollars, almost exclusively in money.
At both houses, kindly opened for the
purpose, young and old seemed highly to
enjoy themselves in "an old-fashioned
time." May God bless every doner with
his own priceless gift, and prepare their
minister, (who has lately passed through
the dark, deep waters of a bitter sorrow,)
to repay these cheering tokens tenfold in
spiritual kind. W. J.' N.
Or' Subscribers , whose year com
menced with the first of January, will
please remember that after the present
month, they will be liable to the FULL
AMOUNT charged on the bills, without the
reduction of fifty cents offered for pay
ment in three months. A careful exami
nation of the bills in each case, will pre
vent all misapprehension.
No subscriptions received, 'and
no open accounts closed, for a less time
than six months.
The crowded condition of our,
columns compels us to defer several
v aluable articles to our next number.