The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1861-12-28
THE SOLDIERS.

Rev. Mr.. Duncan, in the Richmond Chris
tiaa Adcocote, gives a touching and beanti-
full description of sour volunteers" as he
has seen them pass through our city this
summer and fall. As regiment after regi
ment come and 60, we see the dark-eyed
Southern-the free hearted-bold Western
err, and the blue, eyed mountain boy; each
with distinctive characteristics, but all uni
ted in one resolute purpose to maintain our
independence and drive back the invader.
We unite heartily with the Aacocate in say
ing:
ave love these sun-5rowned, self-sacri-
fcing men-wonder if the Generals are as
proud of them as we are! They are objects
of perpetual interest aud admiration. If
We could be ubiquitous We would like to
stand by every one Of those noble men by
day and watcl with the sentinel guard every
night till the end Of the war"
And in his closing remarks about their
religious interests:
"What responsibility is on the church
in respect to these soldiers Really, it
seems to US, Christians are not half awake
yet on this subject. So suddenly has this
great demand for spiritual energy been
made, that we have hardly yet realized how
much there is to do, much less devised
system adequate to meet the Interests that
must be regarded. The church ought to
arrange some systematic plan for furnishing
colporteurs to the army. Let brave, self
sacrificing men be employed to go to the
winter quarters of the soldiers, bearing the
bread of life-cO-Operating with the chap
Notwithstanding the gifts of the benevo-
lent and the comforts kind ones would
cheerfully provide. Something of this sort,
to a limited extent, has been done, but how
little compared to what we might accom-
plish. Let US I'll the tents of the army with
the light and love of the church. Let us
turn upon the camps an army of missioDa-
ries-itinerant preache.s-suPported by
fund specially raised for the purpose, who
will 60 from regiment to regiment and be
blessings, in the name of the Gospel, unto
all"
Upon this very subject a correspondent
writes US from Manassas:
"Can not some effort be made to procure
chaplains for our hospitals? am sure that
an immense amount of good could be &C
cOmplished if this desirable result could be
brought about. Many immortal souls could
be brought to believe in, and rely on the
merits, and atonement of cruciGed Sa-
yiour, that now pass from earth to eternity
without, in a majority eff cases, having a
word of consolation spoken to them. On!
how many poor sick soldiers would hail with
Joy and gladness the way Of salvation, had
they some one to tell them the touching
story of the Cross, and to point them to the
Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of
the world.
81 have just had conversation with a
chaplain of Virginia regiment, who was
with thirty VINO died, that gave him salts
factory evidence that his exhOrtations to
them had not been in vain, aud that his
conversations with them had turned them to
seek crucifed Saviour.
"Can not You, of the religious press
bring this important matter up before our
Government, in such light as to cause it
to act at once9 To appoint one chaplain
to each hospital of the Confederate States,
would be an insignificant SUN Of money ex-
pended, and if it were very considerable,
the amount of good accomplished, the CON-
fort given to cur sick and dying soldiers
would be of incaculable value. But God
can supply all the means, or rather, can
place in our reach all that is necessary to
meet the Confederate wants, il we prove
faithful to Him"