The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-09

THE MORAL CONDITION OF OUR SOLDIERS
MELTING OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE ARMY
COMMITTEE SERVICES Ar THE REFORMED DUTCH
CHURCH, WASHINGTON SQUARE.
Tho splendid ed6ce known as the Reformed Dutch
church, situated in Washington square, was crowded last
evening by fashionable congregation hear addresses
from Rev Messrs Goss and Hitchcock In relation to the
present moral condition Of our army At the seat of war
and recommending the best sans 70 DO adopted IN for
"aus The SAFE The energetic efforts Of the Evangeli-
M "u's in advancing the moral interests OF our SOL
is deserving Of commentator. and from the state
.ent of the Row. Mr. Goss last evening" would appear
that they doing vast amount Of good among the
camps in the vicinity Of Washington.
The services Of the evening commenced at half-pas'
o'clock, Rev. Mr.. Smith officiating upon the coca
sion, and occupying the chair.
After prayer singing the 177th hymn Rev. Mr. Smith
ia few short and appropriate remarks stated the object
OF the meeting. They had been called together by
mittee OF the Evangelical Alliance, who had been specially
appointed To attend TO the Interests Of our soldiers
order TO determine the best method to DO adopted IN the
work now in their hands Hc concluded by exhorling the
congrega n TO do all that lay IN Their power TO aid tbs
socety IN the praiseworthy work ia which they were en-
| gagged
Rev. Mr.. Goss, Missionary Secretary of the Alliance
who has just returned from visit ~ the camps around
Washington next proceeded to give his experience, and
| the work which tn, society performing in that
quarter. They (he society send 100 packages OF
religious pa ers weekly TO tho soldiers through Aans
| Express q. m any VINO convey them gratutously over
half a million Of tracts and other religious iocu
l a1i are also sent with the papers, which are
| distributed throughout the different camps by com
| miXe Of three Stationed in Washington. Since
| the. fevcrCnd geatemans return from Washingio on
| he had been repeatedly asked his opinion relative
to the condition OF affairs in that quarter, but he
could now only say that strong enough To put
down the present rebellion They (the cergymen) were
under obligations not speak OF tho strength tho
| numbers at Wash nston when they came here North.
He, however sar TO the Adjutnt General that we should
! never put down rebellion Willie trampling upon the
| divine law. lie would rather that this should be
fought forever than have patched up by dishonorabe
peace. The question was not when this war should
| be terminated, but how it should be terminated.
Tho reverend gentleman then went at some length
discuss the relative bear nes of the present and
It's effect upon institutions. With regard the
of our soldiers, he would admit that it very did,
cult matter turn these men from that channel OF mill
tary enih asm into serious consideration Of spi it al
IN ttes lie (he soeaker) had spoken to various mill
tay cnnanieIs rfative to the introduction Of religious
discipline into heir regiments, but they rema ked that II
they pursued sch course 1t would upset their whole
code Of military tactics. He had spoken the President
relative 10 the bject, when he assured him that 9
would 90 AL Ia his power III the matter The President
had not over much Christianity about him, but every line
IN his tnrrowed checks indicated the strictest honesty.
General Mct !ean whom the speaker highly eulogised
had issued an order last Friday, commanding that more
general respect be paid to the sabbath, they
lighting in holy cause; that all unnecessary work
drills, parldes &c, b. at once abstancd from, and
that no battle be fol gt upon that day unless com eed
| by the enemy This in accordance with "a petition
presented by the Evangeic Alliance some time since
and he hoped that Secretary Cameron should he con
strained ere long to issue like order that might extend
throughout the whole country. There army ever
existed so wei cared for Meme in the world bet
ter fed better paid better clothed the fact was they
had got too much noney. They morally now
than before they had any money to spend In passing
through the camps recently he found everything prog
ing WELL Chaplains were doing their best, sisters Of
mercy doing their best, all doing Their best
make the soldier happy He had visited the hospitals al
Washington, Georgetown and Alexandria, and there also
found the soldier well cared for He also visited til,
state House, where several rebel prisoners were
With regard to vices in camp, the principal ones which
the speaker enumerated swearing, drunkenness
and gambling He heard colonel day
private because the subordinate in the habit OF using
profane Language Scarcely tent could be found II
which there not pack Of cards. Professional gam
blcrs were found almost among every regiment VIII,
were winning the money Of the unsophisticated youn.
men connected with our volunteers. Liquor ais,
intr 'duccd into the tents, although 1De o. S25 wa
levied upon all persons who detected selling tn
Intoxicating beverage to soldiers. The reverend gentle
man concluded lengthy and eloquent address by exhot
ing relatives Of our sol icls at the Of
the latter in their letters to keep away from these vices
The most potent argum mt far above newspapers tracts
or anything else, was the moher's we's sisters
treaty
Rcv. Mr. fiTcHoocK, D. d., followed in short address
which related almost entirely to discussion of pre-
sent
After further religious services the meeting
closed.