The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-05-16
J, ,s1.x MAy".sgSss.
A. Interesting Doc.msst-Ths report read
>Afore the anuusl meeting Of the Young Men q

a
N4fore the anpuSl meeting Of the Young Mems
Ctrisr'sn Association. Nv J p Watkins, Ee1
President Fhowtug gh, operations ~ TIE A.
s}ri alto, f,r the tast rear in .he rsi'Dpe as"
'nspifais OF this a y aud vicinity, atiuieo TO
py us in a late issue. presents one OF unusual
interes. and usefulness, Of which We append "a
brief synopsie. 1t will amply repay psrusal'
Amer q commentary on the war. the report
goes on TO state that Il has materially innu'
snsed the labors of the Association In closing
up some avenues Of usefulness aud opening
Others l. has enlisted at least three fourths
Of lie effective material in calling to the ne'o
several hundred of ito best members. Its mis-
sion has bsen manifold, aud its ordinary OBJ
iects removed by the transfer OF our native
young men from their homes to the army aud
the substitution Of strangers and so1ourners
who have como forth from other > xtes and
neishhorhoods to brave the brunt OF the battle
Until the "claah Of arms' sounded on the
ear. and the blood of our brothers crimsoned
the soil, It seemed almost impossible that the
citizsns of the United States, % many Of
whom were Christians, would confront each
other In deadly strife. The prayers Of 20
many of the pious had pleaded for the prefer
walton of peace, thatwe could not believe thst
voices 30 lately blended in petitions at Rich-
mond Charleston. Troy, and New Orleans,
would 90 soon shout the slogan VI tbs murder
Gus charge.
The Central Committee Of the Confeder.
alta Youpp Mems Christian Associations OF
North Amerios had been recently located III
this city The Richmond Association furnish,
81 the men " no had performed its arduous ana
important labors The President Of the New
O,lesns Convention, and the First Vice Presi-
dspt Ct the Troy Convention, belonged to our
Associ stiOni Thus intimately connected Win
An organic alton neither sectarian nor sec
tipnal in its character, 1t seemed not lnappro-
priste that from our ASSOCIATION, located ia
The capital of central and conservative State,
should emanate one last, honest, and eafhss'
effort 10 dispel those gloomy poftehF. Az
cordinyly, on ,hs 9th ofMay, 1861, circular,
signed by the present aud two OF the previous
presidents Of our Association, was prepared
nrint. d. and addressed to the Ionng Mems
Christian Associations o! Ncrth ~Auefca'-
To this peace Offering responses We're rs
csiyed from some Associations IN the Nortnern
States. They did no, bre-the the spirit 10.
which We hal hoped anu prayed. oe'erai 81
taem were respec.tHl, while others outraged
the rules of common courtesy
The stern reality of war burst upon as ana
summoned not only many OF our members 10
the field but some to the soldiers grave. One
who had mingled in the Christian communion
of the Troy Convention was slain, for aught
we can tell, by a hand lifted with his own IN
drawer in that memorable assombly-Our be.
loved brother, Jas. h. Lse, VINO fell MORALLY
wounded in the battle of Ball Run, and also
Humphrey II. Miles, another member of our
Association. Others, who although they did
rot fall in battle, met death in the cause Of
their country, viz: Joseph Laidley, John Hall
Crew, Harvey a, Dadley, DE-. Thos l. Hun
ter, K. G. S5anard, of diseases contracted III
the camps or hospitals, and John L. Snither,
of the accidental disch4 rge of a pistol. Six
others in the active list OF members died OF
causes, making fourteen of active
Mr.. Henry V. Picot, one of our
associate memeers, Gled a few days since, OF
received i'll the battle OF kernstown.
He sealed his patriotism with his blood, and
sleeps beneath that soil which he diea to de
fend. We knew Henry V. Picot de Boisfeil-
let. Though native OF France, he was one
of the first TO buckle on MS armor in defence
OF the sunny South. He died Christian SOL
der, and was beloved by all who knew him
for his many amiable qualities. Seldom have
we heard more affecting sermon than the one
delivered on his funeral obsequiss, by the
Rev. DR.. Psterkin. Ia the large congregation
present few fearless eyes were to be seen.
Sal usu,, end dark, wsrs II, tears th., we
As nisht dow shs. falis op The grave DER his
asAi:
Bat the nj ht d5w that fails, though la si.s1ca;
werps.
Shall bris VIII verdure tho grave where &c
il.eps;
Ana the tea th.t We sh &. thocga In sscIet /,
rciia
Shall long ke4o his memory green Ia cur rouls.
Since the Iast annual meetin. as new mem.
oers have been elected by the Directory-2I
active, III associate, and four honorary. After
excluding Contributors to the reading room
who nave heretofore been enumerated AS
members, and all those who by non .compi-
aura rriIn tho rnpsfituticy, ard destinations
nave dissolved their connection with the Asso-
citation, the aggregate membership numbers
60O-S0 honorary, ~ life, 2SU active, 800 asao-
cate. The library contains 2 600 volumes Of
select books, Of which about : so ,gera with
drawn for psrusal during the year. The rsad
ing room ia well supplied with leading papers
from nearly every city In the Confedesacy not
in possession of the enemy.
The attention of the Association has been
directed to tho spiritual and corporal wants
of our soldiers in the field. Visitors have been
appointed TO visit the hospitals and campo;
distribute tracts, testauents, and religious eX.
ercises held with the soldisrs, and in one Of
the hospitals preaching every Sabbath. The
Association has also several mission Sabbath
schools under its fostering care, conducted by
several of it's members, but for the most part
by noble band Of Christian women, who, in
sunshine and storm, are ever ~ their posts. In
the BstheI school alone there are ITO scholars.
5 male teachers, 10 female teachers, and one
Superintendent, Mr.. Seight. In the library
there are 200 volumes.
Owing to the inability Of the city hospitals
to comply with all the demands made on them,
the Association last August, in connection with
the Ladies' Spiders Aid Society, established
three hospitals in the city, and In response to
advertisements aud circulars, provisions of
all kinds were generously contributed by the
citizens Of Richmond and other portions of
the South, and Christian Associations in the
Confederacy the whole being under the i'm.
mediate supervision of the Army Commit
tee of which Col VIM. P. Munford is chair
man.
On the 18th of February last, the "Soidiers
Lodge was opened on 10th street. between
NJ ain and Cary Number Of soldiers gratui-
tously entertained since its establishment,
1890, and increasing amount of contributions,
1885,; amount on hand, $l25. The expenses
of the committee amount to $500 per month.
Total amount of cash received since the Or
aanization of the Army Committee, q, 500
Balance on hand, 81 ,So4, of which 81 ,654
are applicable to the general purposes Of
the committee. In addition TO the
current expenses, II considerable amount
has been expended in purchasing materials,
which were manufactured by the ladies
into clothing for the soldiers. The following
articles were from time to time distributed by
the committee; Comforts aud spreads, 1850;
socks, 5000 pairs; gloves, 200; mattresses,
100, blankets, $780, new shirts and drawers,
$50; packages to care of committee, $50;
packages shipped to different portions of the
army, 400. In addition to the foregoing, the
committee have received pillows and cases,
sheets, towels, cots, bed ticks, provisions,
medicines, and other articles of great value,
too numerous TO mention.
The hoerality displayed by our fellow -citi-
zsns in various ways and more especially by
tho ladies, in responding to every call, en-
courages the committee to go forward in their
mission Of mercy" and TO render all the ser
vice in their power to promote the temporal
and spiritual welfare Of our soldiers, and thus
subserve the cherished cause in which we are