The national Republican., 1862-03-05
RELIGIOUS RE.ADEN"G
FOR THE SOLDIERS,

The meeting TO aid In supplying religious
reading for the soldiers of our army, which
was held at the First Presbyterian church,
large church was well filled by deeply inter.
ested audience, which listened with profound
attention to the eloquent words which fell from
the speakers.
and prayer By the Rev. DR.. Sunderland, the
Rev. J. W. Alvord, who is the Secretary of the
American Tract Society, made = statement Of
the work which the society is doing.
When this war commenced 4 shudder ran
over the land. new and awful thing had
come upon US. This was but for moment
The deep feeling of patriotism filled all homes,
hearts. Money and munitions of war were
furnished freely. Mothers and wives sent
forth their cherished ones, with tears and
heartaches, ye, freely. All classes of society
made It's sacrifices upon the altar of country.
But there WAS another feeling-a Christian
feeling. An earnest desire was felt by Chris
tan hearts, that these brave young men going
forth IN the field for the defence Of our COun.
try's honor, should be grded about by the
power and truth OF the Gospel. Pious hearts
reid a deep anxiety to see these soldiers sup
Piled with the means Of grace. And plan has
been devised. Publications specially adapted
for this purpose have been prepared, and we
are now distributing them 10 the soldiers. (Mr.
A. exhibited specimens of the books.)
These works are small, neatly gotten up in
substantial binding; are not large and heavy,
and consequently can be easily carried 10
the knapsack or pocket, so that they can be
read even on the very battlefield. They con.
tain, in brief, The words of eternal life. Twsn.
ty.fve millions Of pages of this matter have
already been circulated among the regiments.
The Christian Banner, a semi.monthly paper,
containing fresh religious incidents OF the wal,
is also circulated. One hundred thousand
copies Of this excellent little publication have
been given out. By Sabbath morning, the en-.
IRE army Of the Potomac receive the Gospel,
in some Of these forms, each week.
Officers and soldiers speak in praise Of this
noble work. They arc eager for the books,
and not only receive them and read them, but
enclose them to friends at home, and the
mother, when she sees them. prays with double
faith for the absent one. Thus blessed sym
pathy is engendered between the parted ones.
4 large amount of moral degradation is avoid
ed. Sobrety Is encouraged. The temperance
pledge is circulated. In one regiment, eight
hundred have signed the pledge. The chap
j4ins are aided in their work Of the ministry.
One chaplain had stated to him that cloud Of
mercy had broken over the camp OF his regi
ment. Sixty souls had been hopefully converted
This chaplain said he had been thanking God
for the mud and the rain. 1t kept the soldiers
IN, and enabled him TO go from tent 10 tent and
converse with the men on their highest inter-
ests, and the results were glorious.
We have just now a double call. Not only
tho centre, but the right and left wings of the
great national army are calling on us for the
word Of life. Down the Atlantic coast and In
the great West, an earnest Call comes for our
books. We can almost fancy, tonight we hear
and see the pale war. horse IN his deadly tramp.
Thousands more will undoubtedly be slain. Oh
let us give them the bread of eternal life ere
they die
The Rev. DR.. Stockton chaplain of the House
of Representatives, then addressed the meet.
ing. 1t is said our Saviour went about doing
good. Here we are called upon 10 follow his
example. There is no work so glorious ~ t.
lift up and restore to God our fallen fellow man
The motives which should actuate ms in this
matter, are love 10 God and love to our fellow
men. We give God the highest honor, wher
we save n soul to praise him forever. We bless
our fellows, in the creation Of all these affec
tions and sympsthies between the Camp and
the home, and between the homo and the feet
and from all these up 10 God. God loves the
cheerful giver. II ever there WAS time t,
give to a holy cause, this is II. The country
home, liberty-sll lhess-appeal to US 10 ald
this work.
Hon. J. r. Doolittle, Senator from Wisconsin
was then introduced. He was willing to give
his testimony in favor Of this work. The mint
is constantly active. Man requires intellectual
food, and If it is not good, then it will be bad
The great effect of this noble work is to i'm
prove the morale and consequently the powel
If the army. There never WAS such an army
AZ Cromwell had The voice Of prayer Wa,
constantly heard in their camps. So with ou
soldiers. They should feel, that they are n"
only Sighting for homo and liberty, but for re
liglOn itself.
We have put too much confidence In nu
merlcal strength. The God OF battles rules
and be determines the victory. This Is wha
wc want our officers and soldiers to learn
This is not TO be short war. We may ye
have 10 meet the monarchical powers of Eu
rope before we get through this conflict. GOO
only knows what our army Will yet have TO do
How important that this army should be right
y educated! All that we Can do, for the mora
and religious improvement of the army, as cit
iZenB and aS Christians, we ought to do.
Or. sunderland thanked the gentleman fol
the remarks which had been made. Surely
we ought 70 feel An interest in the men who hx(
left peaceful homes TO battle for u.s. And Goo
has seemed by his providence 10 call us to thi'
work.
Tho months of bad weather, which every on,
called great misfortune, has only been u goot
opportunity for sowing the good seed in th'
hearts OF six hundred thousand men.
A collection was then taken up, whc
amounted to about 500, and the meeting Wa
Clnsed sfrrfi