M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1862-07-17
LETTER FROM A PRIsonER.


LETTER FROM A PRIsonER.
CONFEDERATE MILITARY Pnsos, I
i Salisbury, N. C. June 81, 1864.
EDS. CoM.-In my last informed
you of being prisoner; now 1t is my
painful duty Of informing you also Of
being a hostage. On the 14th ints..
myself and DR. Slocum, Of the Navy,
drew the unlucky numbers as hostages
for two Assistant Snrg geOns, said to be
held by our Government under sen.
fence of death. In case Of tLeir exc.
cution, You will no more hear FROM
me;but | have no fear Of any such thing
ever taking place, tor who ever heard,
inthe days Of civilized warfare, ola
Surgeons being a prisoner; moreover
under the senten,e Of DEATH
Why, such thing barbarous to be
thought Of not alone talked OF ard
done.
want you to use your influence,
and give the powers that be in Wash
ington, "stirring up" and get the 70.
lease Of those Surgeons, which win,
no doubt give us our release; If not
from prison it will from hostage, and
take away the disagreeable thoughta
of being strung up to the limb Of a tree
some fine morning.
have written to Washington on
the matter, but will rely great deal
more on home influence in my favor.
Our Cincinnati friends are all here
ard in fine health. 1t. Col. Neff look
better than ever ! have seen him be-
fore, and were it not from being sep.
Grated from them would enjoy my.
self hugely.
Capt. Austin, of the I'd Kentucky,
and Capt. O'Mean Of the 1st Tam
many regiment, are also cenfned as
hostages for two Captains, said to be
held by Gen. Fremont. close, with
hopes ofhearing from you soon, and
how you are prospecting. Sincerely
your friend and we'll wisher.
JOHN B. HUFFMAN.
i P. 81 came very near forgetting
to mention our treatment here. 1t is
good. Maj. Goodwin does all in bis
power TO make us feel comfortable and
at home. Our meals are good, good
bread and fresh every day--good
meats. ham and bacon. j. 3. d.
An GnIIsSeTm0n M0Vement In
England.
A movement has been commenced
in England which is exciting much
discussion in the newspapers. 1t is
to abolish sermons, or to make it un-
dorstood that the congregation assem-
bles on Sunday for singing and prayr
only, and that, this part Of the service
completed. there shall be pause, du-
rirg which those who do not wish TO
hear the sermon may retire.
The anti sermon agitatofs complain
that the Episcopal liturgy is itself long
enough, and that a sermon of an hours
duration, superadded to this is more
than weak and exhausted human ma
ture can bear. They add that the
dread Of the sermon keeps away from
church many who would like to attend
aud. join in the regularly appointed
worship of God. "There is o grow
ing feeling amongst thinking men,"
says the Spectator, "that the sermon
institution, at present enforced, is
altogether intollerable, that IL Is an
intellectual burden which more or less
saps the life Of modern churches and
more, perhaps, than anything else in.
troduces the dry rot into social wor-
ship" What the kind OF sermon is
against which this protest is made in
England, may he seen from the Spec.
tator's description.
"Why are we TO listen, as we do
every Sunday, with grave acquies-
cence, to the most express statements
as to the inner scenery of Elijah's
mind when be was under the
juniper tree, or the motives which in
Guced Balaam TO keep Balak's mess-
engers for another night, or the reason
why twelve baskets of Fragments were
taken up after one miraculous feast,
and only seven after another, OF why
St Paul left his cloak at Troas, or the
rationale OF infant baptism, or the caus-
es why there was no bishops OLce,
and Why they were appointed tor onr
sins, or any ether Of the many snes-
lions was weekly hear decided for ns
without any possibility Of protest.,
why are We to listen patiently % q.
!, these ficieal en- eatAsdrd explanations
; from the men whose reasons torsup-
porting a po.itical candidate for Far
|iiament We should scarcely weigh oat
all. and whom we might decliiae to
hear ubon the ethics Of family As!"