Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-10-22
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THURSDAY MORNING, OCT. %.
U. S. OnRrsrlAx COMMISSION. We


held here on Tuesday evening in behalf of
the ted States Christian Commission.
A condensed statement Of some of the
farts, Gall we can make room for, J in rela-
ton to the origin and work of the Com
m. sio., as given by the speakers on
that occasion, will be Of interest to those
of our readers who were not present. The
Commission had its origin, said Mr.. De-
mond, with the Christian Young men of
New York, who wished 10 do something
for both the spiritual and temporal welfare
of the soldiers and sailors. Its work is
two-fold-at home and in the army. The
work at home consists in striving to keep
alive an interest in behalf of the soldiers
in visiting them at recruiting stations, or
on shipboard, or wherever they are con-
gregated-also, in holding meetings and
gathering funds and stores.
The work is done in the army by means
of persons called delegates" who re-
ceive no compensation for their services, only
their necessary expenses being betrayed.
None, however, will be employed whoiwill
not serve for at least six weeks, and none
who do not give evidence Of being well
adapted to the work. They will preach,
hold prayer meetings, nurse the sick, and
perform any service that occasion requires.
The Rev DR.. Mlngins, of Philadel-
phia, (who was present. was one of four
who first went out in May, 1862, and dis
tributed tracts and other religious read
ing. Since then over | 400 different per-
sons have been engaged in the service of
the Commission, some of them twenty
times. One man left salary of ST. 200,
labored nine months in the Army of the
Potomac, and paid his own expenses.
Some others had returned from their work
of several weeks, and after defraying their
own expenses had handed over to the
Commission fifty dollars for the prioitege
accorded them of doing so much good.
Devoted men have also labored in Reese
GRAMS and Burnside's armies, carrying in
one hand the bible and in the other gar
ments, decacies, whatever the immediate
wants of the soldier required. Ministers,
doctors of divinity, lawyers, merchants,
and Others, have engaged in this work.
Some of them have marched seventeen
miles in day under hot sun on the Pen
insula, to serve the soldiers.
In their BATH. feld work there was great
call for kind ministrations to the body,
and Christian consolation to the soul. The
men who engage in this work are expected
to be minute men. 1t has not unfre-
quently happened that the leading minis
tiers Of Philadelphia have received notice
on Saturday night, and have left their
pulpits vacant on Sunday to labor on the
battle field.
AT Gettysburg four hundred and thirty
men were employed, and $3.50, 1000 worth of
stores, &C., were distributed. The question
is sometimes asked, why not leave the
stores to the Sanitary Commission ? The
answer is, that organization send stores to
surgeons to be used by them as they
think best the Christian Commission use
their articles as key to unlock the ave-
nues to the heart and soul. The officers
Of the army have always co-operated to
the extent Of their ability, sometimes Civ
ing orders for supplies of their own to be
delivered to the delegates
The chairman of the Commission, Mr..
Stuart, is leading merchant Of Philadel-
phia, having branch house also in Liver
pool, but he gives his whole time, except
about one hour day, and sometimes that,
to this cause. He gives one loft of his
store for the use of the Commission, and
often the time Of his clerks. After the
battle of Gettysburg he shut up his store,
and set all his men to work for the SOL
diers. Some others connected with the
Commission are,equally liberal. n .aa
:. The Commission pay little or nothing
for rent anywhere, it being generally given
them. Railroads everywhere give free
passes. No agents are employed to col
lect funds. Telegraph operators charge
nothing for dispatches. The Bible Society
supplies all the Testaments that are want
ed. The expenses were, therefore, so
light that Mr.. Stuart's estimate was that
ninety-eight per cent. Of all the contribu-
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