Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-01-29
HARPER'S FERRY PAROLED PRISONERS
IN THE CHICAGO NOON MEETING.

IN THE CHICAGO NOON MEETING.
The newspapers called it great blum
der, but God made it rich blessing
The transportation of seven or eight thou
sand men to point SO remote from the
place where they were paroled and from
their own homes, at an expense of tens, if
not hundreds of thousands of dollars, Was
certainly and economic blunder unless
the threatening appearance of the Indian
war in the North West at the time the or
der was given, justified it. But whatever
may be our opinion of its national aspects,
the movement was certainly blessed in its
results to souls. The Christian Associa-
ton of Chicago labored very diligently for
the good of the paroled soldiers, and they
received an abundant reward for their la
bors. One of the pleasant fruits was the
crowding of the noon meeting with these
soldiers, and the consequent scenes of in
terest that were continually occurring.
Some of the young Christians among
them were remarkable for the piety, orig
inally, and force of their remarks and
prayers. And numbers became Chris
tians during their sojourn here. When
the venerable Chaplain of the Sixteenth
Ohio Regiment bade the noon meeting
farewell, he said with much feeling: " l
must confess that | came to Chicago with
great reluctance. We had been basely be-
trayed, and were compelled to come here
in disgrace and remain powerless to aid
our country. All things seemed to be
against us. But Gods ways are not our
ways. | now bless him that came here.
have enjoyed much spiritual good in
your meetings, and in labors with the
members of your Association. And many
of the soldiers under my care will have
reason to bless God through eternity thai
they We're brought here. Numbers have
been converted through your efforts, anC
: they have written to their friends to pro
pound their names for church membership
so that they may unite with the people o
r God when they return home. He will re
ward you for your labors of love among
u.s." And surely we had our reward il
the fruits which God had given.
! On another occasion just before thei
departure the Chaplain of an Illinois reg
iment occupied the chair. At the close o
the meeting he said: "The time is gone
but there is one striking fact | wish t
communicate for the encouragement of tn
brethren to continue their labors Las
a might the meeting in camp was electrifie'
1 by the striking exhortations of convert
/ ed backslider, who had been preacher Q
n the gospel for years, but also had fallen S
!. sadly, as to become one of the most pre-
o fame in the army. By the grace of Go
J. blessing your instrumentality, he no.
o seems to be dispossessed of the evil spiri
k and to be sitting at the feet Of Jesus.
: The Chaplain of the 18th New York Ree
a iment remarked: Il have word to sa
# about that case. When we were encaml
c ed in the neighborhood of Harpcr's Ferr,
i that mans tent was next to mine, and !
|, was so awful profane, that if we had n,
changed our quarters, would have mo-
l. cd my tent to get out Of hearing of h
horrid profanity. If God has blessed yol
d efforts to his salvation, you need not
J. discouraged about laboring for the mo
IS hopeless
II A member of the Association arose al
D. spoke. :" l too, have something to 81
t. about that man before We are dismisse
4, A few nights ago, at the services in Can
y Douglas broke up, boy came to me, al
IF putting his arms around my neck, sal
d wont you please speak to that tall mi
10 going out of the door? He wants you