Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-08-14
For the Journal
THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.

Mr. EDITOR :-Dear OH w lii l'hf t'i
the benefit Of the United States Christian
Commission" land so for the benefit of our
soldiers, for their interests are one.) give
place in the Journal to the following extracts
from letter in the last number Of the New
York Observer, from J. w Stevenson, Secre-
tary Of the American Tract Society Mr.
S. in writing Of hospital labors after the late
battle at Gettysburg, aud after speaking of
the efforts put forth by benevolent societies .
for the relief Of the sick, wounded and dying
be says
." cannot doubt that numerous lives were |
saved. and vast suffering prevented by this
united and earnest Christian effort. Nor
could 1.-THE of this good have been effected I
if the benevolent at home had withheld the /
stores used by the laborers. Thousands of
men have been relived, strengthened, and put
upon the way Of recovery, by the cordials,
fruits, stimulants and delicacies prepared at
far northern homes, by willing hands, ana
sent forward with sympathizing prayers.
And let me here answer a question often
asked me as ! PASS through the land and
plead for the soldiers. namely this Do
the provisions and delicacies prepared 50 as
siduously By fond friends, and sent forward,
ever reach the soldiers for whom they are in
tended. or do not the employees Of the as
sociation regale themselves upon the delca-
cies and leave the poor patients unsuppIed:
! have usually given to the charge implied in
this question an indignant denial So tar as
my observation has extended, mainly IN con-
nectjon with the Christian Commission, a
prompt denial is all that is needed.
The deieacies adapted 10 the wants Of the
sick soldiers, sent through the Christian Com
mission, reach their object.
SO far as good men can be relied on to
work unseldshly for their fellow men, 80 far
may donors rely upon the workers in the
Christian Commission to do wisely and well
With the stores pat at their disposal For
this special work at and after battles, there is
absolute need of this form Of effort The
delegates do a grand work, which else would
not be done. add which we believe was never
before done for any army The desutuuon Of
religious reading at Gettysburg for the
wounded during the first week after the bat
/ lie, was greatly to be regretted. While the
/ first want OF wounded man is that bis
bodily suferings be alleyiated, his next
is somlth ing TO occupy his mind. and
meet the longlngs of bis heart. This mental
ana sP'r''ua. craving is incess'n' anu "''no''
a...-,t' ...t .,..,.i o.i'.,,..,,. h,. ,,;nd u.
stimulated to unwoptsd activity. and if not
furnished with mental aiment ia printed
I form, be will resort 10 games and Then go
/ gam Dung OF TO 'no r'usn anu procure a',
,a,to ,o.r ,ba,.l,r, n,..sblo ,b.n Civ.
them tbis m ptd aliment Ii was remarka-
! BILE how soon this want Of religious reading
was felt Scarce had the roar OF artillery
ceased 10 ret7toeta'e rom 'ns p'aN' Oh o'u''
NV Toa,1rsa,
Mr. s. saws further. tina. ChaplMn Earn.
shaw Of the reEular army remarked to him
.,tbat he had found men repeatedly who had
died holding a tract. or the Tcstamen, open
before their now glazed ewes. Their spints
had evidently passed away while dwelling
upon some presious truth there written
While there is abundant reason for graft.
'uuo anu 'n +''''s '''' ''.''
4 Iy aid oi our Nzen- ihe ives OF SOD many W