, 1863-05-01
TIE ENATl0NAL FAST IN CHICAGO
Religious Observance of
the Day.
THE UNION METHODIST
MEETING,
Abstracts Of Sermons and
Addresses.

Abstracts Of Sermons and
Addresses.
The Young Mems Christian AssocIa
don mcctfnE.-1ntcrcsting Le1-
tcrfrom Gen. Ffskc.-Matcr4-
aI increase of the War
Fund.-Prerident Elm.
coin madc a Lilo
Member.
In pursuance Of the Proclamation or th,
President, yesterday was very generally OBJ
served as a day Of fasting and humiliation
and Of prayer for the success of our arms
The Post Office and Custom House ver
closed during the larger part Of the day. m,
the banks transacted no business, The usua
busy, excited Change was quiet, and the tra,
fc Of the Board suspended Ali of our promf
nent mcrcnants and business men closed thei
Offices and stores for the entire day, 60 tia
an air OF comparative quiet reigned through
out the city, although much necessary bus,
ness WIS transacted, and the streets Ver
filled with the laboring classes, who were en-
5oy1ng the day as one Of recreation. Our cit
izcns very generally attended divine worshi,
in the respective churches, all OF which wcr,
well filed. The sermons were UNIVERSAL,
connected with the war, and abstracts O.
many Of them are presented below.
. The Methodist Societies united at the Clarb
street Church, and instead Of formal sermon,
brief addresses were made. The Young Mems
Christian Association observed the day ut
Brynn Hall, In the afternoon, with appropri-
ate exercises. An immense audience WAS in
attendance. In addition to the regular i'd
dresses, contribution was taken up to aug
ment the War Fund, which resulted in the
handsome sum Of $500. A pleasant feature Of
the meeting WAS the subscription Of the
requisite sum TO constitute ABRAHAM LIN
coin, President Of the United States, Life
Member Of the Association A dispatch was
forwarded to Washington at night to that
effect.
In all Of tho meetings, q deep religious feel
ing was manifested. The words of the pas
tors were eloquent and feeling, and will tend,
invested as they are with the sanctity Of the
pulpit, to create still deeper and more glow
ing patriotism in the hearts of the people.
Below we suhjoin our report Of the meet
ings: .---.-
At BRIAN HALL.
The meeting at Bryan Hall, yesterday after
noon, was largely attended, the house being
entirely filed ]. C. Fargo, esq, presided.
The exercises we're opened by singing the
National Hymn, My Country" after which.
Rev. Dr.. Woodbridge led the immense auli.
ence in prayer. Rev. Alr. Halsey then read
portions Of the Scriptures.
that Rev. MI. Chidlaw, who was expected.
and announced Us one Of the speakers, had
not arrived.
Rev. Nj. Stewart, OF tue North Presb7tcr,-
an Church, addressed the meeting. BE said
our object in coming together today was to
our Sins The speaker entered into a thor
ough analysis Of the character Of sin, aud
Nhat particular sins the people have to re-
peIt Of We arc not called upon to repent
OF only those sins which we may abandon and
repent Of without any trouble. lie dwclt at
some length upon what he considered the sius
Of the nation AID the people,
heT. 1T. Glenwood being nnounced, sta
ted he was gra1if1ed to sec such q large assem-
elage, Who were wiling to come humbly be-
Tor their sins, but those Of the nation. God
has crowned all our efforts for years with sue
GEES; bnt We have failed to recognize and &C.
knowledge His hand in our prosperity. We
nave failed to recognize the humanity of man,
rs man, not because be was in bondage,
merely, but because OF his humanity aud nos.
session Of On immortal soul.
Never was an army in the world SO well fed,
We'll clothed, and promptly paid, as our Fed.
eral army; but what have re DONE or what
a1e ,c doing for the intellectual and spiritual
welfare OF the soldiers? lie entreafed the
audience remember tha sc11;.r r,oS ->,,I-
In their prayers, but in their continuous kind
acts.
Rev Mr.. Savage, agent of the Boston
Tract Society, called the attention Of the au-
care for the moral and spiritual wants Of the
soldiers, as the opportunity has been given
us. The sanitary wants have been noblv met,
from all parts Of the country, yet there are
many, aye, thousands in the army who feel
the Wnnt Of mental pabulum, more severely
supply. No enormous sacrifice is demanded,
NO great outlay rcquired-but the concerted
action Of their friends would keep this supply
constant and abundant. In the minds Of
many, IN interest has been awakened, for the
welfare Of tocfr souls, since they were in tho
army, such as they never knew before. He
alluded to the very important results Of the
labors Of the 7. NJ. Christian Association, in
supplying these wants, and the expressions Of
=. gratitude from the soldiers, whether In tho
AS4Nt VI Vu VIC A4At49k'Ol LII luE uOSDll.A,
As the speaker related the scenes which he
had witnessed In the hospitals, and the words
Of the soldicrs-the messages they send back
to their friends, q tear drop twinkIed In ulany
q steter's eye, and followed the furrowcd
cheek Of many mother who has loved ones
In the army. Be closed with IN appeal for
contributions Of reading matter for the SOL
diers.
Letters OF deep Interest wcrc read by the
Secretary from Capt ]: $. Curtis and Lieut.
". G. Mewry. Of the I'D, Capt: 7. NJ. Blake,
pital NO. 3, Memphis, and also touching one
from Mt. Cu1tiss, Hospital Steward Of tho
71th, enclosing fire dollars from his wnres to
AID the Association to send the bread Of life
to the soldiers Of our Western army,
LITTER FROM GEN. CLINTON II, FIsKE,
HE4pQEAR7Ens ID BnzaADE 0. S. vo1s.,1
18th u1S1stoS, 18th Army CoRPs,
TAI1AHATcHIE RIVER Miss
Near Fort Peubestou, March 18th, 1865
D. +. sscobs' Secretary Of Army Committee Chi.
D14n s1n AND Bno;: an IN receipt Of your
70 me fn this land OF drear1nefs and swampy desc
an glaA TO- be remembered by my Chicago
.ftsnds-when they s;athcE It the mercy scat, Oh
q the prayer Of Christian people. How tic tide
OF aniquity enrFes through our ca1nps aud snh.
cross' ! am doing all can, to keep my men
asT aT 1 sa,y ssef s ss Il to FRs
close. We need in the army all the influence and
power for good that can be given US By onr Chris.
eolliers euf Appeal to ihem by II heir io;e .ed of
hong and ,nothcr.wite and lister, God and usasen.
to abstain from every evil thing.
Commission 70 put yeinntter charsins i1'th IN The
held, is good one We need Christian teachers
1ne , sssne;t ahle ad,oestes Of the eauee q
ancholy tact tlat We have but fes ErH fnau5nins