Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-08-20
The Christian Commission,
WnLIAMsrowN, W., Aug, s, 1868.

Christian Commission" (and so for the
b eneft of our soldiers, for their interests
are one,) give place in the HERALD to the
following extracts from letter in the last
number of the New York Observer, from
j. W. Stevenson, Secretary of the Ameri-
can Tract Society? Mr.. S. is writing of
hos pltal labors after the late battle at Get
tysburg and after speaking of the efforts
put forth by benevolent societies for
the relief of the sick, wounded and diving,
he says:
'' cannot doubt that numerous lives
We're saved, and vast suffering prevented
by this united and Christian effort. Nor
could tithe Of this good have been effect
ed If the benevolent at home had withheld
the stores used by the laborers. Thou
sands of men nave been relieved, strength
ened, and put upon the way of recovery.
by the cordias, fruits, stimulants and deli
cacies prepared at northern homes, by will
ling hands and sent forward with sympa-
thizing prayers.
And let me here answer question Of
ten asked me as | pass through the land
and plead for the soldiers, namely this
DO the provisions and delcacies prepared
so assiduously by fond friends, and sent
forward, ever reach the soldiers for whom
they are intended, or do not the emplvees
of the association regale themselves upon
the delcacies, and leave the poor patients
unsupplied 2 have usually given to the
charge implied in this question an inGig-
nant denial. So far as nv observation
has extended, mainly in connection with
the Christian Commission, a prompt denial
is all that is needed. Il
"The delicacies adapted to the wants of
the sick soldiers, sent through the Chris
tlan Commission reach their object
" So far as good men can be relied on to
work unsGitshly for their fellow men, so
far may donors rely upon the workers in
the Christian Commission to do wisely and
well with the stores put at their disposal.
For this special work at and after battles,
there Is absolute need of this form of eff
fort The delegates do grand work,
which else would not be done, and which
We believe was never before done for any
army. The desntution of religious read
ing at Gettysburg for the wounded, during
the first week after battle, was greatly to
be regretted. While the first want of
wounded man is that his bodily suferings
be allevlated, his next is something to oc-
cupy his mind, and meet the longings of
his heart. This mental and spiritual
craving is incessant and almost Unsuitable.
The soldier is cut off from many domestic
and social enjoyments, his mind is stimu-
lated to unwonted activity, and if not fur
nished with mental aliment in printed
form, he will resort to games and then to
gambling, or to the rough and profane
amusements so rife in camp No greater
kindness to the men, therefore, is possible,
than to give them this mental aliment.
1t was remarkable how soon this want of
religious reading was felt. Scarce had
the roar of artillery ceased to reverberata
from the peaks of South Mountain when
the cry was for books, papers, the Testa-
ment.n
Mr. S. says further, that Chaplain
Earmshaw of the regular army remarked
to him "that he had found men repeatedly
who had died holding tract, or the Test
ament, open before their now glazed ewes.
Their spirits had evidently passed away
while dwelling upon some precious truth
there written"
While there is abundant reason for graf
itude and thanksgiving that through the
timely aid of our citizens the lives of so
many of our soldiers have been saved.
and so much Of their suffering alleviated,
the painful fact forces itself upon US that
much more could and ought TO have been
done for them. How many brave fel-
low, having endured every hardship IN his
country's cause, is now sleeping in death 2
How many wife has been widowed, bow
many children made orphans, all which,
proper selfdenia on the part of our peo-
pie at home might have saved ? At the
time of the late terrible battle at Gettys-
burg the Christian Commission, though it
had from $50 to 200 men on the field,
were unable, for want of "meansn and |
storeso sufficient, to accept the profered
services of hundreds of other men as dele |
gates to minister to the sick and wounded |
there.
If ever, hereafter, during this war,
poor suffering, dying soldier must be de-
MED consolation and relief for want OF
!" means" to send men who are more than
willing to carry it to them, shall it be be-
cause the people of Vermont have not
done their duty IN the matter? God for
bid that Vermont citizens should thus tar
nish the glory which Vermont soldiers have
achieved for our State The Christian
Commission has scores of self-denying,
earnest Christian men in our army as del
egates who are giving time and labor,
without remuneration, and yet its efficiency
is greatly impaired by want of means to
carry out its benevolent plans. Will not
Vermont lend us its aid ? Money, hospi-
tai stores of every kind, reading matter,
&C., are greatly needed by the Commits
sion. Money may be sent to Charles De-
mond, Esq, No. A, Court st. Boston,
Mass; hospital stores to l.. P. Rowland,
Jr., No. 5, fremont Temple, Boston,
Mass. Packages or boxes of good read