Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-08-21
The Christian Commission.


Commission {and so for the benefit Of our
soldiers, for their interests are one,y give
place in the TINES to the following extract
from letter in the last number of the New
York Observer from J.sW. Stevenson, Sec
Rotary Of the American Tract Society?-'
Mr. S. is writing of hospital labors after the
late battle at Gettysburg, and after speak
ing of the efforts put forth by benevolent
societies for the relief of the sick, wounded
and dying, he says =
81 cannot doubt that numerous lives
were saved, and vast suffering prevented
by this united and Christian effort. Nor
could a 1.-THE of this good have been effected
if the benevolent at home had withheld the
stores used by the laborers. Thousands of
men have been relieved, strengthed, and
put upon the way of recovery, by the cor
dials, fruits, stimulants, and delicacies pre-
pared at far northern homes, by viking
hands, and sent forward with sympathzing
prayers.
And let me here answer question often
asked me as pass through the land and
plead for the soldiers, namely this: 6 do
the provisions and delicaeies prepared so
assiduously by fond friends, and sent for
ward, ever reach the soldiers for whom they
are intended, or do not the employees Of the
association rsgale themselves upon the del
icacies and leave the poor patients unsup,
plied?" i have usually given TO the charge
implied in this question an indignant denial
So far as my observation has extended,
mainly in connection with the Christian
Commission. prompt denial is all that Is
needed.
The delicaeies adapted to the wants Of
the sick soldiers, sent through the Christian
Commission, reach their object.
So far as good men can be relied on to
work unselfishly 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 effort. The
delegates do grand work, which else
would not be done, and which We believe
was never before done for any army. The
deslituton of religious reading at Gettys-
burg for the wounded, during the first week
after the battle, was greatly TO be regretted.
While the first want of wounded man is
that his bodily sufferings be alleyiated, his
next is something to occupy his mind, and
meet the lodgings of his heart. This men
tai and spiritual craving is ineessant and
almost Unsuitable. The soldier is cut off
from many domestic and social enjoyments,
his mind is simulated to unwonted activity,
and if not furnished with mental aliment in,
printed form, he will resort to games and
gambling, or to the rough and profane
amusements so rife in camp. No greater
kindness to the men, therefore, is possible,
than 10 give them this mental aliment. Ii
was remarkable how soon this want OF re-
ligious reading was felt. Scarce had the
roar of artillery ceased to reverberate fro in
the peaks of South Mountain when the cry
was for books, papers, the Testament"
Nj. S. says further, that Chaplain EARN
shaw, OF the regular army remarked TO him
"that he bad found men repeatedly who had
died holding tract, or the Testament open
before their now glazed eyes Their spirits
had evidently passed away while dwelling
upon some precious truth there written
While there is abundant reason for graft
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 ssuch
more could and ought TO hare been done.
How many brave fellow, having endured
every hardship in his country's cause, is
now sleeping in death ? How many wife
has been widowed, how many children made
orphans, all which proper self-denial on the
part Of our people at home might hare saOed ?
At the time of the late terrible battle at
Gettysburg, the Christian Commission,
though it had from $50 to 200 men on the
field, were unable, for want of 'smeans" and
" stores" sufficient, to accept the profered
services of hundreds of other men to min s.
ter 10 the sick and wounded there.
1t ever, hereafter, during this war, poor
suffering, dying soldier must be denied con-
ISOLATION and relief for want of means" to
send men who are more than willing to car
ry it to them, shall it be because the people
of Vermont have not done their duty in the
matter? God forbid that Vermont citizens
should thus taTnish the glory which Yer
mont soldiers have achieved for our Stale |
The Christian Commission has scores of self. |
denying, earnest Christian men in our army
as delegates who are giving time and labor,