The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-04-08
KEOKUK K:
From the Northwestern Christian AAvo01s.
WRITE To THE SOLDIEsRa.
On Stsamer Platte Valley, Of Memphis,
Mississippi River. March 3. ,B3.

From the Northwestern Christian A4vo01e,
WRITE To THE sOLDIERs.
On Stsansr Platte Valley, of Memphis,
Mississippi River, March 3, 80. !
DxAR BRo. EDpY:-Let me preach Z
short sermon. with text from the March
No. Of the Atlantic. II Is found on page
s47 Of that tFaly loyal periodical, Is fol-
lows:
1.-The great army of letters that march
es southwark With every morning sun, is
q powerful engine Of war"
The writer OF the article in which this
passage occurs makes suggestions As to
the KIND Of letters her countrywomen
ought to write to their soldier friends,
and / wish every Northern family could
read them. Now wish to urge upon all
our good friends in civil life to write more
letters than they do, and then perhaps
will say word as to the nature Of such
letters. My mind has been full Of this
subject for some time. and my pen ought
to have been busy with it before this.
"Chaplain, have you letter to-day ?"
says soldier TO me.
nNo."
81 don't see why ! don't get one. |
have father, mother, brother, and sisters,
and various other relatives and connsc-.
tions in --, and no letter have re-
ceived for more than two months II they
knew how much good . letter does me,
I'm sure they would write oftenef. Itell
you, chaplain, il is worth considerable to
any man, saint or sinner, to know by
letter from home that be is prayed for
there"
Another says: ~ had letter from
mother to-day. and she writes Of the
prayer-meetings held in the FIRST week of
January; how they prayed for 10, and
even mentioned my name; it encouraged
me, made me stronger Christian, more
determined to try to live for Christ here
where it is 20 difficult"
These are but two of many instances /
might refer to showing the moral as we'll
as military influence Of letters from home.
Soon after the mail came in one Sabbath,
Ispoke to q group Of our boys and an
nounced preaching for certain hour.
II don Z know, Chspisin, If don't
get the letter I've been expecting SO long,
Ishan't be in the mood TO 60 to church."
says one.
What mother was that, or sister, or
wife who so long delayed the blessing Of
letter to this soldier? Friends, my
sermon must be short and disconnected.
but | beg of you help the cause Of your
country and your God by writing often
and much to the soldiers.
am grieved and sometimes almost
vexed that the boys are 10 many inst noes
so much neglected in this respect By hon.
est friends. If you cannot take time from
business Tor this. take i, from sleep or lose
meal for the purpose. Let young chill
drsn be encouraged 70 write to fathers, or
if they can DO mo better to .'print" their
thoughts about home matters: little BROTH
ers and sisters to the "brother in the ar
my" nsphews and nieces to uucles; cous-
ins to cousins, and little or big, friend TO
friend, neighbor to neighbor, and 20 on
through all the relations in life near or
remote-family, civil, ecclesiastical and
social. These hints and exhortationa Ara
mostly on behalf Of the private soldierr.
for their interests, moral, religious and
patriotic. but may say that officers need
this home support, also. whether their
rank be high or low. Tho much.abused
surgeons and chaplains like to receive .
word Of encouragement oceasioaally from
those who were wont TO walk frStarnally
with them in their respective professsions
nj hoYna. fhnv 80 rlaJ ~ r. 10y