Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-10-22

~~~--~
has been expended; 100000 bibles have
been received from the American Bible
Society, and the British and Foreign Bible
Society haye contributed 5000 Tesla
ments. 10000 papers, and 100000
pages Of tracts have also been distributed.
The labors Of the Commission result in
the saving Of thousands Of lives, and the
conversion Of souls. 1t IS estimated that
at Gettysburg alone thousand lives
were saved. Mothers have often ex-
pressed their tliankfulness that
their sons were brought under a
Christian influence. Sometimes soldiers
die before they can give any one the adj
dress of their friend. In such cases
the delegates have taken pocket book or
such other memento as they could find and
forwarded 1t to the general Office at Phila-
delphla, by means of when the friends
have ultimately been found. This Com
mission brings the home and the army
together.
The Rev. DR.. Mingins followed Mr..
Demond in speech of impassioned elo-
quence, which can be appreciated only by
those who heard.
An abstract of temperance lecture by
Cough could as well be given as one of
DIR. Mingin's lecture in behalf of the SOL
diers, and we shall not attempt it, We
may state that he denied that he or his
associates were here to beg for the soldier
they were here to tone up the minds of
the people to true sense of their obliga-
tions to him. He dwelt upon the soldiers
constant demand for and right to our SYM
pathy. In regard to the work done by
delegates OF the Commission, he stated
| that he had seen doctor of divinity
kneeling by brook, washing the blood
| stiffened shirts of wounded soldiers, near
| a barn in which were seven hundred brave
| fellows, with no one at the time but him
| to nurse them. He, himself, had at one
time nursed seventy-fve men for two
months, washing their faces, changing
their clothes, preparing their food. doing
with his own hands whatever was needed /;
and preaching all that time only one SER
mon. Nor did he work without pay
The slightest wages" he ever got was the
gratitude of the soldier.
The services rendered the. sick and suf-
fering, in writing letters to friends, OBJ
tanning descriptive lists for pay day, and
especially in administering Christian COM
fort to the dying, were related as no one
| could relate them who had not been en-
| gagged in the work, and had not heart
overlooking with Christian kindness.
| DIR. Mingins related incidents in his
own experience, showing the great suscep-
| tibility of the soldier, almost without ex-
| ception, to Christian influences he be-
lieved it was greater even than that OF
young men at home; he pictured the ago
/ ny of mother over her only son, Jo-
seph, shot through the lungs and dying,
because she found he was unprepared for
death, and her overhowing gratitude be-
cause of the change wrought in him by
the efforts and prayers of the delegate at
his bedside; and, said he, there are hun
dreds and thousands of Josephs, and
what has the Church done for their spirit
ual welfare ? Comparatively nothing
While more thai fifty millions of dollars
have been spent for the body, not one
million has been given for the soul.
trust you WIZ lay this fact to heart, that
you will remember your responsibilities
in the matter.
sNo man is a patriot" said DR.. Mn
! gins. "who is able and will not make
sacrlfces.n The occasion is almost UNI
paralleled for patriotic sacrifices, and all
should bear in mind that one of the best
channels through which they may be
made by those who do not go to the field
themselves, is the United States Christian
| Commission.
CurruAMatrcA Mr. Cronnse the in