, 1863-11-24

Thanks.ivfn: Appeal for the NatIon,s
Defenders.

To the Ministers and Churche. Of our Lord Jesus
Christ throughout the Northves
The President has Invited the observance OF
TTssnlssday, r. 1ne 26sh Of N9vcmber, as day or
GGa 3s as ysse q The
and prosperity throughout the loyal States. give
abundant cause for Thanksgiving. The thankssiv-
e 1S e T. =
question. "Loyest t6ou me n il alwaYs followed
S e s spoRsS PsS e Il &
supplies for our army. Let us, however, reuem.
her that our brave defenders are men having both
so1s a1d s9atss 'na n'tE t. thss
fering men Is important and imperative; but 1elt-
etous Instruction md consolation are more price
!ess still; and whie meeting bodily wauts, let US
By His own precious word. On the Church res s
tho solemn responsibility Of watching over her
sons Who arc deprived Of all the privileges Of the
the camp. To US are left the house Of God, tue
s,.nest ssy ths Word Of Coz itselfand !e have
those who bagean equal right and potion With us.
gy agency netween be @ the Church at home and her mem
our army be reached. Full three-fourths Of our
segimcnts are without Chaplatns; aud, TIL suppl
ed By tns s Christian M commiaelon, most ofthe army
yInttou Of delegates from Union Mems Christian
tie ey o NV zee i i Tho ts
retut Of their deliberations was the Organization
Of the Christian Commission, Of which GeorsoH
man. Extraordinary facilities have bsen furnish.
ed them In carving forward their work. Chris
t!an men, ministers and 1aymen, have offered their
gates to the army: Al railroads applied to have
given nee passes to delegates. and telegraph COM
P.niess fsfs %,t1 ,t.ansmtsson q meesaSe5 Tho
Societies and DoArds have freely given Testamcnts
and publications; and the Government and ali It's
officers hare done all they can to forward the work.
p passes, transportation and opportunities Of Ia
The magnitude Of the 1abors Of the Christian
Commission Is not generally known. The figures
hare been commissioned from headquaItcrs, BE-
eides other registered In the books Of the General
ONCE. Here are over thousand tongues telling
OK Re .: s u i se ' SaB.. sa il
sc1tptasss granted hy he American 1isls Society
Fofe soeet2 as s tea ieS q
distributed! Think eft6e yield Of such satinSi
stores, publications. etc, has reached half NIL
lion dollaEs., The number Of religious newspapers
distributed has been one million and q half Of
cop.es-Wh1le the tracts and hymn books and other
good reading matter scattered broadcast have been
In like yast proportions.
III O1uer 10 atteuQ more lilly and faithfully to
our Western soldiers, Western Branch has been
organized, consisting OF the Presidents Of the
Young Mers' Christian Association Of Chicogo,
Peoria and St. Louis In behalf Of this Wcstsm
Branch, We now appeal to you for Thanksgiving
Aware Of the excellent custom in many Of tho
churches Of making collections for the poor on that
dsy, the Commission would not mako this appeal
but foz the urgent necessity Of caring for SOL
dsers. The poor wa have always with us, but tho
opportunity Of beneAttnC and saving the men IN
der arus, II put OF now, will be lost forever.
Such churches as may rot hold service ThanEB-
giving Day, are requested to take the beat opnor-
tnntty before OK after that day, to present the
matter at gather the contributions Of tho people,
Some churches arc without ministers to etif up
their pure minds bJ way Of rcmembzanco. II
take It fn hand. Let no church fall or giving its
contributions. The urgency iB great The cali Is
tnetanI- The want fB IMMENSE A million OF u1en
In hospital and camp. and Oh Bhfphoard, wait in
per1shtng need From every deld our delegates
returning tell Us Of their glad welcomes, OF suffer.
Ing relieved, lFeH gaYed, and souls converted to
God Neysr Was there such harvest otEafed to
the church.
From all parts Of the army We hear Of interest,"
Ing rertva]s. Continual calls and eatreatles are
received for ]aboEers, books. papers, which We
cannot supply. From Chicago We have sent
IL, 600 copies Of the Soldiers Hymn BOOK: vet
they aze as nothing. Immortal souls are tam1sh-
Ing fo1 the want OF the breadof life, In tho Ian
guage Of the prophet Amos. there is Sc famine il
the land; not famine OF bread, nor thirst TO,
water, but Of heazipg the words Of The Lord" God
not render ts1e the next vorse-ssthey ehal run to
and fto to seek tho word Of the Lord and shall not
ind It." Contributions may be cent to B. =.
Jacobs, Chicago, or William Reyuolda Peoria