Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1864-05-04
For the Gazette.


May lst, the object and interests of I. S.
Sanitary Commission for the benefit of our
sick and wounded soldiers, were consider
ed and fully endorsed
A Committee of Ladies was appointed,
for the purpose of collecting funds aud Sc
curing contributions of fancy and useful
articles for the Central Fair to be held in
Philadelphia during the month Of June,
consisting of Mrs Lawrence, Mrs. Buoy,
Mrs. Hannah l.. Barnes, Mrs. Brsbin.
Mrs. Mary Webb, Mrs Alter, Miss Jane
A. Kenard, Miss Carrie Sigler
The Society adjourned to assemble in
public meeting in the Town Hail Saturday
evening, May 7, to which all, young and
old, are earnestly invited.
The scope and operations Of the Z. S.
Sanitary Commission are so well known
that an allusion ts it or its operations is
scarcely necessary. Our apology for refer
ing to it now is to call attention to the fact
that for the successful prosecution of its
labor it needs material and money, and
now make distinct call to generous and
patriotic people to furnish both. Expert
ence has fully shown that other agencies,
Individual as we'll as organized, have been
far less efficient and useful than it has been,
(perhaps with the exception of the Chris
tian Commission, these two now embrac-
ing nearly the whole field of useful opera
tions.) To make the most out Of means
contributed to any enterprise, the means
must be used under the most intelligent
individual, or organized direction. The
Individual agencies and local organizations,
have proved entirely inadequate to relieve
the necessities of our large armies in the
field, and shown very clearly that these
agencies for the relief of our sick and
wounded can be made available only by
providing the means either in cash or sup.
plies to a general and more thorough or
ganization, such as the T. S. Sanitary Com.
mission, and then look to it for the proper
distributions both as to time and place
When the shock Of great battle comes to
awaken the public mind to the necessity
of providing supplies for sick and wound
ed men, weeks must elapse before supplies
can be gathered, weeks in which noble
men suffer and die for want of supplies,
and when provided they are often sent to
waste at points when they are not needed
This aid, in failing 70 come just when, and
just where, it is most needed, fails almost
entirely to serve any useful purpose. The
government has often ack nowledged the
invaluable services of this Commission,
and at all times placed every facility at its
disposal for carrying out its objects. 1t
places agents with abundant supplies on
hand in every Camp, in every Hospital,
and on every Battlefield, in short wherev-
er our brave men are called upon to suffer
or to die, there are found the agents of the
gu. 5 s. Commission" to do for them all
that devoted men and women can do.
Immense sums Of money and material
have been expended under the direction of
this commission; large sums will be need
ed for supplies in the coming campaign.
10 raise their supplies and their money the
commission appeals to the generous men
and women Of the North. To these ap-
peals New York, Ohio, and Illinois have
nobly responded, and now through the
agency of the "PhiladeIphia Fair" under
the management of Bishops Potter, Simp-
son, and other great and good men in
Church and State, it asks how much will
Pennsylvania give? How much will little
Mltflln give! How much will each of her
towns and townships give? How much will
each of the men at home give to furnish
necessaries for the sick and wounded men
who peril health and life in the camp and
field in their defence? How much will the
rich man out of his abundance give? And
how much eau the generous poor man
spare! Whilst it is true that occasions
Tor giving money are frequent, yet the peo-
pie Of this county have seldom been ap-
pealed to in aid of this special object, and
whilst some have given of their means,
the large majority have contributed moth
ing. Then is it asking too much for the
Philadelphia Fair to call upon you now,
by individual exertion and local organiza-
tons IN Mittiln county to come up and aid
the "Commission" either in money, useful
or fancy articles. Humanity, selfrespect,
and just pride demand that each one and
all shall do something'now; great armies
lie In sight of each other and gather up
their strength for the final struggle, great
battles lmpend, great suffering must ensue;
then come up like christian men and wo-
men, and do in aid of this fund what duty
to yourself and your country calls you to
do In conclusion we are authorized to
assure individuals or organizations in the
county that the Ladies Aid Society of
Lewistown are in correspondence with the
managers of the Philadelphia Fair, and
will cheerfulIy assume the charge of any
material or money given to it Communi
cations addressed to Mrs. Walters, Mrs.
Hoffman or Mrs. Elder &c, will receive
prompt attention.
LADIES AID SOCIETY.