, 1864-12-12
Soldiers Deserve the Best Preachers
An AUDIENCE In THEIR GBAYE CLOTHES.
An Odlcer's Appeal for the Gospe

An AUDIENCE In THBIR GBAYE CLOTHES.
An Odlcer's Appeal for the Gospel
Since the memorable message of Cornelins
the Centurion to the Apostle Peter, We have
seen nothing of the kind 80 noteworthy as
tho following letter from IN officer OF high
position in the regular army, at the hcaaquar-
ters Of tho Army Of the Potomac. Whether
VIC consider the position Of the writer, the
force of the arguments, the fervor Of its spirit,
or the novelty Of q soldier pleading with min
listers of Christ to give the Gospel to the
army, we must be deeply impressed by 1t. It.
was read to the Executive Committee Of the
Christian Commission on the day that
q. proposal to supply over. two hun
dred chapel tents, at cost Of sl2S,~
OD Eas under consideration. We need
scarcely say that the decision to supply them,
IL the church would raise the means, was
unanimous Mr.. Morris K. Jcssup's plan OF
asking each church to buy tent, to be in-
ecribed with lts name, was simultaneously,
aud without consultation, proposed and act
cd on By the Presbyterisn church Of Tnsca-
rora, Pa, and the Thompson Tuscarora Tab
crnac1e is now on Its way to Nashville. Thus
tic Lord has been preparing the soldiers to
ask for, and the. churches to give the means
Of gracc. Let every church send on speedily
its camp chapel tent, and every town IN able
preacher for six weeks to occupy it.
TILE LETTER
TIE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION AND ITS WORK.
it has never been my pleasure to hare the
opport rtunity Of listening to the claims Of the
United States Christian Commission, as pre-
sented by any Of Its agents. Almost constant
f, Id service during the war has precluded the
possibility Of my becoming acquainted with
The feelings Of Christians north, towards the
Commission. How do you estimate the I'M
portancc Of its operation: # the results OF
its work have been communicated, very great
interest must have been excited therein.
fear, however, that the sympathy of the
churches in the workings Of the Commission
Is not tpropostionate to the interest they may
teel in The result ofits labors.
HARD TO GET PREACHERS.
am led to infer this from the fact, as ]
have learned, that 1t is very difficult to secure.
not money, hut the services Of the right kind
Of preachers, for the most limited period
prescribed BY the regulations Of the Commits
| tion.
What is The reason Of this. One might In
| autrc If tits from lack Of patriotism; bu'
whenever hare been north, have found ny
/ Christian friends there especially anxious
that thlswar should be fought out to the mos
most earnest prayers offered for the efneienc.
Of our armies-for the spiritual us we'll rs th'
temporal good Of the soldier; especially 10
the sick and wounded Of their number. /
not this patriotic? Is 1t not very kind tina
the soldier should be thus remembered
Then, 1ooI at the donations that are made t.
t1cy not magnificent specimens Of benef
ccnccs It would seem 80. All these arc Gel
tainly most coIAmendat1e; and were the lik
done In behalf Of any other cause it would b
mauellously virtuoua.
PRAYING Il NEITHER FIGHTING NOR PREACHING
But in this case, suppose all should pray fo
. the country, make donations, and hope thu
the war would be vigorously prosecuted-an
do nothing more. If that would do the wor
this over and over again, In lieu Of the terr
bic harshIps and exposures Of their prescI
lie, nor think themselves either patriotic {
benevolent
In order to maintain this great and hol
struggle It is necessary that certain aggr
eate number of citizens shall be in the fieli
denying themselves Of all that is desirablc~
10 sacrifice that for which man will give a
that he hath.
loun nrs1SRss.
: It would be very difficult to select tho
r who, more than some others, ought to NAL
this sacrifice. My country Is equally 20
: country, and your country is equally q
- country. The object for which NC are tigh
Ing is equally dear to each, and is common
: all: Every citizen owes lif need be} his Il
j. danger, certain particular citizens nobly V
unteer their services and their lives on Il
b battle field, would you call it beneyo1en
+ | when come OF the rest, who are to sha
u equally the reward won BY the heroic fe
!, ! donate d few dollars to relieve the hardshi
4 Of their brave defenders? Do they not o.
d every thing they have. cven to their very lfyt
If to those who are fighting their battles, thou
. under no more obligation to do 80 than TIL
l, fellow citizens, who practically have not s:
riiced one accustomed luxury for their cou
try's goods Are not all citizens, and esp.
u ially Christian citizens, not in the army, uud
= the deepest obligations, demanded alike
= common gratitude and justice, to contrib.
e all that may be expedient to promote I
r. benefit of those noble men who soon m
lie heayily and cold Oh the bloody field,
r. them:
IT CAN'T SPARE oCR PASTOR
And get there arc some very patrin
J. churches which "don't feel able to spare {
n pastor, to preach to the soldiers In the art
for more than two weeks ut most :" althou
e meanwhile good supplies might be obtained
!. | preach quite as usetu1ly at home. TIC Gu
Toned seats would remain just as soft, and
Temperature of the building would be just
is nicely regulated; as II the pastor preached
III his accustomed place. .-----.-
re NO PRAYER MEETING FoR TuRER YEARS.
Is Not u week ago heard Christian-sold
| rf nuJr1f1 ~
le II hare been in the army for three years, 3
Id this is the first privilege Of this Kind thu
le | have enfoyed.h All this time the brethren
oe his own church had not been deprived O
te single eerriee tn consequence OF the n
n, They had indeed prayed for their brethren
pastor, to 30 and preach to theis brethrez
III the army, though they were spiritually sta
er inr and dJing il the defense Of the religi
H. Injuries Of those staying at home.
be / am sure 1t is only. necessary for
churches at home to get 3 correct view Of
facts to secure the most prompt and III
served cooperation with the Commission
m every particular.
-. An ErE.w11SEss.
Having held official positions in the fl
ID. 10th East and West, which allowed Of Y
m extensive observation, and having never
B, in any way connected with The Conamiss'
is my opinions concerning It are perfectly it
ID, | pendent; they ore presented on my own
OF sponeibility, IN the hope that they may
4. the churches TO iorm . lnst appreciation
tn their duties and their privileges In connect
r. with the work under consideration.
a.. AN OPEN DOOR.
Ei- Tie advantages which the army offers
=: ring the winter as field Of Christian Ia
on are unparalleled.
G. preach tic Gospel In chinn and India, WI
Hh before one idea can be communicated to
er- people, weary months must be spent in
ht, s,ndy og the language. After that Ia part
F. ar01iired. through innumerable difficulties
Dis missionary succeeds in collecting perAap
Co. audience, here and there, Of children, woI
ggsg3, and men, of by no means the most intcllt
:. class. The good work Is one cminegtl
Al faith and patience. The city pastor la
=. audience alike composed Of different cls
il. and grades Of such variety, that on \
've, emall percentage OF the audience diIectl
The same time. Then there ore many VII
!, OF too young, and many others too old, to a
CO.; much probability Of successful truition ol
seed, no matter how earnestly 1t may
sfco baen scattered.
All, whether young or old, aud OF {
class, are more or less pre-occupled BY
.scd various occupations and eAcitcncnta Of
S~ lite, tending to preclude meditation On d
oanr things. ..,.-
oyes SELECTED CoSGREdAT1oN.
:om- Il that pastor visits the asny as deli
ONE of the Christian Commission, he may 60
7 ~ one end Of the line to the other, and thrt
>. IT ont the entire army he will find but one
n to Of audience and that Of the best POI
es as class, in this s-it consists almost exclus
! the Of young men. They possess good az
o,n. intelligence; arc not pre-oecupied; ar
ON ON harrassed by family cares; they are pro
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