Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-04-19
1flistcll0llp.
From the Christian Commission.

We copy from lhe Burlington ffee FftsS Int
following interesting letter from Rev. &. &. PAR
kER, Of Waterbury, relating to his work as agent
Jr the Clriilian Commission. Mr. PARKER has
recently been visiting the Army Of the Potomac
e. s. CHRISTIAN COMMISSION,
Washington, Mar. 25, 1864
CHARLES DEMoND ESQ:
Dear Sir When ! reached the army, the
agents 10 the field had no station to which they
wished TO assign me permanently. For ten days
did miscellaneous work, visiting hospitals dis.
lrbulirg papers and books, and preaching as op.
portunity vas found | thus had an opportunity
20 know more Of the work Of the Commi sion aud
how it is regarded by the army than ! otherwise
would. MontsJ Feb. %, new station was Is.
iab.Ished aud 9 chapel and tent pitched between
TIE % Vermont and the 9Th u. 5. Cav Try, noi.
lher Of which regiments have chaplain tne sta.
ton TO be for the tine under the care Of Mr.. j..
w. II. Baker, also Vermonter and icentA,e
from the Bangor theological Seminary, and my
self We we're received by the men with ( eat
cordially. From the first, our m,etiugs were
weallended, with the exception of a few eve
nirgs while the "a Vermont was absent. may
soy they we're full often crowded SO that seats
could not be obtained Hardly had they com.
meucsd before a deep interest began to manifest
it.eh TIE true and faithful disciples Of ou' Lord
began toopen their mouths with boldaess, express
ing tteir deepest gratitude that the Commission
had seat Us among them and these meetings had
beer established, and with much feeling and ear
nestness exhoring their friends 10 seek the Lord
while be might be found. Present professors
whose light ad all gone out and who had seemed
TO be as cold and dead as the ungodly around
them, who had CT ased to pray aud had become
basphemJus and bad turned To all the destructive
vices OF the camp, btgan to come back, often with
the deerest emotion confessng their great sinful
ness, telling Of the JOY they had once experienced,
Of the grief and remorse OF sin, Of the peace they
uoa ound once more in Je.us and warning their
associates to fee the pit into which they had fall
en- aud lake shelter in Christ. The story Of their
is,l and return was often touching in the extreme.
Along with this movement upon the hearts Of DID
and apparently dead professors, tlnnsrs began to
be COW cted Of sin and 10 enquire what they must
do. Almost every evening some new voice was
heard and almost uniformly when opportunity
was given, some new person rose for prayers.
There WAS little apparent excitement but deep So
lemnlty was broodng over them. Much Of our
time during the day was occupied by the calls OF
soldiers for personal religious conversation. An
excellent brother baying been obtained to take
my place, left the Station Tuesday OF Ibis week.
The evening before my last tyening-eIeven
rose to indicate the hope that they had passed
from death unto Lille slGce the meetings COM
menced, some Of them tie fines, men in the reg
iment, and we know some Of the most htpyful
were necessarily absent. About the same nun
Der arose to request an interest IN the prayers oi
Gods children, some Of them for the first time.
AT no time was the interest apparently deeper or
more tender than on that evening, many tarping
to tell me their feelings aud 20 express their pur-
poses TO seek Christ, who had not indicated It in
any way before. Seldom have ef, work with
more emotion than this with the soldiers. Seldom
has my heart, wi h such intensity, brea;hed bene.
dc,lous on men, as on those whose faces had
seen and whose voices had heard at almost eve
ry meeting, and who by many acts oi kindness
had SO suongly bound my heart TO theirs. Sci
dom have been so thankful az to the Christian
Commission for enabling me to have part in this
blessed work.
What has been true at one station, has beer
true at nearly all the stations OF the Commission
ana a, many Of them doubtless in a much larger
measure. Before We have ca led God has answer
ed, lie has gone before us and been with US and
10 his name be the glory. 10 connection with thi'
repor, it may not be amiss to state few OF The
considerations which seem obvious to me why the
Christian Commission in its present plan Of ope
ra,ions is worthy of the sympathy and aid of al
evangelical ministers and churches
It's purpose is to carry the gospel to those who
Otherwise would not have il. ltstudiously avoids
interference with regiments having faithful chap
lins. II eo-operates with them, furnishing can
vass to cover tteif chapels, and reading mattel
for distribution, and through its delegates assist
ing them 10 their meetings While it thus aid
hltr u CHI plains, it's main purpose is to carry tn,
gospel 10 the thousands who otherwise would moi
have l.. Were this all, they would have lh,
same clam upon US Tor the gospel as the deslul,
communities Of our land aud the world. Bu
this is not all. They TO whom il carries the gos
pei are the young men Of the naton-its strength
and hope they who are to fashion It's future wea
0r woe--its future glory or shame. Would We
preach the gospel to our young men and save
and saueuly them by its power, We must follow
them to the armies. The energy the TALENT the
strength oI them is there. They have LETT hom,
aud sanctuary, and all the restraints and endear
menls OF life, for the stern a1d perilous work o
war. For the life OF the nation they have lad
their own LIES and all they hold deaf on iIs altar
Ia this fearful work they are surrounded aud be
set by snates and temptations 10 be met with n
where else in life. Restraints are withdrawn On
the one hand, the enemy comes in like food on
the other aud shall the ministers and churches
abandon their young men thus imperilled In body
and soul, and suffer the destroyer TO have his