Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-05-20


all sanitary supplies will hereafter be
sent, asketch Of the plan, system and
extent of the Commission, will not at
this time be inappropriate.
THE PLAN
The Christian Commission embraces
in its plan both spiritual and Temporal!
benefits, by means of men, stores, and
publications.
Some suppose our work to be exclu-
sively religious. So it Is, in the true
idea of religion. Our Lord regarded
men as both mortal and immortal. He
healed the body and saved the SOUL
The Christian Commission seeks the
same end. 1t is both the Good Samari-
tan and the Good Shepherd. 1t binds
up wounds, pours in the oil and wine,
and paws all expenses. 1t also leaves
the ninety and-nine at home to seek the
one lost in the field.
This plan requires money and stores,
as well as men and publications.
The plan of distribution is directly
| from the hands OF the delegate to the
hands of the soldier. No room for fail
ure between. 1t sends delegates to seek
out the needy, the suffering, the despond-
ent, and supply, relieve, and cheer
them. III
Experience has taught us that this is
the only plan upon which the wants OF
our brave men in the field can be met.
l. THE SYSTEM
| OF the United States Christian Commits
sion is this:
| l. 1t has small permanent paid field
agency, employed to superintend, direct,
and report the work in the field.
| =. A large voluntary unpaid delega-
| ton OF clergymen and others to do the
work.
| 8. 1t has stations at principal centres,
front and rear, with out-statlons around
them. A chapel-tent, store-tent, and
|subsistence-tent, with stores and publ
cations to distribute, and two or three
delegates to distribute them; free wri-
ting table furnished, and daily, or twice,
or thrice daily, religious services by the
delegates, are the chief features of a CEN
ire station. An Out-statiOn is point in
some camp, post or battery, for stated
services and distribution.
| 4. Reports to the station are required
every week of all work and distribution
by delegates, and every month from the
field agents to the Central office.
| 5. Teams, wagons, and supplies are
provided, to enable the agents and dele
gates to move with the armies when
they move, and be on the field in time
of battle with their stores. Thus, the
station delegates in the army at rest, be-
come minute men for the march and
the battle.
6. Diet kitchens in the hospitals south
west, in charge of competent ladies, I'M
der the field agents, to prepare food and
delicacies for the sick and cOnvalescing.
The economy of this system is remark
able For example, in the Army of the
Potomac, one good field agent; two as
sistants at the front; one at the base OF
supply, and one master of transporta-
tion-tive in all, under pay, are sufficient
to superiItend and report the work OF
sixty delegates, Who receive no pay but
!. the soldiers blessing and Gods. Six
teen agents under pay in all the armies
Except those in the field assigned to
the New York branch-serve to give
orderly direction to the labours of l65
: unpaid delegates The services OF an
able pastor for six weeks in this way
costs the Commission often no more than
two, three, or five dollars for Incidental
expenses. Indeed, sometimes not even
that. They pas thair own expenses,
and thank God for the privilege ia such
a work.
The efficiency secured is still more re-
markable. The permanent agents Sc
. cure stability, order, and the benefits of
experience. The six weeks delegates
are coming fresh from home, with hearts
full, to give and sustain impulse, inter-
. est, and power, and returning fresh
from the field, full Of it's feelings and
facts, to move the hearts Of the people at
home.
EXTENT.
The organized work of the United
States Christian Commission extends,
beside all done for the Navy, into every
Military Department. True, it by no
means meets all their wants, or hall OF
them. But all are reached. In all, we
haye now 50 CONVERSATIONS, $50 or more
out stations. supplied by the delegates,
and SIS chapeIs, under TIE control OF
chaplains, rooted with canvas by the
Commission, and furnished with stoves
i'm all, not less than 265 different points
from which the influence Of the Com
mission for good radiates through the ar
mics. To.the 16 agents and 1855 dele
gates in the field must be added 25 Sec
retaries aad assistants in the various
offices at home, mailing 2G6 men con-
stantly engaged in the work, besides all
the chief executive officers who give to
it their Invaluable services.
CfresuHs, it becomes us to speak mod
estly. We cannot estimate the good
done. No man can tell the number of
lives saved, souls converted, men rescued
from vice. or Of icy in the home and in
heaven resulting. On one battle field,
as estimated by surgeons, more than
thousand lives Were saved. How many
on all? Nearly two thousand pledged
to abstain from intoxicating drinks in
one permanent camp.
| The Holy Spiritgraciously vouchsafed,
on nearly every station Of the Commits
sion in the army, and at some Of them
large numbers turned to righteousness.
| Homes cheered by news of salvation
from the camp, or consoied by intell;-
gence of convalescencefro from the hospital,
or by tokens saved and assurance given
Of happy death beside the grave.
| Who will attempt to sum up the vari
Gus benefits?
THE WANTS.
From every Military Department ur-
gent calls come to us for the extension
of our work. The appeals for more
teams, wagons, tents, and battlefield
agents to move with the armies, are
painfully pressing. To refuse them is
cruel; it is to refuse relief from suffer-
ings and death to the brave men who
fight and fall for u.s. yet to supply them !
without means is impossible.
Diet Kitchens are called for also, TO
save our men in the hospitals ofthe field !
from suffering and dying for want of
suitable prepared nourishment to sus-
tain and build them up. s
For all ordinary cases the Government
supplies all the stores that are needed
Never did the authorities of any nation
meet the wants of soldiers more fully.
Special eases and extraordinary emer-
gencies only require to be met by any
other agency. These, however, are
MANY and great recurring the purchase
of large amount, besides all that are
sent in.
The call for religious reading matter
i n h4, tho in crnaSn of Sll,aII1.