The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-04-07

CCIlIEucG--Eer the numDCF q ChHpldtv9
vaF greatly increased. A larger number
oi missionaries visited the aray-tbe Scrip.
turcs and religious PaYerf, aad trsots, were
, widely circulated And here during the
summer and fell more than three Moma1d
soels entered into holy covenant with God
through Jesus Christ. Ia moStof Che Bri-
gaces 6siiy eervices were held-the Camps
we're vocal With She praises Of Gc6, and .
rEeEa,pe revival Of religion seemed to per-
wade, With It's ba!lowed Influences, the en-
tire srmY. In the latter pait Of autumn
AID tie es,ly winter, there vas con5itern
ble interruption frcm military movements,
and tht preparation Of winter quarters, at-
ter which, the Mj1d period o. successful re-
| hg;cus fort began, and discontinued with
iIcseasiHg iutereot to tbe present time. Oae
&c me NEST important facts ooDGee,ea with
/ SO last fcur moD;ha,is TIA erection Ct
t1irtJ.aeven comfortable AID eommodioul
hcnses Of w0rahjp, by the aoGiers--some
af tas.a-eif5td accommodation Tor tige or
six hundred aorshiPpera--daily aervieesare
bs}d 10 these sruy chnrcbes, where crowded
and deeply serious audiences attend. Dd
r.rg TIE winter very special attention hes
been given 60 the study of the word Of
+ God A large nnuber cf Bi0!s c.asses
have heeD organized in some instances the
pCkaplain ba9 q class composed entirely OF
TEACHERS who in tarn iDpqgt The instruction
received 60 their ovG clssses. Many have
/ bseu Instructed in leiteva. and taught to
read the Scriptures erd Communicate in
Eri,iDg With their friends IS home. Ii has
been @ tiiae Of geuerel religions improve.
% eut sud growth in grace emoUg plofessed
Cbri0i8ns tha spirit Of God hiss also been
present ia tEe Conversion Of sinners. Ia
sowe B,igadcs there have been extensive
revivals Of religion and ag decreased inter
esd il all About enc thousand persons
have made profession Of foih in Christ,
srd the Won < seems TO be cxieHdiHg.-
Should the army remain il is present Pc
di00 FOR p month or two longer taere IL
prospect Of sill greater results than re
have yet seen. As to thepresent necessities
Of the army-sicke6ness sill abouuds-
many axe evidently growing wo1se-ihe iC-
dura,iug iraeeuces Of wars aye hardening
many besrts-tbo teup,er Is ever present
TO tslude and destroy. Dear Brethren
pray for US, When his address Is read in
your churches, let earnest prayer DO made
for "a by Sll toe cougyss atioas OF Gods
people. Anal oroand the family altar grd
in tie closet, let the soldiers cause ever be
rs1eU beTed There ia need fos moro copies
Of the word Of God. liz MANY crmuGrGs
moro than one fourth arc w;,hont the NeT
Testameat The pnblic sources Of supply
ere precsyi0u7, and some Cf them have been
exhausted VIII rot pastors and pious
friends collect copies of the New Testament
end Bibles of convenient s'za, and send
Itheu; e. the array Isay neishl ora2ede
s.4i1 s,.u f>gimen- or eompaug cane,
mieb supply Is With tae Scriptures.
Or greatest need is for Jat supply Ct
I Choplaias The demacd is for faithful men
to remain permanently with the troops. A
permanent relation can alosS, ordinarily,
produce permanent results. a minister
Iaust become rot only known to the s6l-
Gicrs, but identified with then, go that he
viii not be regarded as a stranger, bat as
s pastor srd friend. We fear that great
mistake has beeu committed by the church
es in their organized capacities, in sending
missionaries for q short tine to the army,
in the place Of designating their most suija-
bic men fer permanent work-such plan
/ nsY satisfy the conscience If church courts
and ministers Of the gospel, but it will u t
supplY the vents Of TIE soldiers, or accom-
plsh the results desired. As the Leading
Denominations Of Christians are represented
b. their membership in the fsrept Brig
aides, each church shonld secure an efficient
miDise- rs Chaplain in each Brigade this
arrangement acu!d complete TIE supply OF
the army. While We cordially invite bTe5h-
rem, who cannot become permanent Chap
leins. to visit rs and labor in the army, we
urge upon tbem to come for the longest
ame practicable, and TO remain as much "a
possible with the same regiment. Seine
/ havereuained only long enough tooyescome
q fieulteg, form aCq1eintsUces, and open
the gay fox usefulness, and tuen have gone.
Come, and remain long enongh to make
proof of your ministry and 10 witreao the
results OF Sorr iabors- While the army
occupies il present position there is the
finest opportunity for carrying on the work;
the occaaion should be improved, it viii
soon DC gone. Wbas yoo. do, you mnst do
quickly. Oar bearts have been made sad
by bearing Of the low state Of religion and
the absence Of rayivals, in most Of the
ehurcaeA i Soc C0pledeyaey. Bfethrer,
have YOU feifHs9 voar dGty u ne army !?
Have you tschsrgsd the debt Of graitade
you owe to your noble soldiersl Ii all the
regiments in our armies were supplied with
faithful ChaplaiDs, we bellows it would re-
suit in an immediate blessing upon the
churches at home. "There is that scatter
eth, and Jet inereassth; and there is that
witoholdeth, but it teudeth to poverty"
Dear Brethren, the work in which we are
engaged is a great and blessed work-lo
cheer, to comfort, TO counsel, to intrust, to
s.re our dear and noble soldiers. The re-
ligicus character Of the army, aud co,se-
oQently the moral destiny Ct the country
have been committed by Providence in large
measure TO Onr hands Oar strength is in
GOd-upon his grace and blessing We rely.
I To the Church ne look for aid and encour-
|agement. Nay our hands be upheld by the
prayers Of fathers and mothers, who in this
tins OF calamity weep between the porch
aud the altar. As people we are called
to pass through fiery ordeal; but though