Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-05-07


A meeting was held, on Monday last, in
the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church,
to take int, consideration the importance of
organizing in this city branch of the
United States Christian Commission. Mem
bsrs of nearly all the different churches of
the city wsro in attendance.
The Rev. S. W. Adams, D. D., was called
to the chair, and Rev. John Monteith, Jr.,
appointed Secretary. A committee to draft
Constitution, and Committee on Perma-
nent Organization, were also appointed.
At subsequent meeting the committee to
draft Constitution reported as follows:
The committee appointed to report the ba-
sis Of an organisation to cooperate with the
United States Christian Commission submit
the following
DECLARATION AND RESOLUTIONS.
From the beginning of the war, the Chris
tisn people of this city, and Of the neighbor-
ing communities, have seen with admiration
the generous provision which the Government
has made for the bodily wants, and the relig-
ous instruction Of the army and navy.
They have given to the Sanitary Commits
sion their most hearty support, and have con-
fesssd it to be an agency productive Of
vast good within the limits which the ma
ture OF its work preseribes.
They have also aided the devoted men
who, as ChspIsins, or in other posts, minis
ter to the spiritual good Of the soldiers,
giving them for distribution, through vsri
Gus channels, the religious literature neees-
ssry to their largest and best influence.
But in the Providence of God, another
agency-the United, States Christian Commits
sion-hss beer raised up TO act in concert
with those already mentioned, in promoting
the physical, and especially the moral and
religious welfare of our brethren in arms.
By it's system of unpaid delegates; by the
directness with which, under proper medical
and surgical supervision. it ministers to the
sick and wounded by its admirable methods
of labering for the spiritual good Of the sol
diers, cheering and strengthening chaplsins,
and performing large missionary work
which no other agency can do; by the favor
which it has with the General Government
and with the officers and men Of the army,
and BY the remarkable blessings with which
God has followed its labors, it is commend
ed to our confidence, and deserves from US g
steady and ardent support and cooperation.
Therefore, as expressive Of the views Of
this meeting, it is resolved,
1. That we believe it to be the duty
Of this community TO enter at once
upon the noble work which the Christian
Commission has begun, and has so success
fully prosecuted.
2. That a Committee, to be called " the
Cleveland Army Committee" be appointed,
whose duty shall be to aid4n furthering this
work, by the use of such measures as the
large experience of the Commission has
proved to be best fitted to subserVe its hu-
name and Christian ends.
3. That the officers Of this Committee shall
be a President, Vice President, Secretary
and Treasurer, who, with five others elected
to the Office, shall be an Executive Commit
tee, to whom shall be entrusted the general
oversight and direction Of the work, subject
to the viii of the Army Committee.
4. That, as the Sanitary Commission has
undertaken to provide sanitary stores for the
army, so far as these may be needed beyond
the provision made by the Government, and
as it has been entrusted with ample funds for
this purpose, il is believed that sn arrange
S..,t NAV be made by which the delegates Of
tributing its stores, as tls! 5aale aid IN dis
msnd.
5. That, If this arrangement can be effect
ed, it shall not be the duty OF the Army Com
mittee to collect and forward such stores.
6. That we are confident that the Christian
community will welcome this movement for
the moral and religious good Of our brethren
in the field, and will generously aid the COM
mites in the prosecution of it.
7. H. HAWKS,
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