Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-06-17
Communicated


EDITOR NEWS: There is in the minds Of
many loyal people prejudice against the
Christian Commission, because Of a miSun-
destanding with regard to its character and
the sphere OF its operations. We believe this
organization to be not only worthy the conf
dence and cordial support of all W no desire
to relieve the sufferings and tighten the bur
dens of the brave men who are fighting to
uphold all that we hold most dear; but, also,
that, in many respects, it is the most deserv-
ing of all the associations that have been
formed to secure this end. The Sanitary
Commission 10 doing noble work, and its
projectors and supporters deserve and will
receive the grateful thanks Of thousands
whom its charities have relieved. But, while
we would not stay the tide Of liberal giving
which flows into the treasury Of that asSocia-
ton, we should bear in mind that there 10
another association, not rival, but 4 COLA
borer in the work OF caring for the sick and
the suffering, which, while it does all that the
Sanitary Commission does, aspires to do even
more: to care for mems souls, as well as their
bodies. The Sanitary Commission attends
only to the wants OF the body; the Christian
Commission goes further, and ministers to
mems spiritual wants. And let men be as
reckless and wicked as they may, there are
few who, when the hour comes for them to
die, and they feel that they are soon to meet
God in judgment, are not glad TO have 4
Christian minister near them, to speak to
them words Of consolation, to take their last
diving message to the wife or mother at home,
and to give them, so far az possible, the so
IDENTITIES Of Christian burial.
II it is said that the army chaplains can
attend to all such matters, We say it is notp-
rious that the system Of army chaplains has,
in a majority Of cases, proved an entire fail
ure and, at the present time, not third Of
| the regiments in the service Of the United
States are supplied with regular chaplains.
1t was in great degree owing to the fail
ure OF the old system Of Chaplaiucies that the
Christian Commission was organized: and
the operations of the past two years have de-
| monstrated that at last the right way Of
reaching the hearts Of the soldiers, and sup
plying their spiritual wants has been found.
The delegates of the Christian Commission
are men of piety, character and intelligence.
Men who love the cause in which we are
| fighting; and are willing to endure hard
ships for the sake ofcarrying comfort to those
who are heroically risking their lives in our
| defence.
They do this without pay or hope Of re-
ward, except that which they find in the con-
seriousness of noble actions, faithfully per-
| formed.
No delegate OF the Christian Commission
receives anything from the Government, or
! from the Commission for his services; the
Government provides them with trsnsporta-
ton, and, the Commission supplies them with
rations and this is all that they receive.
The first care of the Christian Commission,
1 as with the Sanitary, is to minister to mems
bodily wants. And in the time OF great
battle their work is almost identical. In no
case has there ever been any conflict or
| jealousy between them. The system which
the Christian Commission employs, enables
! its directors to concentrate larger number
| Of delegates, nurses, and attendants at any
! given point where they may be needed, than
It is in the power Of the Sanitary Commits.
sion to do. The Christian Commission had
| four hundred delegates at Gettysburg, and
over three hundred at Spott sylvania, while
the Sanitary Commission had not one-third
that number of agents on either field.
There can be no doubt that the Christian
Commission has been the means of saving
more lives, and alternating more suffering,
after every great battle which has been
fought since the Commission was organized,
than the Sanitary Commission, owing TO it,
superior facilities for concentrating its re.
sources at single point.
This Territory has done nobly in behalf Of
the Sanitary Fund, and Gold Hill has been
foremost in the good work; but we trust we
shall all be ready to give freely also for the
support OF this noble sister charity which
now comes to us with its appeal for help tc
carry forward its blessed work. Two dele
gates of the Commission are now in the Ter
ritory, the Rev. DR.. Patterson and the Rev
Mr.. Mingen; men well known for their de-
voted loyalty, and their fidelity to this work
They will hold meeting in Gold Hill, il
Odd Fellows Hall, on Sunday evening, thu
10Th inst, at s o'clock, at which it is hoped
there will be general attendance OF all thost
who desire the welfare of our brethren in tn,
field, and who are interested to hear wha
| has been done for them. 80