Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-01-30
LOCAL NEWS.
ANVsEHENTs To NIGHT


tacus." IN the celebrated play of the siGiad-
iator." Last night but three Of the great trag-
edian.
Growers THRArER.-Miss Lucille Western
rs "Peg Wcffin gtoh," the performance con-
GLIDING with the popular drama of I" Toodies.'
OXFORD HALL.-First appearance OF Miss
Kate Pennoyer and Mile Maori Arnold,
win ali the great company In new and AT
tractive bill.
CANTERBURY.-First appearance OF Thomp-
,sor and Kerns, assisted by all the favorites of
this popular resort. Tonight novel pro.
sramme OF music, fun and sentiment.
THIRD ANsIvRRsARY OF THE CHRISTIAN
CoMMIssIt N-Hon William II. Se,0ard presiding
-Arnual Rcpori of the observation-disclosures,
dc.-The third anniversary of the Christian
Commission was held IN the Hall OF the House
OF Representatives last night An immense
throng was in attendance, completely filling
the galleries and doorways, and in many in
stances obstructipg the staircases. Hon. w. II.
Seward, Secretary OF State, presided The
Sgre "Psnsa BY sne snS gu ts q
ington Handel aud Haydn Society.
Du ing the reading Of a chapter from the
Bible, President Lincoln arrived, and was
escorted To a seat near the Speakers desk
After PRAYER and another hymn. Mr.. Sc ward
addressed the meeting as follows:
sIn comir z once more into these halls OF tn
National lie 4Islarure, although for only an
occasional purpose, my thoughts revert to the
circumstances under which / left them four
years ago.
Misguided legislators had found at last the
long delayed occasion, and had organized a
fearful rebellion. They had appointed their
leader, had seized by surprise important forts,
ports, And places, and their armies were rush
ing into the field. One after another the con-
spirators threw off the mask and departed from
the Capitol, hurting back curses and detfaE &C
against the Government. Foreign nations, con-
founL ed by the magnitude and boldness of the
InsurrectIon, prepared to acknowledge q di-
Yided empire.
"On the side of the Government was seen
and heard only alarm and confusion. Tn
avaiIing appeals to reflection and propositions
for Cancellation came forth from every section
OF country which regarded fraternal war as
the greatest of crimes and the most irretrieva.
BILE of calamities. The people called first upon
the outgoing President, then upon the incom-
ing President, and then, successfully upon
each one of our bravest generals and most hon.
ored statesmen, to save the Union, and to save
II quickly. and by one master stroke. To these
frantic appeals only one truthful answer could
be given or was given. That ans wer was, that
by no one act, and by no one man, could the
Union be saved. II could be sLyed only by the
voluntary, energetic, heroic and persistent ef-
fort of the whole people.
1.-THE people promptly arose to make that su-
prene effort; they have faithfully perse yered
Ia it, and il is now seen to be successful Lost
forts, ports and places, without which the in
surrection cannot succeed, have been regained.
The cornerstone of the rebellion has been up
lifted and cast ont, and we wait only at the
hands OF the rebels for the subm ission, which.
however, delayed, necessarily follows military
defeat and overthrow. In this achievement
the people of the United States have not waited
to follow, but they have gone before the exscu-
live, the legislative and the judicial authorities
OF the Government.
IL have heretofore borne my testi-
mony 10 this popular energy in the depart
ments OF war, finance and politics. But the
war has opened another field OF activity and
labor, q field not less important or interesting
than those which usually lie directly in re-
view. That field is the department of charity.
We have here in our country no established
church or recognized ecclesiastc authority.
They taunt US with not even recognizing q
God in our national Constitution. All effort,
all association, and all submission is purely
voluntary. Nevertheless, the Christian Com
mission and Sanitary Commission, working
together in perfect harmony, unorganized, IN
paid, unprompted, and even unnotced by the
Government, have cultivated the broad field
to which have adverted, with complete and
full success. They have left no wounds, or
sickness, or sorrows, unheeded and unre-
lieyed, which could be reached by any other
than Divine hand.
81 have consented to take this chair, only
because II affords me fitting opportunity to
proclaim my sincere conviction that the chari-
ties OF this, the greatest and most fearful of all
civil wars, though voluntary rendered, have
nevertheless, been administered by the Chris-
tian people of the United States. without any
sacriiegiOus holding back, and in a spirit or
lofty patriotism and pure and undedled re-
lgton."
Geo. H. Stuart, Esq, chairman Of the Com.
mission, stated, among other things, that the
Christian Commission wasrepresentedb by min
listers OF all the Christian churches in the
United States; that, thus organized, their aim
was to distribute hospital stores, religious
books newspapers, and, in fact, everything
which might be needful and useful to the SOL
diers and prisoners of the armies of the United
States, in the field and hospital. He also read
full exhibit OF all the funds placed In the
hands OF the Com mission during he past three
years. which amounted in the aggregate to
81, G}0,4il 80. Among the articles distributed
were Sl,714 26IS worth of stores; value of
publications distributed, Sii6,57l 26; stationery,
Two hundred and sixty-fvs chapeIs and
chapel tents had been erected in the various
armies since the commencement of last winter,
and there were at the present time two hun.
dTed and seyenty-s six delegates in the field. Mr.
Stuart also exhibited to the audience fac
sinil> of a silver brick which had been sent to
the Christian Commission by the natives of
Sierra Nevada, which was about ten inches
long. six inches wide. and four inches deep.
Addresses were then deliveries by Rev j. w.
Smith, and Rev. @. M Butler. of Philadelphia,
Bishop Amps, of Indiana, Provost Marshal
General Patrick, Admiral Farragut, General
Eiske, and others.
SMITHSONIAN INsTITUTIoN.-The Regents
OF the Smithsonian Institution held a special
meeting on Saturday last at the Smithsonian
building. on call of the Secretary.
Present: Vice President Hamlin, Chief JUS
tice Chase, Senator Trumbull, Hon: Mr.. Pat
terson, of New hampshire, the MAYOR of
Washington, the secretary, Prof. Henry, the
treasurer, Mr.. Seaton.
Secretary Henry made verbal statement of
the origin and extent Of the late cenfagration
OF the buiiding, which. 1t seems, was confined
chiefly TO tie upper story CT the central build
ing, and o: the losses in its contents sustained
by the fire. The Regents then ccompsnied
the Secretary In cursory survey of the dam
aged portions OF the edifice They found that
temporary roof was In the course Of erection,
and already far advanced towards completion,
by which the lower or museum story (about
200 feet long, will be protected from injury by
bad weather until the building can be tempor-
ariIy repaired and restored.
On reassembling a resolution was adopted
calling for written report OF the catastrophe,
for the purpose Of record; also ordering q pro-
fessioDal survey OF the dila pdated portions OF
the building, 70 ascertain the nature and extent
OF the repairs necessary aud the probable ex-
pense thereof, and a survey and report on those
injured towers which present safety may pos
sibly require TO be taken down.
The Secretary stated to the board that the
partial destruction of the building would not
interrupt the regular active operations Of the
institution, which would proceed as usual.
The Regents then adjourned to meeton Thurs