The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-24
PRISONERS CHRISTIAN ASsOCIA-
TION.
Fort DELAWARE, Oct. 3Oth. 1864
To the People ofthe Confederate .Sfote&

D1L@ANARE, OcG. oUtn, lSO4.
4" the People cftAe Confederate States.
Inc Undersigned invite your attention to a be-
neVolent enterprise which they believe will COM
nend itself to the hearts and conscience Of our
entire people 1t is "to make an organized effort
! TO supply the wants Of prisoners"
/ We feel confident that if the people of the Con.
tsderate States had from the bcginning of the war
tusy appreciated the multiplied wants and hard
sh OF this large class Of our people, there would
lohgflnce have been organized society especially
! 10 fAemote their welfare. But so diverse aad
/ onerots have been the duties which this struggle
have imposed upon people at home they have
IN grest measure underestmated the trials and
suHerina OF prisoners, and the wide field which
relieving their wants affords for the exercise of
| Christian tanevolence. Whilst therefore we hear
| thy commeld the patriotic and benevolent enter
prizes whlchyou have during the war, inaugura-
ted to promoe The cause Of freedom, the good of
mankind and tae glory of God, We most earnestly
ask that another be added to those enterprises by
which these gloGous ends may be promoted We
make this appeal committee of the "Confede-
rate States Christian Association for the relief of
prisoners" socet! in operation among the off
GERS IN confinement at this Fort; and we cannot
better commend thlsenterprise to your favor than
by acqualntlng you with the nature and purposes
! of that association. :
Early last summer, the officers imprisoned here
who were members of evangelical churches appre-
clatng the importance Of some organized effort to
promote the cause OF christ among their fellow
prisoners, organized "Ihristian Association" Ia
the providence OF God the Rev Isaac W. K Han
dy, u. d., and several o.her ministers were conin-
ed here also, and SO heartily and faithfully did
these godly direct tie efforts of the Associa-
ton, that God speedilyena abundantly blessed
those efforts with gracious oct pouring of his
Spirit, and in the addition of many souls to His
Church. AS the sumncr advanced and the
means at its command woal permit, the Associa-
tion, besides having the gsYel preached, and hold
ing daily prayer meetings. Ietab.t he'd library of
religious and misunderstanding and organized
classes op the various BRANCHES Of science and re-
ligion; and so wide was the feld which was grad
ually opened to its operation, ,that it soon became
necessary to re-draft its consitution This was
done in October, and the new Society was styled
the "Confaderate Christian Association for the re-
hefuf prisoners" and was desi ned to relive the
wants, sPiriua urzl, IN nllanta and nh,sca1 Of
ali prisoners, whether civil, political or military, 10
our own or other lands.
The Society was organized uIon this broad ba-
sis with the hopes that the Uaitsd States autkor-
ties might permit it to extend. its operations to
other PRISONS and that it might b. its objects and
efforts suggest to the people oftAa Confederate
States the Importance Of organizing in each COM
munity and State of the Confederaey similar AS
sociations to which this might be auxiliary Our
Association has been in operationa uuder its new
title but short time, but bids fair to be eminent
y useful, even with the restrictions. which the
prison rules impose upon its operations But We
trust that God will extend its usefulnss still fur
ther, by removing such obstacles nv hinder its
efforts, ard that the people Of thet Confederate
States viii cordially respond to appeal in be-
half Of their prisoners and will furnish this and
similar associations in other prisons tie means to
supply their wants.
But oar efforts should not stop her. That
benevoience does not deserve the namnl nloF Chris.
tan benevolenoe, which does not cInbrace or enc
mics as we'll as our friends. There are thousands
of prisoners in own prisons Whose wants
should be supplied. Let us endeaVor to ts2harge
our duty to them well rs to own pss,ners
and exemplyfying the teachings Of hir Who said,
Glove your enemias, bless them that curse ecu do
good to them that heto you, and pray th them
which despitefolly use you and prosecute yec.">
We therefore most earnestly appeal to ~ to
organize associations everywhere throughout he
CoDfedeTacy for the relief CT prisoners. Lei to-
ney be raised, and books ard clothing be bought,
collected and forwarded to the associations ID tie
various prisons, and when necessary let the itO.
minister be sent 10 preach to the prisoners, an4
rest assured God will bless your efforts by promo
ting our countrys good, and His own glory.
r. 3. VANCE,
LEWELLYN SOUTHGATE, COMMITTEE
Geo. N EDGAR,