The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-05-23

operating in the hospital constantly, for
the last year. have been here as permA-
nent delegate of the Christian Commission,
and also as the assistant chaplain. Perhaps
can best answer your inquiry by making
a few extracts from my diary: ~
"a young German, about twenty years
of age, who came TO this country about
one year ago, and who has since lost his
parents in this country, is now (Jsnuary
14th, 1865, patient in this hospital. he
was brought up in the Roman Catholic
faith, and while, IS was supposed, he was
on his death bed, the priest was sent for
who came and anointed him for death,
and told him his sins were all forgiven.
and that he was sure of heaven. The
young man did not feel satisfied, but could
not speak English, and not being able to
go and find some one TO point him to
Christ in his own language, was
left in trouble for a while. Finally
q delegate of the Christian Com.
mission, Brother Pettis, from Ohio found
him and gave him German Testament,
and from that time the young man began
to read it for himself, and from its teach
ings found that he was sinner before God,
and that none but Christ could forgive sins.
he continued to read as his health lmproY-
ed, and soon the priest came to see if ne
was still living and how he was he found
him much better and reading his Testa-
ment. He asked him what book he had
there, and was told by the young man it
was the Testament. BE told him he must
not read it. The young man told him be
sss,sst read it. The priest told him he should
not read it. The young man replied that
he lOould read it. So, to the young mans
great satisfaction, the priest left him.
HHe continued to res / until he had SO far
recovered as to be able TO come to the
Chaplain's quarters and to the library room
and get other Germsn books, and continued
to read from day to day, until one morning
he came very early to the library and made
out TO make one Of the attendants under
stand that he wanted to see the priest. The
attendant asked - he wanted him to go to
the city for the Catholic priest. He said:
HNo; he no good priest. 1 want yont
priest"-mesring the Chaplain or some
ore of the delegates of the Commission.
The librarian then went with him to an
other young Christian German who could
speak English, and there found out the
whole secret of his case, and found that be
was feeling his way to Christ by the tesch-
inqs of His word alone In short time
he was in full possession of the Pearl of
| Great Price. He is now a warm hearted
| Christian, and, with smiling face, comes
every day to the library and to greet the
librarian, the Chaplain, and all who love
God. g.
IA German Protestant minister is now in
Lincoln Hospital, lsboring as delegate Of
the Christian Commission, doing him snd
others much good. Truly, "God moves 10
q amystsrious way his wonders to perform"
In connection with this extract from my
diary, it may be interesting to know some
thing more of this German boy, from the
date above given until the present time
| He remained in the hospital during the
winter IS aeonvslescent soldier, until about
the first of March, when he wss thought
able to return TO the 'front.' near Peters
burg, and was sent to his regimens. / heard
nothing more of him until last evening,
MAY 9th, when the young Christian Ger
man, who first made us understand his
case, came to me and inquired if knew
anything about the young German boy
who experienced relie ion here last fall. and
was here through the winter and went
TO the front2 I told him that I knew
| nothing further of him. He then
gave me his history as follows. He said
he went to his regiment and was in all the
battles of the spring campaign until Lees
surrender at Burksville; and that when
Lee was surrounded and all were expecting
that he would fight, and every heart was
palpitating with fearful expectation, ready
for the dreadful charge, and garments
rolled in blood, the moment when time and
eternity were brought together in most
| fearful contact, the moment when flashing
eyes and psllid cheeks, when trembling
limbs and gnAshing teeth, all told what
| dresdful or what glorious moments these
Were-st such a moment as this, the sur
render was announced, and then amidst
| the widest Jury of this tremendous ex-
element this same German boy dropped
upon his knees, g. d, with eyes, and heart,
and hands, up-lifted to heaven, thanked
God for this bloodless victory. His
Major. seeing this, gently laid his hands
upon his shoulder, and, uttering these
words: You are the only man in the
army who has done this" fell upon his
knees and gave God the glory. This
Major, on going to the rear, was shot dead
by bushwhscker. The bushwhseker was
caught and hung upon the limb of tree
near by. The German boy wss removed
by an ambulance and is now May 1Oth)
lying in a very dangerous condition in
Carver Hospital in Washington, D. q. He
is fully in the erjoyment Of the love of
Christ. He says he has no desire to live,
only as it may be the will of God he de-
sires to depart and be with Christ, which
is far better. He has two ribs broken
which the surgeon says will have to be
taken out to save his life, and then it will
be very uncertain.
will close these jottings by relating an
interview which I hsd with rebel officer
this day. The circumstances were these:
While on my daily duties in Lincoln Cen
eral Hospital, went into one of the wards
appropriated TO rebel officers, who are here
as prisoners of war, and under medical
treatment when one of them stepping up
to me in familiar way took hold Of
my Christian Commission badge, and in
quiringly said, What kind of badge is
this 2" 1 answered, The Christian Com
mission badge" %Ah is it, is it 2" said
he. "Well, that's what whipped US yes,
that is what whipped US. Wshsd no such
institution in our army" saw the sig
niAeance with which he spoke these words,
and have no doubt he was sincere in his
opinion.
In the significant language of thousands
of soldiers, let me say "God bless the
Christian Commission" Yea, God has
blessedsk
InrelAtion tothe present and future work
of the Christian Commission, in this and
49, A--r;A-l-I - ~ 49, - -----Na-
be done We have nearly two thousand
patients now in the hospital, Many of
them are very sick and badly wounded and
must remain here for months to come
Others will be brought here as soon as they
are able to be brought from the front. Il
is no time now to withhold from these
wounded and dying men that which has
enabled them to whip the rebels-our San