The Soldiers' journal. (Rendezvous of Distribution, Va.) 1864-1865, 1865-02-01
THE SOLDIERS JOURNAL.
LOCAL AND PERSONAL ITEMS.

AN INTERESTING MEETING.-On Thursday
night last an unusually large and interesting
meeting was held in the Chapel of our camp
under the auspices of the Christian Commission.
We have received two very able reports of it's
proceedings from the Rev. III. b. Taylor, and
the Rev. Mr.. Fisher, from which we CLEAN the
names and remarks of most of the speakers
present. The meeting was conducted by George
II. Stuart, Esq., President of the United States
Christian Commission, and opened by prayer
from the Rev. Mr.. Curtis after which Bishop
James, of Boston, briefly but affectionately adj
dressed the audience, expressing warm desire
for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the SOL
diers of our army. He was followed by Mr..
Jones, of Philadelphia, who touched all hearts
by relating the labors and sacrifices and death
of sister to serve the soldiers, out of love to
them and the country. She died at City Point,
away from all her relatives but strong and
athletic soldiers were there to mourn and weep
her loss. But the love of Jesus was far
greater than the love of mortals, and should we
not love Him? Mr.. Jones was followed by Mr..
Story, of Boston, who made a most interesting
and eloquent appeal to all hearts to embrace
Jesus as their Saviour. Mr., -, of Chicago
touched sympathetic cord and melted all hearts
by the fervency and tenderness of his appeals in
behalf of religion and duty, after which prayer
offered by Rev. Mr.. Morse of Worcester
Mass. Four five soldiers followed the prayer
in relating their experiences, and were listened
to with much interest. Rev. Mr.. Hatfield, of
Brooklyn, N. Y, then made an earnest appeal,
and was followed by Chaplain McCabe, who had
spent some time in Libby Prison, and who found
in the audience many soldiers who had also been
captured and treated to the refined cruelty Of
rebel jail-masters. He gave glowing and in
spiriting account of the reoicings of our men in
Libby over the news Of the victories of Gettys-
burg, Port Hudson and Vicksburg relating an
anecdote that will bear repeating, though it must
lose force to the reader who was not present to
note the tone and gesture of the speaker while
relating it. On the receipt of the news of the
capture of Vicksburg our heroic martyrs laughed
and shouted for joy, and sang all the jubilant
songs they could think of While so doing the
rebel guard below, piqued at their joy, shouted
up that they would soon laugh on the other side
of their faces. Soon after the news of the addi-
tional victories of Port Hudson and Gettysburg
came in and in the renewed joy and clamor Of
the prisoners, one of them poked his head out of
the window, and called to the guard, "Well, we
are laughing on both sides nowp' He rsked his
life for the joke, but with the usual luck of ovi
ality, escaped shot in punishment of his temer-
ity. Mr.. McCabe also spoke of gracious revival
of religion in Libby, in which noted infidel
had been converted to God, through the nstru-
mentality of suddenly deceased child, who in
life asked him why he could not tell him of God,
as his mother did, and who, one day finding a
beautiful flower, asked him if that was not of
Gods creation! The reverend gentleman also
sang the Battle Hymn of the Republic, in which
the entire audience Joined, the many mingling
voices forming sweet and impressive melody
The meeting was closed by brief and eloquent