, 1866-10-22
"OUR CHRISTIAN Duty TOWARD
THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE,.


lFtom the Pittsburgh Commercial, October ISL
Major General Q. o. Howard, the hero Of
Gettysburg, lrcturcd last evening ut the
new Academy Of Music, on Liberty street.
The lecture WAS the first one Of course Of
public addresses which will be delivered in
the auspices ofthc Plymouth Literary Union.
\ fair audience was present, and the dstin-
EtlisLcd gentleman who lectuged was atten.
lively listened to, and many times inter-
.upted by applause. The choir Of the Ply
mouth Congregational M GhnSsh commenced
ode to the American Flag, and other popu-
lar pieces. The Rev. Henry D. Moore pre-
sided, at the request Of the Lecture Commit
tee, and introduced General Howard, who
received warm greeting. His theme was,
Our Christian Duty toward the Southern
People,"
lie said that one evening he met Chris
tfan gentleman from the South, who took
him by the hand and said, "f1ow do you,
who profess to be Christian, exercise such
disposition as, you do towards tho South.
crn people, mud advocate such mcasures:"
scicntiously to do my duty.' Thi, conver-
sutton suggested 1hc rrorricty Of careful
inquiry into the matter Of Christian duty
towards the South, rs soldier and 1avman
Judgment Us to the true condition of South
cru society, based as 1t must be on testimony
much of which Is warped necessarily by
prejudice, to the one side or the other, was
clearly recognized. Yet this testimony,
together with facts derived from per
guide us, 50 that We could not reasonably ex-
| rcct perfectly unbiased conclusion. Scv-
| r1thcless, If we snuCht the position OF duty.
with predetermined candor; with spirit Of
prayer aud charity, which sufIereth long aud
| Is kind and is not pulled up with pride, NC
might expect to touch q chord Of fsympathy
/ in the sonth, and possibly be answered IN
the eamc spirit.
lie then classified the South according to
! what he said, his own personal observations
Existing between those who profess TO be
loyal and discussed briefly. the Christian
| the insurrcctionaTy States consisted: First, Of
those who engaged heartily. In the war,
tut aon rho of '~ tavsry ys up ana n It's is 'e
comitants, and arc solicItous 70 exhibit their
unqualified allegiance. Second, q large class
who at first pretended that they gave up the
| points'of contention that they surrendered
State supremacy. secession and slavery, but
| arc now really making every possible effort
to regain the power necessary to re.estab!ist
them or something equivalent. Third. cla ):
who have always been defiant aud now seek
every opportunity to keep on foot some sort
Of contention and disorder, and lastly, {
| ElaS6 " HlV GAS Z EftT ptEH Hill Sl14A uAtoii
l{tional Union men OF, III other words, thcs'
classes consisted of the truly penitcat; th'
treacherous or by pocritical; the openly re
hellious, and those who remain true. What re
latlon, he asked now existed between Us v h
fought for the preservation Of the Republic
and those above named. Collectively. IT va
that Of conQucrors and tnc yanquislcd
CestGin large hearted Christian leaders wish
!, cd the Republic to show q Christian mag
/ uaniu.ity unsurpassed in all the annals
. hfstory-not only to extend the olive hrane
Of peace, but to press 1t upon the conquered
, accompanied with such oyerw hc1mtnE act
Of generosity as mnst, In thef: }ndgmen
. | win the affection aud confidence Of thes
+ crring brethren, and not only would they fol
{ girc past Offences, but open every castle va
] and bid them come In fully clad in armo
r Between man and man. the injunctions
G our blessed Lord are plain. But the insta'
: We consider the interests Of family, societ
4 OF State, safety against .an encmy d
: nandcd something beyond masnaniIl
i, II, and acts Of generosity. It deman
i cd a careful Reconnaissance Of the enemy
/ position, and full preparation to meet Al
e rcpel his assaults. 1t was perfectly pla
: that no magpanimlty, no acts Of genesosit
Ie OF display u ela1itS could dislodge tho Ct