The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-29


Society was held at tho Congregational
church, corner Of Tenth and @ streets.
The exercises were opened by singing and
prayer, after which Rev. Mr.. Shanor, the
secretary, stated that the object Of the meet.
Ing was to promote the cause Of the Amcri-
can Tract Society. The Society, he said,
has been in existence for period Of forty
Ave years, during which time Il had circula-
ted $4,000, 900 bibles, LOG, 900 periodicals, and
273, 900 tracts. The press was the instru-
mentality to disseminate the Word Of God,
and one hundred and forty-onc different Lam
guagcs and dialects have been printed by the
Society. f'. 20
-Four years have expired since the society
put forth Its efforts In evangellzlng the
South, and one hundred and one colporteurs
have been appointed, whose field OF labor Is
In that section, and they arc instructed to
visit from house TO house, In order to ascer-
tain the condition and promote the spiritual
welfare OF the people. The colportcurs, In
many sections, have established prayer meet
ings, as nearly all the churches were more
or less destroyed during the war, and the
society now propose to establish night-schools
throughout the impoverished portions Of the
South, for the education Of children, white
and black, who have been the most neglected
through the ravagcs OF war.
The freedmen, however, were In most need
taught by the colporteurs, under the aus
pices Of the society. This people, he said,
were being taught to work, as we'll as read
and zoo, 900 primers distributed to them, and
now many have learned 10 read the Bible
who could~pot spell year ago. Sunday
schools Ia been organized In portions OF
North Carolina and Virginia where there
were no church buildlngsi aud such is the
interest manifested by the colored people
that thay In n lat 40 bs a
cut logs, with which they have erected COM
Portable log churches, which are now self
supporting.
At the close Of last Or there were re-
ported 1i5 conversions OF freedmen In A
small county Of Virginia, and one colporteur
in Johnston county, North Carolina, has
converted 2o2 persons and assisted In the
building Of two churches. Mr.. s. thought
500 more colporteurs should be appointed, as
II was the cheapest plan; and while he aid
not ask Government aid, he said every
Christian should come to the good work Of
the society. A prolific field for the colpor-
teur now was In the great West TO convert
the tide Of emigration flowing there, and he
exhorted the people of Washington to come
to the assistance Of the society in order to
cxpound the cause In which II is engaged.
Rev. j. c. Fletcher next addressed the
meeting In eloquent language, giving a de-
cling through Europe. In Spain, he found
that Gods power was being felt, and great
reformation was now going on, expressing
the hope that at no distant day the Spaniards
would he convicted TO the evangelical no.
llgion. In 1862, a great commotlon was
created In Spain from the fact that Span.
lard, named Matamoras, was discovered
reading the Bible. This man and a few OF
his followers were thrown into dungeons,
uph aE thap Ina he rlo,
they were sentenced to the galllcs, one OF
the most degrading of punishments to n
Spanlard !, but through the kind offices OF
some English and American officials, their
sentence was commuted to that of Danish.
ment from the country.
The speaker afterwards met Matamoras in
Brazil, and there found him reading his
Bible to the people and making hundreds oil
conversions. He was a Spanish peasant,
| aged twenty-sevCn years, and was n soldier
and poet, and now, through the instrnmcn.
tally Of the Bible, Matnmorus has converted
| thousands OF his countrymeu In the evangel'
ical faith. He next alluded TO his travels In
| Switzerland, Geneva and elsewhere In
Europe, and everywhere, he said, he found
unmlstakable evidences Of reformation, In
persons abandoning their faith and preju.
dices Of centuries ago and embracing the
| light and love Of God. This change he ut
religious liberation and the separation oil
Church and State now going on In many
parts of Europe.
He advocated the sending of thousands o.
tracts In the Spanish language to Spain, az
their effect would be more etilCacious than
the sending of so many dollars. At the con
| clusion of Mr.. Fletcher's address, the Hon
Mr.. Ferry, of Michigan, spoke in warn
| praise of the labors Of the American Trac
Society, whose field Of labor Is the world
and the man or woman who contributed his
or her mite to the cause would receive the
blessings of God.
Mr.. Ferry having concluded, very liberia
collection was taken up, AFTER which the
meeting adjourned.
Gov. FAIRCHILD AND THE GRAND ARMY OF
| THE REPUBLIC.-The following correspond
| encc between Gov. Fairchild, of Wisconsin,
and committee of the Grand Army of the
Republic, rendering him n serenade, will be
found interesting to all discharged soldiers
especially. The reasons why Gov. F. de-
clined the serenadc certainly reflect great
credit upon him:
HEADa'Rs DEP 7 OF PoToNAC, BARB
wASnISgToS, D. c March "a, 1850
GEsERALi In behalf of the comrades of the
Grand Army Of the Republic In this Depart
ment, many Of whom served with you In the
| Held, and all OF whom are anxious to bear
tribute to your eminent services during the
war, and to your whole-souled, generous
| friendship for the unfortunate and destitute
soldier since, the undersigned arc appointed
q committee to arrange u serenade to be
rendered to the "Soldiers' Friend" Will
you be pleased to inform us II II will be con.
yenicnt and agreeable to you to receive this
expression of the esteem Of your many
friends at an carly day next week, and to
designate an evening therefor.
| SAINT A, DTSCAN. Grand Cnmlr.
G.WILEY WELLS, Sen.V. G. Comdr.
W. II. PLUSKETT, Comradc.
Gov Luclus Fairchild, Metropolitan hotel
MASHIEoIoS, b, G., March n. 1882.
GENTLENES / have reflected upon tn,
tender you made In behalf Of some of IN,
old comrades of complimentary sercnadc
and think II had better not be given, for th
reason If no other. know such affairs cos
money, and feel sure that each of the post
Of the 6. A. L. in this city must be oflci
called upon TO relieve distressed comrades
Where so many come for positions and fai
TO be appointed there must be many cases o
distress and poverty, hence your post treas
uries must be strained to the utmost to NEE
the demands upon them. | would mucl
rather sec all your funds devoted to sucl
purposes than to have any portion expended
to compliment me. ! shall feel that my
friends have the same kind regard for m
without il, and fully appreciate the fricndl
feeling which prompted the movement.
Trusting that may always be the soldier
friend and never forfeit their esteem, am
Your friend, LUCIUs FAIRCHrLD.
Gen. Samuel A, duncan, Col. q. Vile,
Wells, Col. Vim. II. Plunkett, Committee.
"THE PARLoR" AND "SENATE House..
-Messrs. Beamer IL O'Leary, ut the Senat
House, Nos. $40 and 5l2 New Jersey avenue
near the railroad depot, and at the Parlor
No. I97 Sixth street, between Pennsylvania
avenue and e street, have fitted up thci
dining saloons in the most approved style
aud are ready at all times to furnish the bes
of oysters and other edibles Of every descriT
ton which the market affords, at the shortcs
notice, Their wines, liquors and cigars hav
been selected with great care, and are of tn
best brands. Special apartments for the nc
commodatOn Of ladies. Messrs. B, u OIL
are determined to make the ParlOr and tn
Senate House lrst-class restaurants,
SEVERELY BITTEN ny A DOG.-AbOat tc
O'Clock on Saturday morning, Mr. Harr
Gorbutt, proprietor Of Trades Union Hall
was severely bitten In the calf ofthe left leg b
aviclous dog In the house Of "a friend, on -Four
and-a-half street. Mr.. G. proceeded to hi