The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-28

49, nrssen, Had that public religious
ohservanca been assigned TO the Sabbath
there would have been nothing unusual ,"
the silence OF the city. but on a "eeh uai
a secular day, what a strange ess
was in busy commercial commune
offices and places of amusement oiose
the houses OF God alone open' anu
thronged with people OF every age anu
class. subdued by a common sau"eS
the entire population OF the CITY oo"eN
in penitence before the LORD. -
| have made these references 10 'he
Capitol disaster because of the iiiusra-
ton il affords of the way Divine froET
dence often overrules great caiami'eS
for the spiritual welfare OF the wnoie
people. The influence of that dispehsat'oh
OF sanctified bereavement is still feit IN
this city At the time OF the disaster the
dark cloud that lowered over us was
converted into pavilion for prayer; its
borders were fringed with A holy light
drops of mercy fell on the mourning
people and the impression then made or
the transcendlnt importance of eternal
things abides to this day
THE EVACUATION.
Another memorable event. never TO be
forgotten, was the evacuation OF the city
near the close of the war. II Is not my
purpose to reproduce the iurid picrire
which that night CT terror presents. the
thunder of military wagons over the
stony streets. the flame OF burning
bridges and warehouses, the deafening de-
donations Of exploding shells, the canopy
of dense smoke. hanging like pail over
the clty-ah no. let me drop the curtain
on that scene Of desolation and woe, and
turn to the consideration of what more
especially relates TO this present hour.
When the Confederate struggle com
menced | became a volunteer chaplain in
the camp of instruction. occupying what
are now called the Agricultural Fair
Grounds without resgning my pastoral
charge of this church. I'm order that l
might preach TO the soldiers every sun
day afternoon. DR. Moore. then pastor OF
the First Presbyterian church. occupied
my pulpit at the same hour when l was
holding my services with the soldiers in the
camp, and l officiated. in return for his
kindness, in his church at night
Camp Lee, as IL was called, was the
camp of instruction. where newly enlisted
regiments were drilled and equipped for
the field. some of them remaining there
for few weeks, others for several
months, as the exigencies Of the case
might demand. A hundred thousand men
passed through that camp during my con-
uecton with it. A hundred thousand men
was a large number to become acquaint-
ed with. The acquaintance was largely
on their part, ii is true; they all knew
me as their chaplain; my regret Is that
could not know every one of them by
name | preached there once every Sab
bath, and oftener during the week. visit
ing the hospitals as | had opportunity.
| then learned what a fearful restitution
of Bibles there was among our soldiers.
sent to Nashville and Charleston for
as many as could be spared from those
cities. and made an appeal TO the Nir-
ginia people for the gift of as many
Bibles as could be spared from their own
families. The supply was not sufficient for
the ever-increasing demand. on one occa-
sion. when ] had received box from the
West after my sermon was ended l stood
! on a casson. and, with the Bibles and tes-
taments before me, announced that / was
ready 10 distribute them. There was an
| immediate rush Of men with extended
hands for the precious volumes. Many
on the outer verge Of the crowd fearing
the supply would be exhausted before
they could reach me, cried out, calling me
by different titles. "Parson." Doctor. g."
"Chaplain," Save one for me" Alas,
for the number who were disappointed.
A MEMORABLE VOYAGE.
1t was at this iuncture that the Virginia
Bible Society propc sed that ! should make
a voyage to England. for the purpose OF
obtaining a supply from the British and
Foreign Bible Society. A voyage TO Eng
land is ordinarily an easy and pleasant
affair. | have made it many times; but
then it. was very different matter | got
ready ia a day and night ! left Rich
mond i'm the dead Of winter. and had TO
run the blockade in going from Charles
ton to Nassau; from Nassau, In a little
schooner, TO Cuba; from cuba to the Dan
ish Island of st. Thomas. in Il coasting
vessel, and from st. Thomas to South
ampton in the Tasmania" OF the Royal
Mail Line from Brazil to southampton;
| thus reaching England by four successive
voyages
| The Hon James NJ. Mason was then In
| London, awaiting the recognition of the
/ Confederate Governments recognition
that never came. Mr.. Mason was well
acquainted with the Earl Of Shattesbury,
and one day in making him visit ne
| told his Lordship of my arrival, and OF
! the purpose OF my coming. ASK MIN 20
come ana see me- was the response,
| and / will do what I can 10 make his
ed myself Of the unexpected and unso-
liclted initiation of the president of the
| British and Foreign Bible Society. lie
| was kind enough to call a meeting. and,
on introducing me, courteously requested
me TO take time to state whatever
might consider interesting i'm reference to
| my errand. As | was the first and only
person from the South who had address
| ed that body, / could not complain of
| want Of attention. coming as / did from
| the beleagured Capital of the Confedera-
| cy, and during the most critical period i'm
| the history of the great conflict The
| result of my appeal was free grant OF
! 1000 Bibles, 5000 Testaments, and go. OO
| portions-that Is. the Psalms. Proverbs
and Gospels, bound separately, I'm glazed
covers, with red edges and rounded cor
! ners-just the thing TO put in the jackets
Of the soldiers. The value of this grant
vas 1900 C$2000J-the best fee | ever got
| for che speech.
l remained In London several months.
| experimenting the shipment Of the
boxes containing these Bibles on the Con-
federate blockade-runners. Only a few
boxes could be sent az time. as all the
| space in these swift little vessels was
! needed for the transmission of provisions
| and munitions of war. OF course, many OF
| these vessels were captured. but at least
| three-fourths OF the Bibles reached the
! Confederacy. This was during the third
year of the war; and | had my reward
| on my return in visiting the camps and
| hospitals and tn riding along the lines.
where / saw so many OF the men waiting
TO be called into battle, reading these
| little red-edged volumes.
LETTERS FROM CONFEDERATE GENERALS.
One day il OCCURRED 20 me 10 send a