New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-06
GENERAL HOWARD'S WORK.
EyANGELIsT1c EFFORTS IN THE CAMPS.

EyANGELIsTIC EFFORTS IN THE CAMPS.
Major.C;eneral Oliver o. Howard. United States
ARMY retired. returned TO this city on Saturday
from the South where he has been ministerins 10
the spiritual needs Of the soldiers at Tampa. ChicKa
mauga and other camps. He has been In the South
for a fortnight. and during that time has delivered
several addresses daily to the men in the various
camps His purpose In coming to New-York at this
time Is to enis, sympathy and support for the con-
tnuance on a comprehensive scale OF the evangel-
istic work among the troops. To Tribune re-
porter he said yesterday:
Two sources OF collateral help to the Army and
Navy exist. Ore Is comprised In the diner
ent religious societies whose efforts. am urging
should be united under the name OF the Army ana
Navy Christian Committee In my Judgment such
an organization would unity and at the same time
strengthen all distinctively Christian endeavors
among the soldiers.
The other source Of help IL the Red Cross whose
object is 10 afford relief relief Is needed
to the starving Cubans and 70 the necessitous Gu
ban soldiers These sources cover the same
ground as the Christian Commission during our
great war OF which George n. Stuart. of Phiate-
phia was president. and the Sanitary Commission
OF the Wes:. which had its headquarters at St
Louis These commissions covered both the
Christian and relief requirements.
The international, Committee OF the Young Mems
Christian Association has already sent out large
tents 10 the various camps. and competent young
men, called field agents. have been put In charge OF
these tents with good assistants These tents have
proved valuable boon the soldiers. who use
them for writing letters home and for playing inno-
cent games thereby afordng sort OF social nu-
cleus At these tents are also distributed Christian
papers Bibles parts Of Bibles, interesting booklets
and song books Impressed with these excellent
provisions Mr.. Moody wanted TO step further
and send attractive speakers and singers 10 the
camps He began to put his idea into practica
shape a month ago and has met with the greatest
FEW CHAPLAINs AT TAMPA
AT Tampa there were very few chaplains. There
no chapains attached 10 the regiments OF the
Regular Army except in the colored corps. Re-
Gently. however the Government has
good chapla.ns the front. but there are not
quarter as many o. these teachers with the Regulars
az there ought be The volunteer regiments are
well provided with chaplains.
A little while ago | asked TO visit the
troops and responding Immediately went down
South taking with me Major d. ". Whittle. who
was my provost marshal when commanded the
Army OF the Tennessee At Chickamauga the SOL
diers were moving southwark when reached
there. went on TO Atlanta and then 20 Mo-
bile At the latter place found beautiful
campment and OF the large tents which I
spoke OF erected-one for the volunteers and the
there OF addressing thousands OF men. To me il
was A touching incident when the colonel and
other officers and men OF the Cd Alabama Voun-
teers greeted me with the greatest heartiness.
felt through and through that the old enmty OF
thirty years ago had died forever. that
were one again. the North and the South. under
flag At Tampa where | stayed eight days.
the Young Mems Christian Association had central
and healthy literature: The residents there also
have united TO do all they can for the good of the
nd halI fhay, sha
large tabernacle and in the chapels a portion OF
the sunday ! spent in Tampa I passed with the
Miles. lie us every facility for addressing his
men and we we had 1hs BANG to play the sceNmpani
deavor while was at the encampments was to i'm
he man 0h the better the sod ocers 'S and Ge1s en
received me with the greatest kindness and affec-
The immediate object have in view now is to
get Ghrs,ian PEOPLE here to back up this work
sidea the chaplains there only two men preach
ing the Gospel, when there ought TO he at least
and will send their best ministers during their va
cations 10 minister for awhile in the camps: Not
also that some good Christian workers will go right
being done by the Young Mems Christian xssoeia
ton and Moody has the compensation OF the Sec
Money to carry on this work should be sent to the
International Commttae or to men like William E.
any Of the pastors OF churches.
CATHOLICS AND PRoTEsTANTs TOGETHER.
Il have been asked II the Catholics were united
with l may say that do not think there IS
any dissenson conflict at the front. The Cath
ole chaplain conducted mass at the TIA bernacle in
the morning at Tampa and I spoke at the same
place in the evening. / have had many converse
tons with the Catholic priests. and they seem
entirely in harmony with work. As | have
said | hope to see all these Chrstianiz!ng efforts
combined as the Army and Navy Christian Com
mission
For the furtherance Of the relief work of the
the Grand Army should make point OF collecting
something. either In money or supplies, contri-
buttons to the society
Asked for his opinion $ 10 the truth of the 70
ports that the men In the Southern camps arc in
many instances poorly fed General Howard replied
that everything possible being done for the
men. In some cases where complaints have been
made the General said. the fault had been due TO
the officers Of the regiments. He referred 10 AN
incident which occurred at Chckamauga while he
was there The colonel Of a certain regiment Cen
eraI Howard explained went to General BrOoke
and said there considerable Dissatisfaction
among his men because they had not had enough
TO eat during the forty Eight hours they had becn
i'm camp Taking the officer by the arm General
Brooke walked 10 the railway siding There he
pointed the officer to the huge stacks OF canned
food biscuits and potatoes. Those are for Won
said General Brooke. You say you are a veteran
OF the war. Now tell me why your men have not
had these provisions"
surncaa " tha oftcer reDad .Jt a.,