The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-12-20
THE CHRISTIAN COMMISSION.
Work OF the LambertvIlle Branch During
the Civil War.

the Civil War.
Some few months ago, Mrs A. C. Barber, of
this city, reeciveda letter from Atkinson Hol.
comb, formerly of Lambertyille now a resi-.
/ dent OF San Francisco, Cal, giving a synop-
4 SIS from an old paper in 1868 of the great work
/ OF the Christian Commission in Lambert
Vile
then conceived the idea that it would be
interesting TO the younger and also to the
middie-aged i'll this vicinity and to those who
had been active in the work, to present a
more full account of the important part taken
IN tins town in the work of helping the sick
and wounded soldiers during the late Civil
War
The work Of the Christian Commission in
iiambertyille, and on the different fields of
battle in the Civil War, was highly comph-
mented by George II. Stuart, Esq, President
of the National Commission, who gave the
credit to Lambertville of being the banner
town of the United States, according to the
number of inhabitants, in the work done and
money and supplies furnished
On Monday, October 10, 1864, the local AS
ISOLATION celebrated their third anniversary,
in Holcombe Hall, in this city
During the afternoon and evening, refresh
ments We're provided by the ladies' for SALE
and the sum of $iS5 was realized. In the
evening the report of the Society was read by
the Corresponding Secretary, and addresses
were delivered by Rev. b d. Ames, one of the
Secretaries of the United States Christian
Commission, and j. Irving Forbes, Esq, also
engaged with the Commission The occasion
was ono of much interest, marking an inn
portant period in the history of the Society
Tho f,llauipff IA tba ,.,t
several omissions of unimportant facts:
On Sunday, Oct, 6, tsti, call WAS read in
the different churches of the place for meet
ing ITO consider the subject of supplying
clothing and reading matter to the troops
now in the field for the defence of the Gov
eminent" This meeting was held on Monday
evening, Oct :, in the Presbyterian Church.
The clergymen and large number of the
people of the different churches were present
Samuel u. Stryker, ESQ, presided After
brief appeals by the clergymen and others, an
eloquent address was delivered by Rev j L.
Janeway, of Pennington, who was present for
that purpose by invitation MIR Janeway,
who had been chaplain in the three months
service, set forth powerfully tho considera-
lions appealing to our patriotism to sustain
the country and to aid in making comfortable
for the dangers and privations of the field
The speaker stated that the soldiers needed
many things which the Government could
not furnish letter from Governor Olden
was read by Hon John Runk. followed by
some remarks frcm Mr. Runk, urging the
citizens to raise funds to procure rubber
blankets for the soldiers, and n committee
was appointed for the purpose. by a vote of
f1,a,t pi l...lI
ing ON Thursday, the 10th to form an Aid
Society. This meeting was accordingly held
and largely attended The ladies' were favored
with the presence and advice of Mrs Samuel
ID. lngham, who had been engaged in working
for our soldiers for some time in the city of
Trenton A Society was then formed and
some of the officers chosen At subsequent
meetings the organization was perfected and
constitution adopted 1t was determined
TO hold weekly meetings for work during the
war
The following were the officers of the Assoc
citation chosen at its organization, viz:
President Mrs. j A. Anderson; Vice Presi-
dent, Mrs, Jane N Van Horn Secretary, Miss
Mary NJ. Welch; Treasurer, Mrs D. + paxson;
with Board of eight Managers, composed of
the following persons, viz Mrs, A. A. kneass,
MIS- bbHH ihhht MRS NJ - iAttNt4 hlTHl Alex
Ooryell, Mrs. Sidney Blackwell, Mrs VIM
Wetherill Mrs lngham Coryell and Mrs. VIM.
Janney. During the second year Mrs Pax
son resigned the position of Treasurer and
Mrs. A A. kneass was chosen to fiji the Office
As SO long period of existence WIS not
anticipated for the Society no provision was
made in the constitution for subsequent cleo
tons, and although an election has been pro-
posed each year by the persons in office, none
has been held until Oct. 49, when formal bal
loting was had The President, Secretary and
Treasurer were reelected and Mrs VIM
Wetherill was chosen Vice President and Mr.
J, A. Anderson, Corresponding Secretary.
In the earlier operations of tho Society its
stores were distributed through different
agencies, but mainly through the Ladies' Aid
Society, of Philadelphia, one Of tho earliest
and most efficient organizations for this pur-
pose. whose earnest Secretary, Mrs Harris
has become MS widely known for her work
among the soldiers as she who laborod in the
same work in the hospitals of the Crimoa
| had the pleasure of working with Mrs
Harris during the war and knew her worth
As the work enlarged and the Christian Com
mission became the channel through which
all our armies might be reached, that agency
was chosen for the distribution of our sup
plies
With the soldiers, We say God bless the
Christian Commission The good il has done
will never be known until the last day, and
we have to thank its honored chairman, Geo
H. Stuart, Esq, for the aid and encourage
ment which he has found time to give to our
Association as well ~ its Secretary, Rev. W.
j.. Boardman, and other earnest men con-
nectcd with The Commission, who have aided
us In many ways.
The whole amount of money received by
the Society from all sources has been:
For the LIST ypnr NY M