Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-01-19

vote, but not to the grief of single
member.
Article 5. Members who disgrace
their christian profession shall, if
they cannot be reclaimed by suitable
christian effort, be dropped from mem
bership.
Article Z. The officers of this society
shall consist of a moderator and clerk,
chosen quarterly. viva voce.
Arricl= =. Eny member wishing at
any time to withdraw, shall be at
liberty to do so, by simply making the
request.
Article 9. This society shall hold
regular monthly meetings.
Article 10. This constitution may
be amended by two-thirds vote at
any regular meeting of the society.
/ do not remember just how long
this regimental church was in exist
ence, but have list of the names of
those who were members of it the
next summer at Humboldt, in Ten
nessee. There were then eighty
nine of them, two having died and
three been discharged because of dis
ability. They held their meetings in
neat little church building in the
village. The good done by such an
organized body of earnest young men
can never be known till the books are
opened.
l well remember the wholesome
daily example OF Deacon James Sex
| ton of my own company His presence
among us was enough to keep the
toughest of our boys from being very
naughty. And there were such men
in other companies and in other regi-
ments. l have spoken of this partic-
ular regimental organization because
know more about it than any other,
and because | have CHANGED to find
the above letter. No doubt very many
other regiments had societies likek
this.
remember that at the hospital at
Marietta, near Atlanta, very impress
i've religious meetings We're held in
one of the buildings, and that there
was a revival there the like OF which
would rejoice the neart of any earn
est pastor of these days. Mother Bick-
erdyke, the famous army nurse, was
Z / active worker in these meetings.
oh, no, not everything in the army
was bad Many young soldier lived
there as his mother would have him
live, and grew strong both morally
and religiously. We used ON Sunday
mornings when we camped near
village or city, to get passes and
march in force to some one of the
churches. Now and then a captain
would go with his entire company to
church. | remember that dozen OF
us went one day in February. 81. 10
Catholic church near Fort Leaven
worth. The priest there preached
one of the best sermons ever heard.
l have an opinion that our regiment
was under much better discipline
than it could have been withoaae .,,.,. re-
ligious association. The captain OF
Company A, Norman Mcleod, was a
minister, and it was said that fftv
men In his company were pro 'essiug
christians. Lieutenant Alya Mckee
OF this company was an active mem
Der OF the society. Colonel Bryant
sent H. j. Walker, a Company A
member of this association. home to
be duly ordained and commissioned
chaplain OF the regiment after Chaplain
Mason had resigned william Nungeser.
OF Company d, who commanded the
cOmnAnU foir ,x.h
home from the war, had been mem.
Der OF the regimental religious So
elety. Three men of company ID
came to be ministers after the war
the Rev George r. Holt, now of Jack
son, Michigan, Rev Joseph Starkey
OF Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and the
Rev. Ernest H. t. Fftzner, late of Chi
cage The Rev. L. G. Carr, now of
Fond du Lac, was a member of com
pany B.
My father was what was known in the
early days as 2 local preacher. He
became a member Of Company G of
the S1th Wisconsin. l am told by
John Eagan of that regiment that at
Appamatox on the eve of General
Lees surrender. the S7th were bivou-
acked near a small school house: and
Ihat as many of thes boys as could
10 So crowded into the little building,
where my father preached to them a
sermon which. because OF the pecu-
mar circumstances under which they
were then placed, as we'll as some
Things said, he could never forget. 1t
was a strange time and place for a
sermon.