Year: 1861

The time has been when some were ready to


conclude, the rougher the man, the better the


soldler-that men utterly reckless Of morals


and the restraints of yirtuous society, might


nevertheless be the men OF nerve and prowess


upon the field of battle. This may be one rea-


son why portion of ardent spirits has been


included among the necessary rations of the


soldier, as their nsc has u tendency to produce a


feeling of reckless disregard of morals, and in


many cases Indifference to life itself But, if we


mistake not, the true mission of the soldier and
the traits of character to render him efficient,
are beng better understood and appreciated


The best soldiers, who enlist in the defense OF
the country, are those who are actuated by the
strongest and noblest motives. The love of
country, when it inspires the heart of the soldier
with trne patriotism prepares him to move on to
the shock of battle with a frmer tread, and
lottler courage than the man who goes as hire
ling, or rushes to the contest under the tran
sient excitement Of the inebrating cup.


Christianity is favorable to the growth Of true
PATRIOTISM No man loves his country more
than the man who loves God with all the heart
whose devotion to his country is vitalized and
nourished by the inspiration of the grace of
God, and a fixed purpose to do and suffer the
Divine will. The real Christian will do right
although the heavens fall He may even be
clasSed among those who prefer the pains of
ma tyr RI tbor+ Il
consciences and the known teaching Of the Holy
Spirit. Such men, Of course, cannot fight for
what they regard as an unj Just cause, for in this
case they must be ia conflict with their own
principles, but let them be enlisted in a cause to
which they are bound, not merely ty the love of
Country, but by the lo7eof God and the princi-
pies of Christianity, and they are ready here to
sacrifice life, if life is demanded, for the main
tenance of the right The better the man, 9th
or things being equal, the better will be the SOL
der. The man who seeks in all things to do the
will of God, if called amid the perils Of the
field of battle, can calmly trust God for the re-
suits, whether it be for life or death, and he
will be the stronger and more efficient for this
very reliance on God, for he has the assurance
that life or death must be gain to him.


We heard it related that one of our Vermont
Volunteers, at the battle of Great Bethel, when
he knew that he must enter the deadly struggle,
found an opportunity to commend himself and
all his interests to God, and ask grace to pre-
pare him for the conflict and all Of its results
He was in the tbickest of the fight, and his
havelock was pierced with ball from the en-
envy, but amid it all he felt no emotion Of fear
but a calm trust in God, leaving all with Him
while seeking to discharge the perlous duties of
his station. Such men are the right material
for the stern realities Of actual service in the
defense of the country.


1t will prove true amid the scenes Of battle,
as well as. elsewhere, that godinoss is profitable
in all things 1t should ever be remembered
that it's profits are not confined to this life mere
ly, but they have the promise of that which
is to come. If death awaits the soldier upon
the field Of battle, religion can turn the ago
MES Of dying into the triumphs Of his victory.
1t is gain for the Christian to die, whether
death comes in the quiet chamber where the
'' good man meets his fate,'' or with the hand
of violence upon the field of battle.


Religion then should be cherished in the ar.
ny, and it would seem, that in a struggle like
the one now being made for the defence Of oar
National Government, against the violence of
treason and rebellion, We might enter the con-
Aict from motives worthy Of the Christian pat
riot.