Young men's Christian Association.
--The monthly meeting of the
Young Men's
Christian Asseciation was held in their new rooms at the corner of Tenth and Bank streets, on Tuesday evening, the 10th instant.
The President,
Mr. J. B. Watkins, stated that a committee had been organised, since the previous meeting, to visit the hospitals and camps in the city and its vicinity.
The chairman,
Mr. James Gordon, gave an interesting account of the labers of the committee for the last month, showing that a number of the hospitals had been visited, and religious conversations, tracts and testaments furnished the sick soldiers, which they sought with eagerness and received with gratitude.
The President referred to one of his visits to a hospital, during which an affecting interview occurred with a soldier who supposed himself to be very near the verge of death.
In a feeble, almost inaudible voice, the suffering stranger begged that, when his spirit had fled and left his body a cold corpse, it might be borne for sepulchre to the dear home of his childhood, in order, perhaps, that a mourning mother might look once more upon the face of her son, kiss his plae brow, and, with the tears of her heart, moisten his early grave.
Mr. W. P. Munford, chairman of the
Army Committee, the reported their operations in the organization and management of the ‘"Soldiers' Lodge."’
General Winder had kindly placed at their disposal a large room on Tenth street, and the citizens had cheerfully and liberally supplied the funds needful for the enterprise.
More than one thousand soldiers — houseless and foodless — had availed themselves of its sholter and sustenance.
In many instances these brave and chivalrous sons of the
South had offered to
pay for these comforts, which, of course, was courteously declined.
Their gratitude was unbounded.
An old soldier, who was then unpaid, modestly asked for a ‘"meal ticket,"’ and in sympathy for his famished condition, was furnished with
two. Afterwards, out of his scanty pay just received, despite delicate suggestions to the contrary, he persistently placed in the hands of the committee
twenty dollars.
Captain Field, of the Quartermaster's Department, then expressed his gratification that the Association had preserved its vitality and vigor in this terrible ordeal of war through which it was passing.
Its human labors had never resulted in a more brilliant achievement than the establishment of an asylum, which had sheltered a thousand war-worn patriots, wandering as ‘"homeless strangers amidst a thousand homes."’
Mr. Chase, a new member, expressed his pleasure in finding here a daily union prayer meeting.
He hoped that, through the influence of the Association, these meetings would be multiplied in every city, town and hamlet in the
Confederacy; that the concentrated prayers of the pions might ascend to bring Divine blessigns upon our imperilled land.
In accordance with this suggestion,
Mr. Munford offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the
Christian Associations, and all denominations of Christians throughout the
Confederate States, be earnestly requested to unite with us in daily prayer meetings, and that special prayer be offered to Almighty God for His blessing upon our country and her cause.
After singing and prayer, the meeting adjourned.
