--A writer in the
Religious Herald represents
Gov. Shorter as being a most consistent and devoted
Christian, and gives the following report of his speech in behalf of army colportage:
His
Excellency, John Gill Shorter,
Governor of
Alabama, was present, and made a most eloquent speech on being called to preside over the meeting.
He said that to be selected to preside on such an occasion he felt to be a distinguished honor, for he did not think that a more important meeting had been held in this city since the war has been upon us. He really believed that this effort to evangelize our camps was one of the most important enterprises connected with this struggle.
Independent of the joy and peace it carries to the soldier, sick, in a desolate hospital, or in active service on the field, independent of all it may do to ameliorate the soldier's spiritual constitution, and to prepare him for a heavenly inheritance, its influence on the success of our arms is worth a thousand times more than it costs.
Every tract, every Testament, every prayer-meeting, and every word of religious instruction which by this means is carried to the soldier, will aid in making us a free and happy people.
The Governor wished all to bear in mind that as soon as peace comes this Government, in all its departments, will go into the hands of those who now fight our battles.
They will fill a very post of honor and influence, from the Presidential chair down.
If they come back from the war with their morals wrecked, then we will have fought this revolution in vain.
He delighted to see all denominations represented in the meeting, since those who have the direction of this enterprise have given ample assurances that no sectarian influences should be exerted, that nothing but what all good men approve of shall be published.
It seemed appropriate for such a work to have its origin in
Virginia.
