Southern Christian Advocate

THE ARMY CHAPLAINS AND MISSIONARIES.

Mr. Editor,—The wonderful revival of religion that spread so extensively through the army last Summer is not dead. Occasionally during the Winter we have heard of souls being converted in various parts of the army; and for the last few weeks, the work of grace has been abundant. In many of the Brigades the work is going on gloriously, scores, and even hundreds of penitents nightly at the altar, and many are being converted and joining the Church.

The Chaplains and Missionaries are fully alive to the work, and are exerting themselves to extend it and to save the souls of the dear soldiers. It does one's heart good to be at some of our Chaplain and Missionary Associations, and hear the reports come up from the various Regiments and Brigades, of the wonderful revival in the army. These are precious seasons, and many a sluggard is stimulated to action by the reports of his more energetic brother. We have two Corps Associations in this army, and one General Association. Each of the Corps Associations meet weekly, the General Association monthly.

As we cannot reasonably expect to remain inactive a great while longer, it is the more important that we improve the present opportunity for doing good. Every man should be at his post. And I am glad to say that very few of the Chaplains are absent from the army. Very nearly all are with their commands, and performing efficient work.

Much has been said against Chaplains, that "they are drones to the army," that "no other office is so poorly filled," etc., etc. They have proved themselves the most efficient and the most successful officers in the army. Ask of the wounded soldiers at the terrible battle of Chickamauga, whether the Chaplains "were drones." Ask the Surgeons, whom they assisted, if Chaplains were a useless appendage to the army. Ask of the thousands converted under their ministry last Summer, and those now being brought to Christ by their labors, whether "any other office is so poorly filled."

But enough of this. We hail with joy the Missionaries sent by the various Churches to this army. Many of them are men of talents, and all, so far as we know, laborious and successful ministers of Jesus; and as many of them have gone into Regiments and Brigades destitute of Chaplains, or nearly so, we may expect to see great good accomplished by them.

The few numbers of the Advocate that we get occasionally, is quite a treat to the soldiers. I wish it were in your power to send more, and that we could get them more regularly. Many of our people at home who now have thousands of dollars in Confederate notes, that they do not know what to do with, had better give it to send the Advocate to the soldiers in this army.

WM. H. Browning.