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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 Hollinger 
 
 pH8.5 
 
 Mill Run F3-1955 
 
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 SERMON ON THE WAR, 
 
 PREACHED AT 
 
 PATERS ON, N. J., 
 
 UNDAY EVENING, APRIL 2 8th, 1861 
 
 F. E. BUTLER. 
 
 PATERSON : 
 
 PRINTED BY VAN DERHOVEN & IRISH, 
 
 GUARDIAN OFFICE, 
 
 1861. 
 
'^^^tasiiiecis a 
 
 mms. 
 
 far:) 
 
 SEIIMON ON THE WAR. 
 
 I'Kf.ACHKI) AT 
 
 1' A 'J' 1^: 11 8 C) N , N . .1 , 
 
 PI' N DAY K \ KN I NC. Al'IML 2 s Hi, 1 s i; 1 
 
 F . K. B U T L E 11 
 
 PATERSON : 
 
 I'lUNTEl) liV VAN DEliHOVEN & IRISH, 
 
 i;UARlllAN Ol'KICK. 
 
 1861. 
 
 ^eott Eos. met. soc. 
 
ET-fSB 
 
s E R M o ]sr. 
 
 " Have not I eommaiKlpil thee? Be strong and of a good courage." — 
 Joshua 1 : 1). 
 
 Few men have been called to a more difficult and delicate and dan- 
 gerous duty than was the man to whom Jehovah addressed these \vords. 
 
 Moses was dead, INIoses, the learned, the wise, the experienced, the 
 honored, tli(> <;odly Moses was no more. For forty years he had been, 
 the spiritual and political leader of the people. Jle had emancipated a 
 nation, he had framed a code of laws, he had spoken face to face with 
 (lod, he had revealed (Jod's will to the people, his hand had brought 
 water from the rock, his word had brought bread from heaven, his pray- 
 ers had turned to flight the armies of tlie aliens, and averted the judg- 
 )nents of (Jod from the peojile. Honored of (Jod and revered by men 
 Ix'Vond any other, in the full possession of his faculties, he "fell on sleep," 
 ;iii(l a nation wept his loss. 
 
 At this critical moment, Joshua was summoned to take hie jilace. 
 •loshua was not without (|ualification for the office, he was not with- 
 out experienc(! as a military connnander ; but his position was exceed- 
 ingly responsil)le and trying. He was to fill the office occupied ))y Mo- 
 ses. That thought was enough to crush hiin. lie was to lead the na- 
 tion on a mnv and different career from that hitlierto pui'sued. Under 
 Moses they had encountered enemies on the march, and ctinquered them. 
 Hut now they were to engage in the deliberate puri)os<; of searching 
 out their eniMuies and sul)duing them wiierever found. They were to 
 (livid(! the land and tak(; it. A period of war and con(|U(>st la}' before 
 tlicni. Theirs was a severe and an arduous .service. 'I'he enemies they 
 were to contend with, were brave, and warlike and of gigantic stature; 
 they had great mmibers and vast resources ; tlu^ir armies were well dis- 
 ciplined and well appointed ; they were entrenched in strong fortresses, 
 and secured within "cities great aiul walled up to heaven ;" they were 
 a desperate and wicked people ; and they were to fight for their coun- 
 try, for their homes, and for their lives. The contest therefore in all 
 human probability would be long and arduous. 
 
Israel Imd now rcaeluHl the river whieli formed the natural boniiilury 
 of I lie promised laud, and the next step was to cross it and enter upon 
 their difficult and perilous duty. Well nii^ht Joshua and the people 
 pause before they took that i rre vocal )le step. AVell might they dread 
 to begin a struggle so niiglity, so momentous. What courage was now 
 demanded of them, what fortitude?, what discretion, wliat prudence, 
 what heroism, what fidelity and what divine wisdom ! How nuich he 
 and they needed divine guidance and assurance. How timely then, and 
 how welcome, the word of Jehovah, " As I was witli Moses, so will 1 
 be with thee ; 1 will not fail thee, nor forsake thee; be strong and 
 of a, good courage ; for unto this people shalt thou divide for an in- 
 heritance the land whicli I sware unto their fathers to give them." 
 
 'I'he situation of the (lovernment and the loyal people of thes<i Uni- 
 ted States to-day. is not very unlik(' that of -Joshua and Israel when 
 these words were spoken. 
 
 The (Jovermnent and the loyal i)eoi)le of this country, stand to-day 
 armed and ready to march foi'tli to a mighty struggle. From the I'e- 
 nol)Scot t(j the Mississii)pi, from the Ohio to the St. Lawrence, the air 
 i't^sounds with the din of preparation and the tread of armed men, 
 'V\h\ jieaceful pursuit.s of conunerce and agriculture give way to those 
 of war. M(Mi are beating their ploughshares into swords and their prun- 
 ing hooks into s))ears. The national ensign, however it may trail dis- 
 lionored in the dust elsewhere, here at the north floats not only fi'om 
 the fr(jwning liattlements of forts and arsenals, but from the halls of 
 justice? and legislation, from schoolhouse and warehouse and workshoji. 
 from th(^ stately mansion of tlie rich and tlie humble cottage of tin- 
 pool', over the crowded marts of trade, from the green hill top, and even 
 from the house of (Jod. in every grade of society, husbands, lathers 
 and lirothers, are bi'(>aking away from those whom they love more than 
 life, to peril tluMr lives on tin; high places of the field. (Mu? unanimous 
 s(>nti'uent ))ervades the whole — the defense and support ol that (iov- 
 ermn(>nt which <iod gave our fathers, and under which by his grace we 
 will live, or with which we will tall. 
 
 In one res])ect our|)osition is entirely unlike that of Joshua and Is- 
 rarl. They wei'e going forth to destroy the lives and ap})ropriat<' to 
 tiuunselves th(! country of their enemies. Our errand is very difi'tn-ent. 
 We go to vindicate tin? majesty of the law ; to deieud the Constitution- 
 al liberties of the naliuu ; lo t(>ach traitors that the proper means of 
 redressing grievances in a Ih'i' country, is not the bayonet, but tlu' lial- 
 lo(,-bo\ ; to restore to all men, in all ]iarts of the laud the i'iuht to s]ieai< 
 tiieii' sentiments without being mobbed and murdered, and to scorrc to 
 all men in all parts of the country the inestimal)l(; privileges which oiu' 
 
fathers liouolit at so dear a cost. 'I'his is tlie design of the Govern- 
 ment ; this is the desif>'n of the people. 'I'o achieve tliis men liav(^ 
 thrown aside party and prejudice ; theyliave rallied shoulder to shoulder 
 un<ler one flag- ; they have offertnl their treasure and themselves. With 
 one accord, men of all shad(\sof ])olitical opinion have pledged their 
 lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the holy cause of lilier- 
 ty and union. What a sublinu; spectacle ! 'I'he sight of it is enouiih 
 to compensate for all we have hitherto sacrificed and suflered. The 
 issue will repay a tliousand fold all we shall yet sacrifice; and suffer. 
 1 seem to hear the words tliut inspired the heart of Israel and their 
 leader on the banks of the Jordan sounding in the ears of every loyal 
 citizen of this nation ; — "As 1 was with thy fathers when they toiled 
 and Itled to lay the foundation of this republic, so will 1 1x5 with the(> 
 in defciuling and nuiintaining it. I will not fail thee nor forsake tlxM'. 
 llavciKit I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage. I'e 
 mil afraid, neither Ije thou dismayed; for the Lord thy (J od is witli 
 thee wiiithersoever thou goest." 
 
 On last Sunday evening, 1 calhul your attention to tlie ditv ok sis- 
 TAiNiN(i THE (iovKRNMKXT in tliis emergency, and of prayer for our ru- 
 lers. I pi'opose now to |)oint out some of the reasons which should 
 ENConiAOK and nerve us in this (iitEvr ckists of our country's history 
 and also to ciiKiii'.c'i' some ickkoks into which we ai'e liable at such a 
 f ime to fall. 
 
 'I'he first thing I name as an encouragement, in enlering- n|)on this 
 contest is the* rectitude of our cause. We do not engage; in this war 
 willingly; it is thrust upon ns. We prefer peace, but those whoop- 
 pose us will have no peace. 'I'heir voice i.s still for war. We do not 
 fight for glory, for com mest. for plunder. We contend lor liberty, for 
 law, for constitutional government and e(|uai I'iglits. We do not nuiin- 
 tain a great wrong like slavery as they do. and denumd the right to ])erpet- 
 uatt! and to spread it. W(! would pnifer to see slavery confined, 
 restrained and gradually removed, as lieing best for both master and 
 slave, but we do not fight even for that ; though that may Iti; the issue 
 We ask only to maintain the Constitution and the Union which our 
 fathers established. And who will say that this is an unreasonable de- 
 mand ? We slionld be the veriest slaves on earth if we would take 
 up with anything short of this. The world would hoot at us and pos- 
 terity would curse us if we did not maintain this. 
 
 Our duty then is plain, our caus(> is just, and the rectitudes of our cause 
 siiould nerve us to the contest. The right nnist prevail ; but if it does 
 not, it. is bouml to be maintained. \Ve owe it to ourselves, W(» owe it 
 to our brethren at the South. W(> f)we it to the woi-ld, we owe it to ir<Mi- 
 
orations yet iiiihorn, we owe it to (Jotl. Ho strong tlierefbre and of a 
 good courage ; oin- cause is just. 'I'liis should nerve us though we were 
 few and feelile and divid(Ml ; but we are not few, we are not feei)le, we 
 lire not divided. 
 
 And tliis suggests the second encouragement, viz : our position. 
 [ will not disguise the full force and })ower of the rebels. Thin'- 
 many of them at least, are Iirave, determined and sincere. '^I'heir leadei- 
 is a man of military education, skill and experience, he is active, reso- 
 lute and of tried courage. They have numbers enough to form a large 
 army. They have men of great ability. Their first statesman has been 
 the acknowledged leader of the House of Representatives at Washing- 
 ton. Their troops will be commanded by officers who have served long 
 nnd liravely under the Federal flag. Tiiey have laid their plans deep 
 and matured them well. 'I'hey have staked the issue upon a desperate 
 struggle and are prepared to meet it. They arc? flushed with the sue. 
 cess of their first enterprise and confident of a final ti'ium]ili. lint with 
 all this, the odds against them is tremendous. From tiie very first 
 their leaders have persuaded the jieople of the South that when the 
 first gun was fired, unnumbered regiments at the North would start to 
 their feet and move of!" to join them. But they were reckoning with 
 out their host. Tin* great party which, in political matters, had so 
 olten acted with the South they believed would still sustain them in a 
 mass. But when the first shot struck Sumter and resouiuled through 
 the North, the great Democratic l)arty with Mr. l^uchanan and Mr. 
 Douglas at their head wheeled with Mr. Fverett aiul all other parties 
 into line and presented one unbroken front against the common foe. 
 And from the mountains of Aroostook to the prairies of Kansas, men 
 sprang to arms and one responsive shout went up, the Fnion, the (Jov. 
 ernment, they must, they shall bo preserved ! Already tiiis magnifi- 
 cent display of Northern loyalty has astounded the rebels. The first 
 notes of their disappointment and chagrin have reached us, and give token 
 of coming triumph. This wonderful and I cannot but think, [tlieii can- 
 not liuf think) this (iod-seiit unanimity of the North is one of the 
 greatest soni-ces of strength and encouragenu'nt. 
 
 Again, in tht> civil wars of England, the situation of the contending 
 parties was far worse than it is among us. 'I'here,men of opposite^ par- 
 ties W(n-e often found living side by side in the same village, and even 
 a,t the same fireside. No man knew when he was safe. No man 
 knew whom he could trust. But here by the good providence of (!od 
 the contending parties of loyal men and traitors are separated by a irell 
 defined (jeoijnipliiedl I'nie. And the iiu^stimable sense of security 
 which such a broad line of demarcation affords, we at the North at least, 
 
are pprmittwl to enjoy. The loyal men at the South indeed, are for the 
 l)re.seiit denied this advunta<^e, and they iiiiist wait. Hut to us this ad- 
 vantage is inunediat(! and beyond all price. 
 
 Add to this, we at the North are contending not for a chimera of 
 the imagination, not lor some wild abstraction that can never be rea- 
 lized ; we fight for the established and legitimate governnieut ; for a 
 constitution that has been long tried and ap])i-oved. If there be such 
 a thing as a divine right in government it is on our side, and tliis fact 
 is a Imge advantage. We struggle for rulers who, by the voice; of a 
 free people, are administering laws by the ordinance of (Jod, and "The 
 King's name is a tower of strength !" 
 
 Besides look at the relative numl)ers and resources of the two par- 
 ties. The North has nineteen millions of freemen — with no incum- 
 brances. 'J'he iSoutli, counting all the loyal men with the traitors, has 
 but eight millions hampered, to say tlie least, with half that number 
 of slaves. Were all the border states to side with those which have 
 seceded, a tiling l)y no means probable as matters look now ; were the 
 Houth to stand n\^ for tnnison with the same unanimity tliat the North 
 stands up lor law and could they persuade their slaves to remain. 
 (|uietly at home while tliey are trying to subvert the government, even 
 then they could brave the ^^M with but little over one million of men 
 to meet three millions from the North. 
 
 'I'he South may have more ardor than the North, tlioagh L doubt it, 
 but they have less power of endurance. 
 
 Besides, though tliey had as many mcMi and as good a cause as we 
 they lack the sinews of war. 'J'hey have not arms to ecpiip a large 
 army, nor the means to make nor tlie credit to buy them. '^Fhe means 
 of subsistence, too, is limited. (Jotton always encroaches on corn at 
 the South, and the last corn crop then; was unusually short. On the 
 other hand we at the North, though at present not fully supplied with 
 the munitions of war, have the skill and the means to make them and 
 r(;ady access to foreign markets to buy and plenty of money to buy with. 
 'I'lie credit of the Federal government is perfect. The bank vaults of 
 the North are tilled with bullion, and the patriotism of the ])eoi)le is 
 pouring its treasure at the feet of the rulers only less lavishly than the 
 country is sending its sons to the field. Meantime in the great North- 
 west the grain is so abundant that it is absolutely used for fuel, and 
 the ordinary means ol ti-ansport cannot get the old crop to market before 
 another crop will be raised. Everything that goes to ecjuip and sustain 
 a large military force, we have, in overflowing abundance. 
 
 Not two weeks have passed since the call of the President for troops, 
 and already a formidable force is assemliled for the defense of the Cap- 
 
8 
 
 iUii, 1111(1 more Mian the .scvciity-tivo tliuuriiiiul lucii, it i.s believed, have 
 voliiiiteered, and an; ready tu be uinsteivd into service. Indeed, it is 
 said that Ohio alone is I'eady witli that number. AVhile this is goiiiii 
 on by land, a like activity is soon to be displayed on the sea. The (Jov- 
 erniiient possesses a small but gallant Navy, and ample means to ex- 
 tnnd it. Tht}. South has not a vessel ol' war. and is not very likely to 
 liave. They are not a commercial pe(jple, but the little commerce they 
 do will Ite stopped. Here lies a strong arm of the tilovernnient. 'i'lieir 
 ports will l)e blockaded, their supplies Irom the North and from Ibreign 
 |)orts will be cut oil', 'riieir sources of I'evenuo will be dried up, and the 
 sinews of their strength will be cut. 'J'lius, while a formidable army 
 sweeps down upon them from the North and shuts them up on the 
 South, crip|)led, and heiiimed in, it may be that a comjtaratively blood- 
 h'ss victory will be achieved. 
 
 It is not improbal)le that the loyal men there will then dare to speak 
 lor tiieniselves and assert sentiments, which, at [iresent, it would be 
 death to avow. Already such a reaction has begun, wherever the pow- 
 ei' of the (ioveriiment has been e.\hii>ited. 'I'hese things sliould cheer 
 a'ld iiei'\e us. They should make us strong and of a good courage, 
 for now the whole civilized W(,ild looks oil with lireathless interesl. 
 Their hopes and sympathies are with us. The prayei'S of good men 
 ill all the world tight on the side of liberty and law. (Comparing thus 
 our cause with that of the traitors, antl our numliers and ivsources with 
 theirs, ought, we iidt to thank (iod and take courage '! " With might 
 and right bo! h on our side, who can doulit which side will win." 
 
 IJiit I should limit the greatest encouragement of all. if 1 failed to 
 mention the Trovidence of (Jod. h'or one, ] f.'imot Ijelii^ve that<iod 
 inlciiils l() wi])e out a nation that has so luaiiy elements of strength in 
 it as this. 1 cannot believe that he will overturn at the end of seven- 
 ty years, a fabric which he spent two hundred years to construct. Such 
 a course is in the face ol' all his dealings. 'I'lie life of a great nation 
 must not be measured by the same standard with which we measure 
 llie lite of a, man. 1 camujt believe that (iod will pluck up that tree 
 for which he shook and " silted four kingdoms to find the seed ;"' which 
 he |)lanled with such care ; which he has watered and cherished so lov- 
 iii'^iy ; wliieli has already born such fair and abuiidaiit fruit ; which i.-~ 
 still strong and ureeii and beaut il'iil witliyniith. i do not so rea<l the 
 lessons of his rro\idence. He may dii;- alioiit it. he may shake it; he 
 
 may ])urge ami lie may prune it; I hope he will ; but I c lot believe 
 
 that he will pluck it up, or cut it down. I think I hear his majestic 
 voice saying unto the .American ]>eople, in soim; wise, as he said to 
 •loshua and Israel. '• I'^rom (lu! mountains of JNIaine (iveii unto the "real 
 
river, the river Mississippi, all the land o[' tlie Xcirtli and the South, 
 and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your 
 coast.'' I believe that the promises virtually made to our fathers will 
 1)6 fulfilled to us their sons. The world, and the cause of Christ and 
 liunuuiity have too many interests bouml up here for (iod to permit the 
 downfall of this nation. Let us then be strong and of a good courage, 
 and (j!od will give us the victory. 
 
 And this leads me in the second place to notice brieHy the l(H?lings 
 with which we should enter on this mighty struggle. 
 
 Towards the people of the South let us cherish no rancor, let there 
 be no malice, and no revenge. They are wrong, but many of them are 
 sincere. "\Vhile we go forth to correct and enlighten them, let us do it 
 as the ministers of justice and the servants of the Constitution, with 
 no passion, no animosity. Let there be no unholy triumph, but a seri- 
 ous, humble temper, joined with manly bearing and courageous action. 
 
 Towards each other, let us dejjort ourselves with great prudence, af- 
 fection and magnanimity. Let former alienations be swallowed up in 
 a conmion love of country ; let no party diflferences be revived ; let 
 no former opinions be called in review ; let there be no criminations 
 and re-criminations. But let us hold one another to be, what indeed 
 we are, brethren, embarked in a common cause, seeking a common ob- 
 ject, and bound to a common destiny. The brave and the strong can a 
 fford to be generous. 
 
 To our rulers and especially to the Federal (Government we owe^^e- 
 culiar service at this time. Tliey hold a position, whose responsibili- 
 ty and burden we cannot estimate. The administration of the affairs 
 of so vast a country as this, is a crushing weight, even in time of peace. 
 What must it be to manage the complicated machinery of this Govern- 
 ment now, in this time of civil war ! AVhat principles shall guide the 
 leaders ? AVhat precedents shall they appeal to ? They need the full 
 force and sympathy and power of the people to sustain them, and thanks 
 be to God they have them. Up to their highest hope and beyond it, 
 the people have responded with men and money and prayer to the call 
 of the Government. But I have observed with pain a disposition on 
 the part of some persons and some papers to find fault with the appa- 
 rent inaction of the Govenmient. It was felt that the Government 
 was not sufficiently alive to the importance of protecting the Capital. 
 Doubts began to be expressed of the ability and of the disposition of 
 the Government to carry out the wishes of the people. It was feared 
 that the Administration and the Commander-in-Chief were disposed to 
 compromise or at least to temporize with the rebels. This feeling is 
 natural, but a little reflection teaches that it is not reasonable. We 
 
10 
 
 should remember that the (Toveniineut inust louk alter the whole coun- 
 try. They must not only protect A\'ashington. but attend to Fort Pick- 
 ens, and look after Gosport, and the arsenal at St. Louis. They must 
 care for the troops at Cairo as well as those at Baltimore and Annap- 
 olis. Their plans are broad and deep, and concealed not only from the 
 rebels, but even from their friends. Now then, we must learn to trust 
 the Government. We have placed them in office, and there is no rea- 
 son to doubt their fidelity or their ability. We must not expect, either 
 now or hereafter, to see everything' done as ire irisit or irJ/eji we wish. 
 There is such a thing as stratesy in war. A good general sometimes 
 provokes defeat sometimes invites it, and sometimes defeats are victo- 
 ries. AVe must not, then, be despondent at occasional slight reverses, 
 nor impatient of delaj^ Fabius and Washington did the business for 
 the enemy l)y a masterly inactivity. Be not in haste for the decisive 
 engagement. The skill of our ('ummander-in-Chief knows best when, 
 and wliere and how to strike. 'I'rust then, the (Tovernment : l)e strong 
 and of a good courage. Say to tlie Presi(k'nt as tlie peo]:ile said tn 
 Joshua, " All that tliou commaiidest us we will do, and whithersoever 
 thou sendest us we will go. Only tlie Lonl our (iod be with tliee." 
 
 Finally and chiefly, let us put our trust in God. Without his bless- 
 ing fleets and armies advance in vain. Xapoleon the Great said that 
 " Providence is on the side that nas the heaviest artillery."' But he 
 lived to l»^arn that Providence when he so plea.ses. can shift the artill- 
 ery, or do without it. '• The race is not always to the swift, noi- the 
 battle to the strong." Some trust in chariots and some in hoi-ses : fait 
 let us trust in the Lord our God ; and while we 
 
 "Put our fdi-tuuc t(i th<' arl)itr;uiK'iit 
 Of bloody strokes, and mi>rtul-starin,t;- war," 
 
 let us not go forth as the unthinking ■• horse rusheth into the battle :'' 
 but let us go with reverence and with prayer. When one of the M;is- 
 sachusetts regiments was marching through Fifth avenue in the city of 
 New York, to the defense of ^A'ashington, a gentleman offered one of 
 the soldiers a bottle. " "What's that '!" asked the soldier. •■ PJrandy." 
 said tlie other. " to keep up your spirits." 'I'he Mas.sachusetts man 
 reverently drew a Bible from his pocket and holding it up replied. " that's 
 what_keeps my spirits up I" Let us go forth sustained liy a like heroic 
 faith in (iod. with patience for any trial, with a cheerful surrender of 
 whatever our country calls for, whether it be us or r>;//-.s-. Let us not 
 seek our own. but each other's good. Let us live, or if need l>e. die. 
 for liberty and humanity, for posterity and for God, TwCt us wlio aiv 
 christians, burnish up anew our sjjiritual armor, more needed now than 
 ever, and those who are not christians. T beseech yon. make ]M'ace with 
 
11 
 
 God tliruugh Jesus Christ before you make war on traitors. J>,et us all 
 be men and women of prayer. I'liis will inspire us with both courage 
 and strenutli ; and let us hope and pray that this mighty struggle 
 
 " Of sharp war, 
 Shall reap the harvetst of perpetual peace." 
 
 That it shall speed the coming of that kingdom under whose mild 
 sway, the sound of war sliall be heard no more ; where there sliall be 
 nothing to hurt or destroy in all God's holy mountain ; when 
 
 — " The human mind redeemed from error. 
 There'll be no need for arsenals and fortss." 
 
 When '• the voice of Christ" shall whisper " Peace !" 
 
 "Peace ! and no longer from its brazen portals 
 The blast of War's great organ shakes the skies, 
 But beautiful as songs of the immortals. 
 The holy melodies of love arise." 
 
 God speed tliat day. Till then, let us be strong in the Lord and in 
 the power of his might. 
 
 it is well known to most ofj'ou that the Pastor of the First Presby- 
 terian Cliureh, being the Chaplain of the Passaic Brigade, has public- 
 ly announced his intention to serve in that capacity, if the way be open 
 and his people interpose no serious objections. Before his determina- 
 tion was made public. I said to him, "You are the Pastor of a church ; 
 you are the father of a family, and you are not at present, an able- 
 bodied man. For these reasons I wish you to tell your people that I, 
 who labor under no one of tliese disabilities, will cheerfully go in your 
 place." This he declined to do. Subsequently I urged the matter 
 further ; but finding him deaf to my persuasions, I, without his knowl- 
 edge, addressed a letter to the commanding officer of the Brigade, ten- 
 dering my services as Chaplain of the Regiment now forming in this 
 section of the State in response to the President's proclamation. In 
 the letter I stated the reasons why my claim should take precedence of 
 that of my brother-in-law. To this letter I have received no definite 
 or final answer ; but should my services be accepted, I am ready by di- 
 vine permission to go. I do not go because I love war. I liate it. 
 But I shall go, if I go at all, from a firm conviction of duty and a natur- 
 al love of country. I shall go to share in the fatigues, the exposures, 
 and the perils of the campaign ; to encourage my countrymen in the 
 straggle ; to minister to their spiritual and temporal welfar(>. I sliall 
 be sorry to part with thi> conuref>ation to whom it has \mhh] my jileasure 
 
12 
 
 thus far to minister ; but I shall go with the hope of returning again (if 
 such should be your wish) to resume these duties when peace shall 
 have been restored. Or, if to return be denied, then to give my life to 
 the noblest cause in the world, the cause of God, of liberty, and my 
 country. May He who guides all. direct the issue and crown the strug- 
 gle with glory and victory and peace, and to ITim shall Ije the praise 
 and honor forever. Amen. 
 
\2 
 
 LIBRPIRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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LIBRARY OF 
 
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 HoUing 
 
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 Mill Run F; 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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 Hollinger 
 
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 Mill Run F3-1955