priated to the storage of useless lumber which might have been thrown almost any where, to the purposes of a bowlIng alley and even to theatrical performances, either of which might have been converted into an excellent Chapel. At the present time our Committee has additional and much more grievous cause for complaint. After much effort, the 12th New Hampshire Regiment, which was stationed at the Point, succeeded in the erection of a Chapel which was used for the conducting of religious services until the regiment was ordered away, when the Chapel was presented to the Christian Commission and accepted. The officers have now taken possession of the Chapel, removed its pulpit and other chapel fixtures, and appropriated it to other uses. We are very well satisfied that the War Department will not sanction this action. We do not intend to enter complaint against any necessity that exists in the use of our premises, but we have no idea of their being used improperly. We make this statement in our report in order to show to the Government, to the officers of the Point Lookout station, and to our readers generally, the contrast presented between the action of the persons in charge of the post and the hearty co-operation and assistance our work has received in almost every other quarter. If objections are stated, let them be examined. If faults are found, let them be corrected. But let not an important and beneficial service be arrested.

The hospital and camp of Point Lookout compose one of the most important and responsible stations of our district, or of any district of the United States Christian Commission in the country. The station is appropriated to the confinement of Rebel prisoners. The number of prisoners is large and requires a considerable force of our own army to guard and protect them. Of the large number in confinement and their guards, there will always be a proportion on the sick records. These must be attended to in the hospitals. Some of the regiments stationed at the post have Chaplains, others have none. The Chaplain of the hospital, of which there is but one, has his hands and his heart full of his work. He needs all the assistance he can obtain from every

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source. In order to relieve him amid his arduous and oppressive labors, and to supply necessities that must always occur in a work so extensive, our Committee has sent delegates, clergymen, and others, chiefly clergymen, who have rendered the needed aid as far as their capabilities extended. There is a source of relief among the Rebels in their own provision of clergymen and others, for the management of their own religious services. They have day schools for the instruction of those who need it, and Sunday schools for religious instruction and improvement. In these agencies of morality and religion they must be assisted, and they naturally look to our Commission for this assistance. We have sent them books, tracts, and religious newspapers. The books and tracts are very kindly received, but they care but little for the newspapers. They contain so much matter that is offensive to them that they are often inclined to reject them altogether. This is natural enough. It has come to our knowledge, however, that some of them do read our religious newspapers, and we feel the importance and necessity of keeping them in the receipt of a sufficient supply. That they are receiving benefit from the reading there can be no doubt, and in the kind ministrations. of our Chaplains and delegates the asperities of their opposition may be softened and from the consideration they express that the Commission's laborers are their friends, they may be led to the true condition of the loyal subject in the acceptance of the nationality and its Government as among their best and truest friends.

Among the delegates we have sent to Point Lookout we may enumerate as follows:

Reverends Andrew B. Cross, Roswell Porter, L. Hartsough, and Rev. R. C. Galbraith.

The Rev. A. B. Cross has continued his services, overlooking the entire work of camps and hospitals with but little intermission for several months. In weekly communication with our office he has been able to supply the necessities of post as they appear.

The Rev. L. Hartsough is at present laboring at the Point.

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The following letter recently received affords a view of his work on the extended field over which it was distributed.

Point Lookout, Aug. 31st, 1864.

GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE:-I have been laboring among the troops stationed, and Rebels confined in camp and hospital. The number of prisoners here is 7,100. Several regiments are detailed to guard them. The sick are in the hospitals, and a few on board the Monitor Roanoke. I have preached on board the Roanoke once.

There are several regiments here without Chaplains. These regiments are here guarding prisoners. Great is the work, and I am trying to get it so arranged that every one can be reached as often as will be advisable.

You will not now wonder that I am so anxious to have our stores replenished. I was almost envious as I stood by the express boat and saw the vast amount of stores that the Sutlers were receiving and I must go away empty, and so many sick needing things that we have not got. A few I am fearful must die for the lack ere my orders can be filled. But do your best for us, praying, too, that God may honor my ministry here in the salvation of many dear souls. Yours for the work,

The following letters were received from Rev. Messrs. Galbraith, and Baldwin, giving an account of their labors, &c., at the Point:

Point Lookout, July 19, 1864.

But

DEAR BROTHER GRIFFITH:-On the 8th instant, I came down the bay with a company of soldiers who were returning from Elmira whither they had been escorting prisoners. Found them very approachable. One of them told me that his regiment had been the most wicked in the service. that after the battle of Stone River, in which it had been terribly cut up, the survivors became "moralized" in a remarkable manner, of which he was himself an example, giving proofs of being a good Christian man.

On Monday, this request came from the Christian Commission of the Ninth Corps, "Send us two ministers." Another brother with myself went. As we were crossing a field, a man hailed us with these words:-"I have been in the army three years; am about to be discharged; have

never been wounded though. I have been in many battles. I feel that I ought to give my heart to Christ before I go home."

We are in great need of Bibles and New Testaments, English and German papers.

There is great occasion for preaching especially among the colored troops and penitent Rebels. I preached to the latter yesterday and supplied them with Bibles and papers. There are here from about 1,500 to 2,000 patients in hospitals, and from 12 to 14,000 prisoners of war.

Yours, &c.,

R. C. GALBRAITH.

BRO. G. R. BENT:

POINT LOOKOUT, July 6th, 1864.

I arrived here last evening. I went to see Bro. Leonard, Chaplain McKee, and met Dr. Junkin, who, with myself, visited the rebel officers; they are very anxious for reading matter, and religious instruction.

I also visited the Invalid Corps of our troops. The Delegates had a prayer meeting on board last night. We need more delegates here. Dr. Junkin and myself are the only two left; he will leave to-morrow. Send anybody that will work.

I find the men eager for the little Hymn books; please to send some of them.

I give you a list of things needed. They are wines, brandies, canned fruit, oranges, lemons, sugar jellies, pickles, &c. We are in want of hymn books, prayer books, tracts, almanacs and religious newspapers.

I have had a request for a Bible Dictionary, if it is not out of our line; I could dispose of one very usefully. Brethren pray for my success. Yours truly,

CHAS. W. BALDWIN.

The Rev. Roswell Foster and the Rev. W. Van Wagner, have rendered such services at the Point as desire especial notice. From communications received, we derive the following information :

REV. ROSWELL FOSTER.

Our Rev. Bro. Roswell Foster, who has been laboring at the Point, reports that in the time he has labored there

he has held twenty public religious meetings-talked with seven hundred men-seen some converted and others inquiring what they must do to be saved-that he has rendered a grateful service to the sick in providing palatable sustenance for them by the assistance of his wife. He is much interested in the work, but regrets the necessity of leaving before his term of service expires in consequence of the illness of his wife.

REV. W. VAN WAGNER.

Several communications which we find on our file, contain commendatory notices of the services of this reverend brother. He has labored faithfully as one of our delegates, and it is with regret that we learn from himself that he had cause to complain of the exhibition of sectarian teaching and influence, of which he himself was the witness. It is his opinion, plainly expressed, that no sectarian distinctions should be admitted, and preferences allowed by the officers in charge of hospitals and camps. He faults clergymen and ladies for insinuating peculiar religious views, requiring certain forms. of confession, performing certain ceremonies which he conceives to be inconsistent with the simple communication of Gospel truth to sick and dying men. He complains that he and other clergymen were thrust aside and not permitted to counsel with dying men who were subjected to the peculiar forms and ceremonies rather than instructed in the nature and obligations of the spiritual service.

The objections of our reverend friend in the relations mentioned, have been made by others, especially by the former Chaplain of the post, who was an Episcopal clergyman, and desired opportunities of affording religious services which he said were allowed to the clergymen and others referred to, while he was neither supplied with apartments in which to hold service, nor permitted to hold them even under certain. proposed restrictions.

We can speak on behalf of our Delegate as an active, faithful laborer in his Lord's vineyard. He has, as far as allowed, visited from ward to ward in the hospital and counselled with patients in their spiritual relations. His labors