durable as eternity in the world that is yet to be. These are thoughts that cheer the heart of God's servant as he imitates the example of his Divine Master and follows in the footprints He left upon the earth when He went about doing good From the correspondence of Mr. Sloan with the subjects of his interest, we select the following: REV. I. O. SLOAN: OFFICERS' HOSPITAL, ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, DEAR BROTHER:-Permit me to express to you and through you to the United States Christian Commission, my heartfelt gratitude for your personal kindness to me and the needed and timely aid afforded me by the Commission here. and at Washington, in a time of sickness and destitution. On my way South to join my regiment last spring, I lost all my clothing, and everything I took with me, excepting what I had on my person. I had not the funds to purchase things necessary to my comfort, and in a short time after joining the regiment, by reason of exposure, fatigue, &c., became sick, and was sent to the hospital, where I have been since the fifteenth of June. Through somebody's neglect or mistake, I have not been able, as yet, to get any pay, and what I should have done, but for this and kindred agencies, the Lord knows, but I know not. At any rate, through these, God has supplied me with many comforts, for which I am truly and deeply thankful. Most heartily do I say what is said by thousands-"God bless the Christian Commission." I have been at the hospital here and in Washington for between two and three months, and in both places have seen, day after day and week after week, the working of this benevolent agency, and I know it is doing a great, good, and necessary work. It is managed with wisdom and fidelity, and in the best manner. Its agents and delegates, Christian men, visit the needy personally, learn their wants, and administer to their wants, temporal and spiritual, according to their personal knowledge and judgment. No tongue can tell or pen describe the amount of good they are doing. God only knows, and eternity alone can reveal the suffering relieved, lives saved, and souls converted through this truly Christian agency. The Christian community may well have perfect confidence in the Christian Commission. Funds and stores committed to its charge will be sure to reach the objects for which they are intended, and through it Christians are following the example of the Master, who, when on earth, went about doing good; especially to the sick, the suffering, and the sorrowing. Again, with thousands of others who have witnessed and felt its blessed Christian influence, I say, "God bless the Christian Commission.' U. S. OFFICERS HCSPITAL, ANNAPOLIS, MD. DEAR BROTHER SLOAN:-Permit me, through you, to bear my testimony for the U. S. Christian Commission. This is truly a Christian Institution; it is doing a great and important Christian work, and in a Christian manner. Its agents and delegates are good and faithful men; imitating their Master in going about doing good. I know of no other institution which is doing as much work, and doing the work so well for the sick, wounded and needy soldiers. The spiritual as well as the temporal wants of the sufferers are considered and relieved. Time can never tell the good which, in both these directions, the Commission is accomplishing. Thousands of soldiers are exclaiming "God bless the Christian Commission," and with all my heart, I say "God bless the Christian Commission." You, sir, as the agent for the Commission at this hospital, are emphatically "the right man in the right place." This is saying much, but none too much. God bless the agent and his work. Indeed the prayer is answered, for God is blessing him and his work. This testimony is from experience and observation. Let the Christian public place full confidence in this truly Christian agency, and keep its treasury full, with all the other means necessary for its continued and increasing usefulness. Above all, and more important than all, let unceasing and fervent prayer be offered for God's continued blessing on it and all the subjects of its benevolent work. Fraternally yours, N. RICHARDSON, Chaplain 36th Mass. Vol's. We desire thankfully to add our names to the above. CHAS. B. KEYES, Chaplain 9th N. Y. Cav'y. JOHN H. ALLEY, Captain and C. S. V. REV. I. O. SLOAN: U. S. A. OFFICERS HOSPITAL, ANNAPOLIS, MD. In duty to myself and the many interested ones, I feel like expressing to you as one of its noble agents here, my high appreciation of the good work of the "U S. Christian Commission" in behalf of the soldier. My observation of its workings both in field and hospital have led me to regard its agents as "angels of mercy" on visits of love to the weak, sick, wounded, and dying; and while seeking to smooth over his hardships and deprivations, and allay temporal sufferings, they would not forget the eternal and spiritual welfare of those they succor, and as they bind up their wounds and cool their fevered brow, pour into their hearts the "oil of joy and gladness," by their words of cheer and comfort, leading the suffering ones to bless God that there is such an institution in the land as the "U. S. Christian Commission," with its faithful votaries. Could the people at home realize the beauties of its workings by experience as I have, then I am sure its coffers never would become depleted or its supplies run short as long as there was one suffering defender of our nation's honor remaining for them to bestow their charities upon. The friends at home need have no fear of its agents proving unfaithful to the trust reposed in them, as they are not actuated to engage in the work by the love of money, most of them being volunteers, coming among us with hearts fired with a love for the work of salvation, temporally and spiritually, of the soldier. With a hearty God speed the "U. S. Christian Commission," and further on its noble efforts, I am most respectfully, A. H. HOLLISTER, 1st Lieutenant U. S. A. Division No. 1, General Hospital. Dr. B. A. Vonderkeift, Surgeon in charge. Rev. H. C. Henries, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Hospital Chaplain. Capacity, 1117. Patients, 1089. All the buildings of the Naval School, except that occupied by the Officers Hospital, are appropriated to the service under the title of Division No. 1, General Hospital. The grounds covered by the buildings with the extensive areas around them, extend over several acres. The lawns and lanes between and around the buildings, are green and beautiful, interspersed with trees and shrubbery, and presenting a very pleasant and attractive appearance. Most of the buildings were elegant residences, erected by the Government for the use of the Officers and Professors of the Naval School. At the commencement of the war, by order of the President of the United States, the Naval School was removed to Newport, Rhode Island, and the quarters of the various agents and employees of the institution were dedicated to hospital uses. To such uses they have been applied ever since. From our correspondence we learn of Surgeon Vonderkeift, that he is "a strict disciplinarian and a great worker; risès early, is a great organizer and possesses a large share of executive ability." Says one of our correspondents “I will venture to say that no General Hospital in this country. is better managed either for the Government or for the soldiers who enjoy its benefits.' It is truly gratifying to receive such testimonial in behalf of an officer occupying a place of such responsibility as that of Surgeon of so large and important a hospital. We have no personal acquaintance with Surgeon Vonderkeift, but we have noticed on our visits to his premises, sufficient to convince us that the report made of him is true. Frequently on our passage through the wards and over the grounds have we remarked that the whole premises were managed with consummate ability. Nor did we on all our rounds hear a single expression that was indicative of anything but kindness and humanity on the part of the Surgeon. Division No. 1 is one of the most extensive and important of the hospitals of our district. It accommodates a large number of patients and is generally well occupied and by the most disabled of the wounded soldiers. In its proximity to the passages, both of land and water, leading from the battlefields, it is readily accessible, and its situation of salubrity and extent of territory, renders it a desirable depot for the war worn and wounded soldier. It is well that it is in the hands of one who is both able and willing to distinguish himself in its management. The same correspondence from which we obtain our information in regard to Surgeon Vonderkeift, informs us of the ability and faithfulness of his assistants. The acting assistants when our correspondent wrote, were fourteen in number, among whom Surgeon Wm. S. Ely is represented as being distinguished for his Christian-like behaviour and gentlemanly deportment. Twenty hospital attendants in the persons of ladies, who are ministering in the wards, are spoken of in terms of high commendation. At the head of these at the time at our correspondent wrote was Mrs. Tyler, known familiarly in this State as Sister Tyler. We knew Sister Tyler formerly as the Principal of the Church Home of this city, which was commenced under her superintendence, and was so continued for several years. The Church Home is one of the most extensive and useful of the benevolent institutions of our city. We visited it frequently while it was under the superintendence of Sister Tyler, and what we were surprised at more than anything else, in the working of the institution, was the small amount of means appropriated to its use. The services of such a co-laborer are invaluable in a situation requiring the exercise of so many of the qualities that make up a great and noble woman. Sister Tyler is not now connected with the hospital. She has sought another sphere for the exercise of her extended abilities. We hope she may be spared for a long life of labor in the cause. Of the band of ladies in the service, our correspondent says "they are truly noble. women and too much cannot be said in their praise.' Mrs. Maria M. C. Hall, supplies the place of Mrs. Tyler as the Directress of the Ladies Relief Association. The Chaplain, by whom almost every portion of the hospital and its grounds were shown to us, possesses, a large share of executive ability, and is one of the most active and industrious of the officers of his grade in the army. In a communication which we have received from him, he represents his position as being between the living and the dead; one moment attending the bedside of the dying patient, the next |