The New International Encyclopædia/United States Christian Commission

UNITED STATES CHRISTIAN COMMISSION. An organization kindred to the United States Sanitary Commission (q.v.), formed during the Civil War in America for the purpose of promoting the spiritual and physical welfare of Federal soldiers and sailors. A convention of Young Men's Christian Association delegates met in New York City in November, 1861, and formally organized the United States Christian Commission of 12 members with George H. Stuart, a Philadelphia philanthropist, as president, and B. F. Manierre, of New York, as secretary. Contributions of money, literature, and supplies were asked for and a generous response was made. The central office of the commission was in Philadelphia, but it had branches in all of the large towns and cities, and its agents followed the armies. Temporary libraries were established, chapels for religious worship were erected at permanent camps, and Christian burial was accorded to the dead, whose graves were suitably marked by agents of the commission. The American Bible and Tract societies gave enormous quantities of their publications to the commission for distribution; the Government furnished free transportation to its agents, and for its supplies, while the telegraph and transportation companies furthered its efforts in various ways. The following is a general summary of the work of the commission for the four years of the war: Delegates commissioned, 4859; Bibles and Testaments distributed, 1,466,748; hymn and Psalm books distributed. 1,370,053; knapsack books distributed, 8,308,052; bound library books distributed, 296,816; magazines and pamphlets distributed, 767,861; newspapers distributed, 18,126,002; tracts distributed, 39,104,243; sermons preached and prayer meetings held, 136,152; letters written by delegates, 92,321; cash receipts, $2,524,512; value of stores donated, $2,839,445; value of publications donated, $300,000. Consult Moss, Annals of the United States Christian Commission (Philadelphia, 1868).