Newspapers / The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, … / May 11, 1897, edition 1 / Page 2
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David or Absolem must die, and while Absolem was David's well beloved son, and he knew that the conflict must last until one or the other was smitten down still David was serene for be was trusting in God. The theme there f o rc is The secret - of a silent soul man wants to" know. It is a desire for lmnTotaffa fh q t Hfr prPTi 1 lates man from XV . - - ... . a . . all the lowei animals, uur . mieueci must be consecrated to God. Musi be calm under God's chastening rod. Conscience must be clean and at jease in God's presence, but above all "the will must be submfssive to God's dealings, for when-our wills are swal lowed ui of God's will, then we can be calm for our wills being one with God's, we have our desire and are at rest. 2. The Hence is a trophy or an evi dence of a victory. Battlefields with monuments are the pride of our people, because they give evidence of gallantry displayed on the fields of struggle. Silence of the soul then before. God is an evidence or trophy of :victory. , - 3. A silent soul Is a harbinger of greater things to come. A little girl who -wins a prize in school gives promise of a studious increase of noble life. A boy or young man who stands at the head of his classes gives promise of a brilliant career in life. So the soul that has. passed through or deals of trial and is calm may take courage and hope for better things, for when I am cairn, tnen my prme is kiii. ed. Nothing lower than heaven, noth' ing less than God and nothing shorter than eternilv can satisfy the soul, and ;the calm, Joent soul has the right to expect such things. Girls who set their hearts on .the butterfly beauties and frivolities of life go down with "those things, for they all perish with their using. The man who sets his heart on riches will perish with his money and so we -are exhorted to seek the kingdom of God, and assured that all these things will be added unto us. Therefore, let us anchor ourselves to Him who Is the reserection and the life. We have only one life. Some time we know not when, some day we know not where we wiir close our journey and can never return to correct mistakes, hence let us do the bst we can. When Dr. Bazilmank, Sr., was dying, he said life is worth living. Andrew Bradus said among his last words, "The Angels are teaching me how to behave mvself in heaven. I know whom I have believed." r, ' EVENIN SERVICE. REATNESS THROUGH SERVER ING. The evening's - sermon preached by Rev. Dr. D. I. Percer, of New Or leans, was listened to1 with unbroken attention by a very large and appre eiatlve audience, the music was of the highest order. Dr. Percer's subject was: "Greatness through serving,' his text was. taken from Mark x, 45 After the introductory remarks were made showing the" occasion on which these words were spoken by the Sa vior, the doctor showed that it j was not salvation through serving, but greatness through serving. He divided his discourse into three-divisions,; 1. That the greatest life the world has ever Known was a nie or serving for the grandest, greatest and! most blessed life was the life of Jesus Christ even his enemies being judges. From Bethlehem to Calvary it vas full of activities and self denial. He went about doing good and laid down his life for his enemies. 2. Our lives will be great in so far as they are a service for others. For ages the world had thought that might was right, and Christ's announcement of Greatness struck the world as an utter novelity. Hence, they said he spoke as never man spoke. 3. Let us ask ourselves two questions: First, is this our conception of great ness? Are we aiming to attain unto it? If not, we are going contrary to heaven's pronouncement. There stands one in our midst unseen by us, but nevertheless present. Who is taking our measure, especially the intensity of our souls. We may not be known in books and our names may be exaltht ed, but if we are - serving Christ - by visiting the sick, by. helping a fallen brother or ministering words of com fort to sad hearts, rest assured that your foot falls are hearq in the cora dors of heaven and our names are num bered among the truly grlat according to heaven's standard. MEMORIAL, ADDRESS On the Christian Character of General , Robert E. L.ee, by Rev. Dr. Jones, Dellv ered at First Presbyterian Church, Sun day Night. Dr. Jones announced as his text II Samuel ill. "38, "And the king said unto his servants know ye not, that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day In Israel?" With a brief allusion, to the circum stances of the text, and the eulogy of David on his great soldier, the preacher spoke of our natural tendency to hero worship; and the disposition of. men to exalt unduly the virtues of the great, . and of some sad efforts in that direc tion in our -day, . and . generation. He said that this was so well understood that those who did not know him might be disposed to think that we had spoken too --strongly of the- Christian charcater of R. E. Lee,' But it having been his proud -privilege .'to" know him '..intimately to have seen him on that first day in April 1861 when he came to offer his stainless sword to the land of his birth to have followed his stand ard from Harper's Ferry in '61 to Ap pomattox in '65 coming into somewhat frequent contact with him.especially to have been one of the chaplains of liis college during the whale period of his lifevin Lexington, and to have formed one. of that loving band who laid him in the tomb when two continents mourned his death the preacher claim ed the fullest opportunity of knowing, intimately the private character of R. E. Lee, and did not hesitate to declare that he was one of the humblest, truest, noblest specimens of a Christian with whom he had ver come in contact. Proceeding to illustrate the Christian character of the great soldier, Dr. Jones gave a number of incidents among them a visit he made to General Lee's headquarters, below Orange Court House in the early autumn of '63 as a member of a chaplains' committee to see what could be done to secure a bet ter observance of the Sabbath, of the gracious reception the commander-in-chief gave them, the beautiful order he issued on ' the Sabbath and its proper observance, their pleasant talk, and of how when the committee were about to leave, Rev. B. T. Lacy said: "I feel it right to say to yovi general that you have a warm place in the hearts of the chaplains of this army, and some of our most fervent prayers are made in your behalf." His face flushed, his eyes fill ed with tears, and he said with deep emotion: "? Please thank them for that. X can only say that I am Just a poor sinner, trusting: in. Christ alone for-salvation, and I need all of the prayers that can be offered for me." " Dr. Jones spoke of Lee's frequent vls ts to the - chaplains meetings, his attendance , on preaching es pecially j at . Jackson's " headquarters. his attending a soldiers' prayer meet ing, and his profound interest in the religious, welfare of his men. ' 1 . -t - -1 w - l. : He next spoke of his simple trust in ' d and recognition of divine provi dence, and illustrated this point by quoting from his official dispatches, and orders. In his dispatch to President Davis, announcing the great victory at Cold Harbor and Gaines Mill, June 27, 1862, he begins: "Profoundly grateful to Al mighty God, for the signal victory granted us." - . He begins his order of congratulation for Seven days around Richmond with: "The commanding general profoundly grateful to the giver of all victory for the signal success with which He has bless our arms" . He begins his dispatch announcing the great victory at Fredericksburg with "Thank be to God." In his dispatch after Ghancelorsville, he said: "We have again to thank Al mingty God for a great victory.". In hiis general orders to his troops he says:" While this glorious victory entitles you to the praise and gratitude of the nation, we are espec ially called upon to return our grateful thanksto the only giver of victory for the signal deliverance He has wrought." - "It is.therfore.earnestly recommend ed that the troops unite, on Sunday next, in ascribing unto the Lord. of Hosts the glory due unto His name." In -his beautiful general orders en joining the observance of the fast day appointed by President Davis for April 21, 1863, General Lee said: " Soliders! we have sinned against Al mighty God. We have forgotten His signal mercies and have cultivated a revengeful, haughty, and boastful spir it. We have not remembered that the defenders of a just cause shall be pure in His eyes that, our times are in His hands and we have relied too much on our own arms for the achievement of our independence. God is our only refuge and strength. . Let us humble ourselves before Him. Let us confess our many sins, and m beseech Him to give us a higher courage, a purer pa triotism, and a more determined will that He will convert the . hearts of our enemies that He will hasten the time when war, with its sorrows and suffer ings shall cease and that He will give us a name and place among the nations of the earth." Dr. Jones spoke of the effect of this order as it was read to the vast crowds who assembled in the camps for wor ship that day, and of how it promoted the great revival which swept through the army, until over 15,000 of those pa triot heroes professed repentence to ward God and faith in Christ. r Passing over many others of his dis patches and general orders, he gave only the close of his order for the fast day. of April 8, 1864: " Soldiers! let us humble ourselves be fore he Lord our God, asking through Christ, the forgiveness of our sins, be seeching the aid of the God of our fore fathers in the defense of our homes, and our liberties, thanking Him for His1 past blessings, and imploring their con tinuance upon our cause and our peo-. pie." . Dr. S. V. Moore, of the First Presby terian church Richmond, says that be- ing alone with him at one of the dark est periods of the war he took occasion .to cheer him with the fact that so many Christian people were praying for him. ... . "I shall never forget'says Dr. Moore, "the emphasis with which he grasped my" iand, as, with a voice, and eyes that-betrayed deep emotion, he assured me that it was .not only his comfort, but his only comfort, and declared the simple and absolute trust that he had in God, and God alone, as his helper In that terrible struggle." In a letter which Dr. Moore received from him in the summer of 1864 in re- SCENE IN A STRAWBERRY FARM NEAR WILMINGTON. sponse to one he had written him, but which he never expected to be answer ed by the great captain, who was ab sorbed in that mighty campaign from the Wilderness to Cold Harbor, . Gen eral Lee said: "I thank you especially that. I have a place in your prayers. No human pow er can avail us without the blessing of God, and I rejoice to know that in this crisis, j of our affairs good men every where! are .supplicating Him for His favor, and protection." Dr. Jones next spoke of him, as a be liever in the Bible, a constant reader, and a diligent student of its pages. 'He quoted his letter accepting the presi dency of the Rockbridge Bible Society in which he said that he was "desirous ;i C. F. T. of co-operating in any way I can in ex tending the inestimable knowledge 6f the priceless truths of the Bible" a let ter to the Virginia Bible Society in which he spoke of the importance of inducing the masses of the people to ; so read the Bible "as to become ac I quainted with the experience, and real- Ities of religion," and a letter to Hon. Beresford Hope in which he spoke of the Bible as "a book in comparison with which all others in my eyes are of minor importance, and which in all of my perplexities and distresses has never failed to give me light and strength." - ! Dr. Jones spoke of how while sitting alone with the body of General Lee the day after his death he picked up from - -i IN WESTBROOP'S STRAWBERRY FIELD, NEAR WILMINGTON. the table a well worn copy of the Bi ble : In which was -Written. In his well known chipography, "R. E. Lee, lieu tenant colonel U. S. A."" and reflected how this book had been all through, his eventful career "the man of his coun- sel, and the snide of his life.' : Robert Ingersol may sneer at the Bi ble,: and lecture on : the, "Mistakes of Moses;" but Robert Lee, was a believ er in this old book and a follower of its blessed teachings. v - Dr. Jones next spoke of the life of General Lee in Lexington, and his de votion to the religious interests of the students of - Washington college, and -- ' ... -- -i " 9 - gave interesting incidents illustrating it. He said that he believed General Lee was the greatest, college president this continent ever produced, and he ucvci BtLw a coiitrge presiueiii who was more earnest for the religious good of his students. He quoted him as saying to him one day: "Our great "need is an all pervasive revival that will bring these young men to Christ,' and we must pray for the Holy Spirit to ac complish this" his saying to. Dr. Wil liam Brown "I dread the thought of any student going away from the col lege without becoming a sincere Chris tian" and to Dr. Kirkpatcrick. "Oh! Doctor, if I could only know that all of the young men in the college were good Christians I should have nothing more ' " L T RAIN ON THE ATLANTIC COAST LI to desire." He gave illustrations of General Lee's great liberality in his contributions, and speaking of him, as "a son of consola tion" to the afflicted he quoted a num ber of letters from General Lee to friends in affliction which would be worthy of any preacher in all the world. ; He described him as going from his vestry meeting to his home, being striken as . he was about to asK a blessing at the evening meal, and go ing to his bed of last illness never to speak again. He. left no "last words," but we need none, for the life of Rob ert Lee was "a living epMstle known and read of all men." " - The preacher closed , with a tender, t --v i !r 'V earnest, appeal to his old comrades to be "followers of R. E. Lee even as he, also, was of Christ" to pay the vows they made amidst the leaden , and iron hail of battle to enlist under the ban ner of the cross, and to follow the great "Captain of our Salvation." , He spoke of the fact that Jn - these days many, especially among young men, looked upon religion as something for old men, weak women, and sick people, but not for strong men.- He held up Robert Edward1 Lee, and Stonewall Jackson, and the ragged he roes of the rank and file who followed them as the truest, noblest, specimens -Wii "T!-- M of . real manhood that the world ever saw, and appealed to old comrades, and young men to do the manliest think in all the universe:. Fear God and keep His commandments. " " . God in all the Inaugurals. (From the New York Sun.) God has been invoked in every presi detial inaugural address save one. In some instances the invocation has been made in the beginning of the address and in nearly all Divine guidance has been invoked in;, the last words. ; - President McKinley hastened to in voke 'the guidance of Almighty God." In fact, the first paragraph of his inau gural is' sufficiently reverential to sat isfy the most exacting. The inaugural NE, LOADED WITH : STRAWBER closes with a petition to the "Lord Most High,' an appellation which no former president used on a similar" occasion. Washington's first inaugural, in its opening, was full of mention of the "Almighty Being," Great Author," and "Smiles of Heaven." "Providence" was invoked in the last paragraph. In his second inaugural there was no refer ence to God. John Adams acknowledged an "Over ruling Providence" in the beginning of his inaugural, and in -.the close of the address references were made to the "Being . Supreme of All," "Patron of Order," "Fountain of Justice" and "Protector of Virtuous Liberty." Thomas Jefferson called upon "That Infinite Power" in the last sentence of his inaugural, and supplicated "That Being" in his second address. The second address contained also the wrord "Creator," referring to God, and there was part. of a paragraph touch ing on Christian religion. James Madison -acknowledged the Almighty "Being" in the last para graph of his first inaugural, and the "Smiles of '"Heaven" in the first para graph of his second. . James Monroe, in the beginning of his inaugural acknowledged that the Almighty had been" eraciouslv pleas ed," etc., and in the close of his second. inaugural he spoke of the "Supreme uthor" and Almighty God." - " John Quincy Adams referred to be ing in the "nrpspnrp y, opening of his inauerural. and in the Vlose he-quoted, the text, "If the Lord Aeepetn not the city the watchman waketh in vain;" - Andrew Jackson in his first address' V 'nvoked "That Power," and in closing isked "His divine care and benedie- -tion." In. his second inaugural he made "most "fervent prayer to that Al niighty Being." . - Martin Van Buren in the first of his ' naiigural "hoped for the sustaining -up port of and ever-watohful and be- ifioent Power." and in closing he 'looked to that "Divine Being." William Henry Harrison's inaugural "was the most voluminous yet delivered. It was made up of more than 8,000 words. The "Beneficent Creator" was mentioned once, and "that Good Be ing." . John Tyler, who succeeded Harrison a few weeks later, printed his inaugu---ral in the newspapers. He "looked to an all ,vise and all-powerful Being " Who made me,"' and. trusted in the ' ver-watchful and ever-ruling provi dence." j - James K. Polk, invoked the "Al- mighty Rulr f the Universe" aqd J .'implicated the "Divine P.eing." ' Za chary Taylor, in-the last words of his inaugural, invoked ."Divine Provi dence." '' ' Millard Filmore, who succeeded him i little later, spoke in a brief address '. ;f "Hjm who holds us in his hands." Franklin Pierce put his "dependence unon God" and asked the. "blessings .of "Divine Providence." . James Buchanan asked for the aid of Iine K.nOK oi our loreiainers iwice m the same inaugural. ! i - a a s - t j : a - a. . Abraham Lincoln acknowledged "firm reliance on Him" in his first in augural. This :is the only reference to a supreme being in that address. But Inxrtxi iy viic-nail tjj. n i jcv.7iiv iiiaugu ral is a sermon, Andrew Johnson mentioned. God once in nis snort inaugural duc not oy way of invocation. ' . Grant mentioned "Providence" and "Almighty God" once in his first, and the "Great Maker" in his second Inau gural, but not ; in supplication. Mr. Hayes asketl "the guidance of the Divine Hand." Garfield mentioned "Almighty God" . once in his inaugural." They are the last words. Arthur, in succeeding President Gar field, asked in his brief address for "aid and Divine "guidance."-' f . . : ; .. . RIES. Cleveland, in his first inaugural, ac knowledged the "power and goodness of Almighty God." Benjamin, Harrison "reverently" i n- : voked "Almighty God .for strength." There was no invocation in the closing, but he word God is used once in' the address, after the acknowledgment. Cleveland, in his second inaugural, invoked a "Divine Ruler." ..- N. B. BROUGHTON, OF RALEIGH. N B. Brough ton, of Raleigh, is one of the most prominent and popular lay men in the state. Member of the state board of missions, trustee of Wake For est college, recording secretary of-the Baptist State convention, "originator of the Baptist Chautauqua, a clear and forcible writer and an effective, speak er, his presence is felt in every assem bly of which he is a. member. But while he is a versatile man and active in many directions, the principal field of his energy and power is the Baptist; Tabernacle, of which, from its organi zation twenty-three years ago, he has been the leading spirit. Telegraphic Sparks. The Princeton-University-of Virginia, baseball game Monday was one sided from the start .. to finish. Prince won by a score of 18 to 2. 1 At New York in. the round Smith Choynski fight, the referee stopped, the bout and awarded " the decision to Choinski. . . The new gunboat Nashville, which arrived at New York from Newport News, Va., left for Bridgeport Monday for her trial trio on the sound. The government tugs Nina and Narkeeta, accompanied her and will act as stake boats." ' .. ... J N r " '
The Wilmington Messenger (Wilmington, N.C.)
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May 11, 1897, edition 1
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