Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-08-25
From the Norf5lk Argus.

er expected to witness The thought Of disease and
sudden death, the knowledge of existing pesti-
lence, we know are appalling to sinful man, and an
instructive love of health aud life naturally hurries
him away beyond the limits of the destroying agent
to q purer atmosphere and healthier cline-The
strong man in his prime breads the presence of an
air that poisons the life-blood and kills in day
and the sincere christian feels solemn when he
reflects upon so sad visitation from the great Be-
ing in whom he trusts and whom he loves. But
should christians fly, too, from the danger at the
very time when their presence is most required p
when their words Of advice instruction and comfort
necessary ?-when nursing and watching
much needed? 81 was sick, and we visited
me not" .s g..
ciples of Christ should be active and in the line of
their duty in Norfolk, this is the time for verify,
"the pestilence walketh in darkness and the des-
truction wasteth at MONDAY" Our friends, neigh
bors and acquaintance are Frustrated by disease
burning with fever and tortured with pains and
how important the soothing words of the christian
at such time! But among the most panic-struck,
the most alarmed, the most eager to hasten away,
there hundreds of professors and many in
deed who wont, in days of healthfuness in
times of happiness, peace and prosperity, to make
the loudest profession to assume the most grave
and religious aspect and to be most ready and for
ward to give words of reproof for delinquency, and
apparently unchristian conduct Do not some show
now, that they have beam in their eye? There
is deep meaning in this conduct.
Of the four five members of the clergy who
have hurried of, it may not become to speak
now. They know their duty. Perhaps this is not
the time to indulge in vituperation for although
the disease is not bad reported, Gods chasten-
ing hand is upon Our stores nearly all
closed; streets are deserted the dead and the
dying are around us; excepting the rattle of the
physicians coach, hearses and hospital wagons, the
silence in streets is often absolutely oppressive.
The frantic wall of the widow falls dolefully the
the piteous cry of the orphan rings out shrlly
and dies away upon the night-wnd; friends are
parting, perchance till the judgment; and the la
nentaton of the mother is heard, like Rachel,
weeping for her children, and refusing to be
forted because they not 1t is indeed a sad
and gloomy time in our loved and devoted city;
and how much the calamitous visitation is increased
in its intensity by the inconsiderate flight and alb
sence of religious friends, and the deprivation of
their consolatory instructions and prayers in the
room where death claims and seizes his victims
leave to the imagination of the panic-str chris
tian professors, who have sought more salubrious
climate and less dangerous location.
That mighty man Luther, when the plague broke
out in Wittemburg in 1916, 81 and 49, inspired by
the true courage which faith in Christ alone
give fearlessy looked death in the face, in its most
terrible guise Three times he remained in the
midst of the danger though earnestly ged to fly
t' l hope" said he, " the world may stand though
Martin Luther fall. Here must remain I dosnot
say this because do not fear death--for l am not
the Apostle Paul, but only his commentator-but
trust God will protect me from all my fears"
When the greater number of the inhabitants had
left, he said: " We are not alone Christ ona your
prayers ure aotM US; also the holy Angels invisible,
but pOaoertUt! Let every dispose his mind this
way: fine be bound to remain and assist his fellow
men in their death-srugges, let him resign himself
to God and say, " Lord l am in Thy hands Thou
hast fixed me here, Thy will be DONE" He ad-
ministers the last consultations of religion to diving
women in the infected room, and the different de-
grees of the fear of death stalk along a never
ending funeral train"
But take another example, one in which, perhaps
the power of christian faith and love was not the
moving cause. Ia 1898, when the yellow fever
ragged awfuly in Philadelphia, Stephen Grard. the
merchant with more than prncely wealth, offered
himself manager to Superntend hospital
and there he encouraged the sick, handed them
medicine, wiped the sweat from their sallow brows
and performed even many disgusting offices of kind
ness for them, " which nothing could render tolera
bic but the exalted motive that impeed him to this
heroic conduct"
We heard one of our ministers say, who has not
proved recreant to the high and holy duties Of his
office and who goes willingly to the abodes of woe
and DEATH that be found woman whose husband
had just died of the fever. She, too was attacked
and there to nurse and comfort her. He
looked out and tho neighbors had all gone-their
doors and windows were closed Here" said she,
as must lie, and die alone" And there was boy
with the black vornit, and no but a young sis
ter to attend hims during the slow and sad hours of
a long night of pain and sorrow.
But some noble souls and great hearts are left,
and their recompense Will be great They shrink
not from their duty. They breathe still the deadly
breath of the pestence; they pray for the sick and
the dying, and whisper sweet words of faith and
consolation in the of the sufferers whose thanks
and prayers and blessings, will be remembered in
time and eternity and it the faithful soldier of the
Cross falls while doing his duty when most needed,
he falls goIiousiy, and his reward will be unspeak-
able and eternal. - s.,g -. 8.
EccLEsIAsTIcAL-In abiding to the departure of
four five ministers since the fever commenced it's
ravages, included at least two from the opposite
side of the river. We take pleasure-in stating that
several preachers here doing their duty faithful
ly. We cannot speak knowingly in this respect with
regard to Portsmouth; but there are some here
whose diEgent unceasing and efectual pastoral Wis
itatiens well deserve notice and commendation-
Rev. Messrs jackson of St Paul's, Wake of Christ
several months ago. Armstrong of the Presbyte-
rean, Wills OF the Cumberland street Methodist
Dibrell of the CRANKY street Methodist, OKeefe of
st. Patrick's, McCleland f.the Methodist Protes-
tant and Jones of the African Methodist, are among
those who are busy and usefully engaged in their
efforts to give consolation to the sufferers. Some of
them in regular attendance at the Hospital and
none of those mentioned manifest a desire to fly
from the scourge-preferring to die In the faithful
discharge OF their known duty to leaving the suffer-
ing and afflicted members of their 6ocks in the
midst of disease and death without those words Of
comfort and christian consolation which it becomes
them especially to impart in the hour of exraordn-
airy calamity and trial 49," g..
= RAIN! RAN!!-We are'stl visited with heavy
rains in this section. We fear that the oern espe-
cialIy in the low grounds. may. be injured There
is reason too, for apprehending freshet in the Ro-a