The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1859-02-04
From The Cincinnati Times.
The ATaniac's sefmon-A Camp
Meeting Incident.


Ii was eleven O'Clock on Sabbath morning.
Two sermons had bren preached during he
forenoon, and the sshorn'' had been blown 3c-
the mreting by thousands, G1r a very popular
divine v as TO preach al that hour.
The eloquent minister arose. All was IN
stan,ly hnshcd and The stiffness o midnight
reigntd in that vast assemblagp. He opened
book and read thrretiom, softly, sweelly
musicaiiy, hymn which he requested the
congregation 10 sing.
The music of camp meeting Who iba
has ever heard il mas not paused 10 drlak the
rich u.cody into bis soul Il comes with q
grandeur yet sofness aud sweetness that can be
heard nowhere else. The measured strains of
a multitude of voices, united in charming mrlo-
dy and unbrokeu by walls, swell in solemn
grandeur, and roll deIiclausly through the for
tsts aWaking Ie-echoing cadencrs on every
hand, and
s'Untuisling ali the Chains that lie
The hidden soul Of harmony"
After the hymn hal been sung the ntiais;er
offered up brief, eloquent prayer, ard then
resumed his seat IL had taken the Bible on
his knee and was searching for his text, WREN
be au the whole congregation were Startled By
the appearance Of the Maniac Smith.
The young lunaiic, who was known 10 near
IL all present, assembled ihe palpit with folded
arms, bowed head, and SLOW ani steady pace.
Facing the immense congregation, be gazed
carefully around, and amid brealhles; silence
spread forth his iiands, and Tie most thrilling
manner said
"Your music is The music Of hraven The
pretty birds in yonder tree tops are bearing it
with their Songs 10 the lips of angels above,
who Will convey il as sweet incense 10 the on-
uipotent thtone Of God. joy is thine, o Israel
You possess the living soal, that rrjoices in ih.
glory Of immortality. My soul is dead i
cherished eiild Of piety, became rccreant 10
the God that gave me b-ing aad sold my lie,
my happiness, my Immortality 10 The Prince ot
Darkaess. Like the Traveller who has a IoI-
den path before him, but is attracted to danger
Gus placrs by The CANDY show Of some poison-
Gus flower, haze wandered 10 my death -
Ny feet were placed in The straight and nar-
row way, were covered with the sandals OF
pirtv, and the christian Sgaii was placed III NY
bands, and yet, o God wandered 10 sny
dsath The gaudy haublei Of s.ce, he s'iag-y,
vet tharnY fI9yvrg ftt, H. L. -.
Side. lit The smooth surface, and asc~nded
10 mountains Of trouble, ASA yet | gained not
the object Of my pursuit. On dashed, reckless
and indifferent 10 iny iaie. / ne Wicked ont,
who sought my destruction, led re on, and !,
cursed with lemorsp, followed | kpew was
pIuuging into ruin, with soul already accurs-
Cd, val cared /! Voluntarily ] had sought
death and il came. Il Haxone night, and on
fearful night it was 10 me, exhausted, o3on-
/ ed, and accursed, ! was sill clamb'riag up the
mountain Of SIN. / rape o Q ch2sin. deep and
iraFi'i' ~ h@n'h'',5s o, heaven nes'5a a
o3p' '''' a'l' '''' '.''i.'uSl %
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l','h -. "a sl,t s.,.i .r;il ,.o :.
I" WON Iau solu '''5 s''D' oyI','',, me -,
/ tb. ,,rs~in;ca FranIicanv orasosd each
| sfr,b anil ,nrLy rro,nin.nce vbich lay in ms
xay. hpt tb,v c,na,bl,d in ng lands.
/ reached the edge Of the nreci,,icr! | glanced
/ into the deep abyss Of death Oh terror, tei-
lrar. L p!eai heaven f,r mercy. but, great God,
( i! Was too late!
! my s,n-covpred soul trfnlbled with the a.
ropv il sunrled. and vas ri!yons in lis appeals.
But The thunder told NJ. .sToo |alp." and gfa-
/ ci7us heavens. nv own covyardly sonl told me
! sToo late ;" ] irh myself qoina over the pre-
cipicr. cung with lpnaciiy 10 everything
within my reach. bat nothing could save me
/ I shrirkcd qroaued! Down 70 pprdition
I went my soul -
! 1r.,o a., ,,o,;o, na,,aa II. r;r;3 N.Y.
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