Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-09-28
THE MANIAC,s SERMON.

the meeting BIZ thousands, ,Sfor a very popular
divine was 10 preach at that hour. Soon the
rough seats beneath the tall foresttreeS were
filled, then the asles became crowded, till
there was no room for those who wished to
hear the eminent minister. The owners of the
tenement looking into the space, ina spirit of
kindness threw them open, and they, too, ,.were
well filed with eager listeners. The scene
presented within that church of trees, natu-
raj temple to the living God, was striking and
impressive. 4E-4<ss - s2sS ssF
The eloquent minister who had swayd thou
sands by the words of truth, who had caused
the sinful to repent, and the scoffer to cry out
for mercy, arose. All was instantly huShed,
and the stiffness of midnight reigned in that
vast assemblage. He opened a book and read
therefrom softly, sweetly, nusically, hymn,
which he requested the congregation to sing.
The music of camp meeting who that has
ever heard it, has not paused to drink the rich
melody into his soul z 1t comes with gran
dcur, yet softness and sweetness, that can be
heard nowhere else. In the measured strains
of a multitude of voices, uttered in charming
melody, and unbroken by walls, it swells in
solemn grandeur and rolls delciousy through
the forest, awakening re-echong cadences on
every hand, and
Untwisting all the chains that tie
The hidden soul of harmony.
After the hymn had been sung, the minister
offered up brief, eloquent prayer, and then
took his seat. He had taken the Bible on his
knee, and was searching tor his text, when he
and the whole congregation were startled by
the appearance OF the maniac Smith.
The young lunatic, who was known to near
ly all present, ascended the pulpit with folded
arms bowed head and slow and steady pace.
Facing the immense congI egation, he gazed
carefully around, and amid breathless silence,
spread forth his hands, and in the most thrill
ling manner said =
nSic iS eli of ha
pretty birds in yonder tree-tOps are bearing it
with their songs to the lips of angels above,
who will convey it as sweet incense to the om
nipotent throne of God. JOY is thine, o Is
rael You possess the living soul that rejoi-
ceS in the light Of reason, that laves in waters
OF purest love, and rejoices in the glory of
Immortality. My soul is dead! cherished
child of piety, became recreant to the God
who gave me being, and sold my life, my hap
piness, my imm mortality,t to the Prince of Dark
ness. Like the traveller who has well-tIod-
den path before him, but is attracted to dan
gerous places by the gaudy show of some
poisonous flower, have wandered to my death !!
My feet were placed in the straight and mar
row way, and were covered with the sandals of
pitty, the Christian staff was placed in my
hands, ,and yet, ,OGod, / wandered to my death
The gaudy bauble of vice, the snowy, yet
thorny flowers of wickedness, drew me aside.
| left the smooth surface and ascended the
object of my pursuit. On dashed, reckless
and indifferent to my fate. The wicked one
who sought my destruction, led me on, and /,
cursed with remorse, followed. knew | was
plunging into ruin but with a soul already
accursed, what cared [? Voluntarily / had
sought death, and it came. 1t was night,
and o fearful night it was to me. Exhau-
sted, doomed, and cursed. was still clam
bering up the mountain of sin. | came to a
chasm, deep and fearful! Death, eternal
death, stared me in the face, and | screamed
piteously for help! Nosone came to help me.
Ny companions in vice listened not to my
cries, and he to whom / sold my soul derided
me in moclery / was moved on nearer and
nearer to the precipice. Frantically, grasp
ed each shrub and rocky prominence which
lay in my way but they crunbled in my hands.
/ reached the edge of the precipice gian
ced into that deep abyss of death +! o terror
terror pleaded with heaven for mercy; but
great God it was too latel
ssMy sin-eoVered soul trembled with the
agony it suffered, and was piteous in its ap-
peas. But the thunder told me, Too late
The lightning told me sToo late = felt my
self going over the precipice. | cluBg with
tenacity to everything within my reach but
nothing could save me. 1 shrieked groan-
ed Dorm TO perditiOn lcent my soul ~
Here the maniac paused. His vived por-
trature OF the loss of his soul had startled
the whole congregation. some of whom Shrek
ed outright as he represented his SOULS fright
ful descent into perdition. He paused min
ute only. Then, calm again, he softly said.
81 am living without soul You. people
of God, may sing your praises, for it is sweet
incense to your soul. But you, sinners,'' and
here he again become excited in manner,ssbut
you sinners must repent this day or your souls
will GO after mine over that deep, dark, fearful
abyss into hell viii you repent, or go with
me into eternal perditicn 20
The effect of this was more than terrific.
Screams and groanS arose from the gay and
giddy in the congregation.
A year or two before, this young man was
brought home insensibly drunk. The next
morning found him the victim of terrible
fever, brought on by his sensual indulgences,
and his extravagant course of life. Of that
fever he was, after many fearful days land much
tender care by his relatives, cured but it left
him raving maniac, a hopeless lunatic. So
fearful were his mad efforts, it became neces-
sary to confne him in Lunatic Asylum, to
keep him from perpetrating mischief upon him.
self and others. He remained until within a
few weeks of the camp meeting, when he be-
came sufficiently restored to return to the
custody of his family. He still insane,
but he was mild and obedient and under
those circumstances he was taken with the
family to the camp meeting, the utmost vigi-
lance being exercised over him.
Young men, beware of the cup, the destroy
er of the body, and worse the destroyer OF the
soul.-Mdnna in the Wilderness.
PENNSYLVANIA TRIUMPHANT.-It will be a
source of qualification to Pennsylvanians o
know that at the late national exhibition by
the United States Agricultural Society, held
at Chicago the two highest honors were awar-
ded to Pennsylvania exhibitors-ope to Mr..