Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-06-18
the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
TribUfe to Gen. jackson.


MINUTE on THE DEATH OF GEN. JACKSON.
The DISPATCHES announcing the illness OF this
beloved servant of God and invoking the prayes OF
this assembly bis behalf, had scarcely aroused our
alarm before the sad Intelligence OF his death fell with
its crushing weight upon our hearts and turned these
prayers for him into Weeplng suppllcatons Tor ourselves
and for bereaved country. Seldom IN history has
one been able in short time, to write his name so
deeply upon the hearts OF his country men, ana 10 VIA
the admiration of the world at large Uniting the most
beautiful simplicity with the most intense eaInestness
of character with religious conservation TO duty as
the gulative principle of his lille, be was true man
in all the relations in which he moved. The additional
endowment of military genius, quick to perceive and
quick to improve the advantage and opportunity made
him wh he was the true soldier and the consummate
General 1t were idle to compress within this record
his brilliant military career which fOrHs so large part
If this young nations history. The rapidity OF his
movements impartng to him seeming ub!quity the
promptness and daring and uniform success OF his a.
chevements rendered bis terror to his Toes and
tower of strength kto ourselves. 1t ls not invdlous
to say that whilst other generals OF the army superior
to him in rank, command equally with himself, the
fdence of people, be the most Of them all,
sbrined 10 their affections 1t will be the Office OF his
tory to assign the position he will occupy upon our i'm
partial page and doubt not that the verdict of pos
tery will confirm the judgment Of his contemporaries
n pronouncng that the lite of the hero has been
ed with the death of martyr.
But Gen Jackson has stronger claims upon the af:c-
tiouate and fearful remembrance of this General Assem-
and Warrior. He was a warm and jealous Christian,
man that feared God and walked carefully before Him.
who being found blameess, used the Office of deacon
in the house of God, filed up the portrait drawn by the
apostles hand grave, not doubetongued and holding
fast the mystery of the fah in pure conscience" His
religion was into the whole texture of his charac
ter aud e the constructive element which made him tie
man be was. It has been tersely and truthfuy, and
therefore, beautifully said of him that in the army he
was the expression of bis countrys confidence in God
and in itself Even these who withhold from God the
homage of their obedience and love, took refuge in
the thought that their great military leader drew his
strength from the God of Heaven aud like the Hebrew
Moses daily communed with Him upon the mount. Aud
the Church of Christ turned their eyes to him with
loving Joy the embodied and concrete representation
the living exponent Of those precious truths which 1t
her mission to testify to dying world. In the army
his religious influence difuesed itself like the atmos
phere around him and by that strange magnetic power
over other minds which is given to all who born to
command, were drawn into his presence who did
not bow before the supremacy OF that pety which
silently yet conspicuousy illustrated in the carriage
of this Christian General This evidence is cumula-
tive before this Assembly of his zeal to overtake the
religious wants of bis sodiery, and of the warnings OF
his soul that this venerable court should during its
present sessions, concert large pans for the evangelical
ton of the army and of the country at large There
fore it is, this, Assembly at the moment of its dssou
ton, it's last solemn act would place upon its re-
cords this memorial to bis praise and below it with
their parting tears.
we Snail not attempt Inc Interpretation or the myS-
terious Providence which has taken away from the
country at such juncture strong 1t is
enough that He has done it wno doath all things we'll
We will "be still and know that He is God" But in !
the depth Of our Sadness speak word Of cheer
to bereaved countrymen, that in the appointment
of many Of most reasonable calcuations not less
than in unexpectedly bic sing US, when all seemed dark
and forbiddlng, God seems to US only the more TO |
have charged Himself with the aud protection |
Of this struggling republic, and in this chasen-
ing, recognize the token of Him whose ways is
TO humble those whom it is his purpose to ex4t and
10 bless
With the immediate family and kindred of de-
parted brother, desire to mngle grief they
pay the tribute of their his grave and the
Assembly conveys through this minute lis tenderest
sympathy to these whose hearts are bleeding under
what is to them close and personal bereavement
praying the Coo OF all consolation to grant unto them
oy tor mourning, beauty TOR ashes and the garments
Of praise for the spirit OF heaviness
r. ri. PALMER, Chm'n
This paper was adopted by the Assembly, silently
rising in their seats.