The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-06-10
A Startling Scene. in. Church.

II 0OCsA tA&r1E ffSNStAOf fAAV NA4OAS4As s.sl
/ There were many thrilling scenes in the
New England. churches during the revolu.
tionary war. The following one occurred
inr Sharon, Connecticut, under the ministry
Of Rev Cotton Mather Smith It is found
in Hoadley's 'Chaplains Of the Revolution ::
Mr.. Smith one Sunday took for his text
apart of Isaiah xxi'yl l, 12i""Watchman
what of the night ?aPhe @atchman nsaid
| The morning vcometh.9 1.-The question in
| the first part ofthis passage hadsbeen the
daily, almost hourly, inquiry for nearly q
| month, .ofevery ONE, of that congregation,
and yhlencefits appropriateness. was keenIy
| felt, but the startling announcement, ''rhe
morning cometh, took them by surprise,
and they could not at first comprehend its
Significance, or how iticodld be adapted to
the present gloomy prospecto9 Had he
heard any good news? What happened
that lhen coulddsay SOL confidently. ~ SThe
morning comeths?p No. he had nothing
new to- tell them, only to proclaim, over
again his mistaken, confidence in Gods
promises. He did not attempt to conceal
or lessen the calamities that had befallen
the country, nor deny that a fearful crisis
was at hand. He acknowledged that to
human appearance "clouds and darkness
were round about Gods throne" but sail
that the eye offaith could pierce the gloom.
The throne was there, though wrapped in
impenetrable)darkne e In all the tdisasr
ters THAT had successfully overwhelmed
them, he traced the hand, OIL. God, and de-
clared that, to his mind, they clearly indi-
Gated some striking ,interpoSition of Divine
Providence about to take place in their
Behalf "Man's extremity was Gods op-
portunity." TOurextreInity had come, and
inowlwas the time for him to make bare
I'd is arm for the deliyeranceofthe people"
vi, Prophet like, kindling with the vision
on which the eyes of his, faith rested, he
boldly dropped the general subject Of
Gods faithfulness, and told his astonished
hearers that he believed they were on the
point ofhearing extraordinary news Of vic
tory to ourarms. He wonldnot wait for an
indefinite future to prove his faith to be. wei
founded-he, was willing to bring it to the
test of the present. They might judge
whether he was right or wrong, for, said he,
q" The morning now conleth." see its
beams already gliding the mountain tops,
and you shall soon behold its brightness
bursting over the land.R oi f9i1usl VI .dulm
id One cannot imagine the effect of such
language uttered by the minister OF God in
such time of doubt and suspense. He
ceased, and, as he closed the, Bible and ex-
claimed Amen /! so let it be-" a silence,
profound and death-like, rested on the au-
adience.d Each one seemed to feel as ifl'an
invisible, presence was there, and some
weighty announcement was just at hand.
Suddenly the deep hush was, broken by
the distant clatter Of q horses hoof along
the road. The sharp and rapid STROKES
told Of swift riding and Of urgent haste
They knew at once what it meant. For
days and weeks theireyes had strained up
the street bthat9 led northward, to catch
sight lohthe messenger of good or evil ii
dings that was hourly expected, j., He had
come at last, and as nearer, clearer, rang
the sound Of chat Wild gallop on the listen
ing ear, each looked in mute and earnest
inquiry into his neighbor's face. Right on
through the place, Straight for the meeting
house, darted the swift rider and drawing
rein at the door, oleaped from, the saddle,
and leaving his foam, covered. steed unat-
tended, strode into the main aisle. On the
silence that filled the building like sensi-
Bile presence his armed heel rung like the
blows Of d hammer AS he. passed along q
sudden paleness spread over The cfowddof
faces turneduwith a painful eagerbess tow
ard him. laButlooking neither to the right,
nor the left, the. dread Messenger passed
on. and, mounting the pulpit stairs, handed
the pastor letter ..,..s :, ,......, -.
n'' Notwithstanding the good mans faith
his hand trembled, and an ashy hue over
spread his face as heh'reached out to- re-
IceiVeitq oFHBurgoyne has surrendered
were the first words that met his eye. u He
staggered under them as under a blow
The, next momenta radiance like that of
itheymornings broke. over his ocountenance,
and he burst t!intoni tearsgoi Risingdto read
the incredible tidings, such a tide of emo
ton flooded his heart that he could scarce
ly utter, them aloud. The audience sat for
a moment overwhelmed and stupeied,
then, as their pastor folded his hands and
turned his eyes toward heaven in, a thank
full prayer q impelled by simultaneous
moyement9they felblike one man onuthe
knees and wept aloud. Sobs,q sighs, and
fervently uttered "Amens" were heard on
every side, attesting the depth oftheir graf
itude and the ecstacy of their Joy. "The
morning had come, bright and glorious,
aud its radiance filed all the heavens. la