The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1866-09-06


u7on his men, that in all cases when
tney found themselves lost, not to wan
,!cr, but seek the first spring or stream
Jet, aud follow iS course, without regard
~ compass, sun or stars, 1t would
ring them out somewhere" Under
this admonition these youths followed
strictly his counsel. and striking the
hcad.waters Of Bear Creek, they follow
cd it through, all its mcaElcriugs, some
seven or eight miles, to its cntrauce into
the Clarion River, about eight miles be
low Ridgway. From calculations such
as they made, being in lost condition,
they supposed they had struck the al
lrgheny below Warren. They followed
it up and came to Ridgwoy, much ia.
tigucd and very hungry, where they
procured horses and guide and arrived
at camp. Mr.. Hoffman immediately
sent some men, well provided, TO find
and save the horse which might other.
wise starve. He had broken loose, but
was soon found within q short distance
from where the lads had fastened him.
His instincts no doubt had taught him
that he must wait for the boys. The
party On its return came across poor
hishman who had attempted to come
through to Ridgway from Tionesta-hc
too had missed his path and was lost,
he had been without food for several
days and was so weak that, unable to
walk, he was creeping on his hands and
knees, aud with diligence as though
lie was in sight Of some place of rest and
1ood-he was placed upon the horse and
brought into camp, where with proper
food and stimulants the poor fellow was
soon able to converse upon his mishap.
SIR. Hoffman, who was no doubt desir.
Gus Of ascertaining the sensations and
effects upon the mind by being lost,'
inquired of him how he felt, what he
thought, whilst apparently 50 helpless in
those woods? he replied, 81 prayed all
the while" "Tn whom did you pray,
and how, and in what manner did you
ask ?" al prayed to the Virgin Mary,
and asked her to take me to her buzzum,
or take me out of that Id horrible
place !" Mr.. Hoffman, locking upon
his dilapidated apparel, torn and muddy,
matted hair, and squalid appearance
shat famine only gives quietly observ-
cd that " he did not wonder at all that
the Virgin had answered his latter re-
quest and brought him out"
1t is pardonablc to remark upon this
episode, that to Tie E'rangedic0l, or to
the otherwise orthodox Christian, this
little incident of the poor Irishman af-
forGs subject for thought and comment
The efficacy of prayer is so often the
text and theme of those who profess to
tcach Christian doctrines and duties =
and so often is the duty cnjoined to
'pray-to whom, for whom, aud the
manner and mode of the address, that
we feel disposed to criticize all these
Spccialities, and leave to conscience, ed
ucation and the language that bubbles
up from the penitent heart, and from
the religious impressions that inspires
the subject, To pray. The bigot, in his
self esteem, docs not allow any iatcrccs-
S0r between himself aud his Maker, and
"prays to God alone" The more hum.
Die Christian offers his prayer through
the mediation of" Opr Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ" or " Son of God, we be,
scech Thee to hear u.s." Docs the bigot
call this idolary? does lie presume to
challenge this address through Him to
the Throne of Grace though he, thro'
pride rejects all concOmitants towards
his salvation. Such is the feelings of
gcn"ine Christians, such tue faith in the
- redemption of the world by cur Lord
Jesus Christ" that he cannot resist that
form ofprayer sanctioned by usage and
%he heart itself. But how often, when
an Erangclist learns that prayer is Of
lered to her Son through the interces-
sion of the Holy Virgin, he lifts his
hands and eyes TO Him IN holy horror at
such proximity such ignorance, and
such idOlatry!" Does he believe his
Bible Can he erase from his mind the
Sublime spectacle of his Savior, when
upon the Cross lie secs His mother,
and cries, Mother behold thy Som" /?