Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1866-11-15

the departed Faithful and True, as to be
able to prove, ourselves worthy of their sa-
crifice made for us, and of still asserting
if not maintaining the Faith for whichthey
fought so good a fight, and Which they
consecrated by their precious blood! Aye,
their foes shall build their sbiihes, their
friends ire too despoiled to more than mark
the places where they lie. All around
them their invaders are gathering the
bleaching bones and, ashes of those they
repulsed and Slew, to raise mounds and
monuments to deeds made memorable, and
to memories made worthy of mentioh by
their heroism; and every stone they pile
on stone-the higher the more expressive
shall tell the story of the war to every
passer-hy, of the battles by whom lost and
/ won and of who were the real Heroes j.
This play of monuments is one in which
Hamlets in Heroism cannot be left OUT
The General said that we needed their
example now more than ever We need
ed more than a Moses now to bear US up
under defeat. There was more, of trial
now than when we were in the camp and
in the trench He, continued: ,aa
invoke then the mighty Confederate
Dead! and 10 instantly the valiant clay
of the consecrated Valley Of Virginia be-
COMES instinct with motion in every atom,
and a grave in lexington trembling
quickly, gives up life breathing spirit in
a great example! 1t stands pa!pably be
fore and above us, the moral presentation
of the whole Confederate cause.-the now
Sonctificd Stonewall Jackson a very
Michael of Deliverance The whole Host
of Heroes, diseinbodied, point to him;
and awed, | reverently ask:-'' What in
this hour would he have us do? D His eS=
ample speaks to us! Hs.f'fsj ~ tf''a
II pronounce not his eulogy. His fame
and deeds are above my praise. His enc
emies praise him. His shade austerely
reprehends all personal pancgyric. speak
not of the military cheftain,i nor OF his
glorious battles or victories. | speak not
of the man, how trained, or what his
traits !; courtly or curt, eccentric or like
common men; awkward or graceful gen
ial or silent and serene; all his character
isties whatever they We're, are now sacred.
[ speak not Of his. achievements, front,
flank or FEAR, however lighted up in lus-
ire; but speak OF the intrinsic, sterling
stramina of his moral greatness. Of his
christian heroism Thousands in the Con-
federate armies were like him without
fear and without reproach," but the eternal
atiamant Of his character and nature which
wonf for him the Stonewall of his name,
was his Supreme Faith; Faith in God
Faith in inmutable Moral Laws and Prin-
ciples, and in the right to prevail in the
end against all opposing powers. His
faith knew OF no e.epediea'cy opposed to
faith and justice; of no Policy opposed
to Truth and Rights of no Rcace oppo-
sed to Honour. Governed by an uIwaver-
ing christian sense of daty, he did his part
accordingsto the very right and simplicity,
without reserve, trusted in God so to shape
consequences as to make the very right
prevail. He cared not, inquired not
whether it woald prevail, in his time. or
for his personal advantage; but he loved
.''Virtue for virtues sake" and placed its
power to prevail on the Omnipotence and
Omniscience of the Father. and Finsher
of his Faith He knew that the very test
of the virtue of Faith is not only to be
constant, firm and abiding whilst the
struggle is going on between right and
wrong; but to be more and more constant,
tirm and abiding, when the enemies. of
moral law and right seem to have gained
their most decisive and crushing truniphs.
Heneyer mistook the benign will of Divine
Pity upon the mortal weakness of Denial
when the Master was betrayed. He knew
that then it was,i when the Almighty
Sufferer seemed to be crushed and torstt-
ken, that Faith was required to be most
abiding This Faith made him what he
was, instant and Irresistible jill action;
direct and immoveable in purpose; with a
moral instinct above intellect, above all
dangers, or disaster, and death itself; un-
conquerable. s
Conmuning all the time with the infinite
source Of Moral Law and Light, be looked
at the path Of Duty only as far as finite
vision could see, and took it at once,
marching double quick" directly, straight
on, not daring to question when or where
to halt or 20 turn aside, Or what enemy or
obstacle was in the way, Or what it's force,
or what woul! become Of hiu--on he
went under orders he dared not disobey,
only knowing that his way was always to
the right. however long Or short. and that
it was perfectly known to his Divine Com
lnander. whose Onlnipotence could make
his final struggle sure of victory if his
Faith and Fortitude stood firm This
made him StoneraN firm, and this ex-
ample rises up before us. With this I'M
mortal Faith, | reverently commune. |
question it here amidst the Confederate
graves: mf -.
Can Faith be submitted Or subjected to
the ''arbitrament'' of Brute Force2 Did
Stonewali jackson ever submit has Faith
to what is called by the Erpediency and
Policy of these times, the .sarbitrament of