The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1867-05-31
Bishop D. W. Clark.

A short time ago, Bishop Clark Of the
Methodist E. Church, preached sermon in
the city OF New York from the following
text: " Whosoever will come after me, lei
him deny himself ard take up his cross, and
follow me-"
Towards the close of his very excellent
sermon, he remarked, that " the third condi-
ton OF discipleship in the School OF Christ
is the assumption of the distinctive badge oil
christianity. 1t is expressed in our text by
those words - And take Up his cross.
In calculating the above condition of dis
cipleship, be made use of the following ap-
propriats and beautiful symbol, taken from
the late war. "You remember" said the
Bishop, " that as the yoke was the symbol Of
Judaism, so the cross is the symbol of Chris
tianity. Ye co mprehend the significance Of
that word-symbol. 1t is expressive o. some
great duty or privilege of the individual, or
of our country, or of our humanity. There
may not be single sentence, not word,
not 4 letter upon it., and yet, as you see that
symbol, how it stirs up the heart and appeals
to the consciousness of the individual Take
the symbol Of our nationality, the Stars and
Stripes.
What true American can behold them wa
wing in the breeze without having his heart
stirred within him with love of country, as
well as devotion to our common interests
We may be placed in circumstances where
we would feel the power Of this symbol more
intensely than can express, than even you
at this moment can feel A friend of mine
in former years, and an early student, long
years ago emigrated to the South. He pros
ecuted the study Of medicine, and settled in
one of the Southern States, where he married,
and his family was gathered around him.
When this fearful war broke out, which, thank
God, has now passed over and ended, | trust
forever-acquainted with the resources and
power Of the government, he said to bis
neighbors and his friends " / fear we are
wrong | am certain only misfortune and
calamity can come of this movement" He
of course was suspectsd he was suddenly
arrested and called before large body OF
people, and be expected nothing but death.
Alter the charges were made, they told him
he might speak for himself Speaking to
me he said: az ever God helped me to
speak, II was then" II was 4 man plead
ing for his life, aud yet a man determined to
stand by the truth. He recalled bis past life
for seventeen years among them-how be
had lived, and walked, and labOred among
them-Visited their sick, wept with them in
sorrow, and attended at the burial Of their
dead. Before the close Of his speech, he said
many Of his audience we're In tears. He LEFT
was taken out under guard, and stood for
one hour while they deliberatsd what should
be done with him. lie said il appeared to
him that II was a fortnight. At length be
was called 10, and was told that they had
not been able TO agree upon bis execution
but 10 rest assured that be should not live
With such sentiments as he bad In that coun-
try and he was left 10 60 home. The next
day, as there was no regular preaching, be
went into the church and stood up and
preached to some Of those very meH
that had been thirstipg for bis blood; and
for one year and a half while dangers were
gathering around him, be was compelled "a
hide In the fastness Of the wilderness, iu
caves and among mountains, bis little chill
drss stealing out early Ia the morning and
At night with little food, and winding theiI
way through woods and swamps, that they
might carry something for their famishinp
father 10 eat. His wife, worn out, slekened
and vent down 10 the grave, and be DART
not even 20 out 10 shed tear Of sympathy
and Of sorrow over her remains. His chill
dren were reduced 70 beggarly condition