Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-08
Booth and the Lords PRAYER.

In the palmy days of Booth (the father of
Edwin Booth, now performing at the Brooklyn
Iheatre), the great tragedlan, together with
several friends, was invited to dine by person
who was opposed to theatres and theatre-goings
and yet who had curiosity enough to wish to
see something of the lion of the day. During
the evening, some one requested Booth, as
particular favor, to read the Lord S prayer. He
expressed his willingness to afford the company
this qualification, and all eyes turned expectant-
ly towards him. Slowly andreverently hearose.
All were astonished at the play ofemotions that
convulsed his countenance. His face became
deathly pale, and his eyes, tremblingly turned
upwards, were wetwith tears. The silence could
almost be felt; it became absolutely painful
before his rich-toned voice from the death hued
lips indescribably syllabed forth, "Our father
who art in heaven etc." Every heart was thrill
ed with the pathosa and solemnity of the occasion.
After he had finished the silence continued, un-
til a subdued sob from a remote corner of the
room broke the spell. The host stepped for
ward with streaming eyes and seizing Booth by
the hand said: Sir, you have afforded me a
pleasure for which my whole future life will
feel grateful. am an old man, and every day
from my boyhood to the present time thought
L had repeated the Lords prayer, but l have
never heard it before, never"
Booth replied: 10 read that prayer as 1T
should be read, has COSTUME the severest study
and labor for thirty years and | am far from
being yet satisfied with my rendering of that
wonderful production. Hardly one person in
ten thousand comprehends how much beauty,
tenderness and grandeur can be condensed, in
space so small and in words so simple. That
prayer of itself sufficiently illustrates the truth
OF the Bible, and stamps upon it the seal of
Divinity"
So great an effect had been produced by the
reading. that after few minutes of Subdued
conversation, the company broke up and retir-
ed, for the time at least, with full hearts.
IMMoRTALITY.-The belief in a future state
of existence is an instinct in our being, planted
within our soul as light to guide our uncertain
steps through natures labyrinth of civil and
sensualism to higher vantage ground, whose
open plains are illumned by the Son of Right
eousness. And this light is not only recogniz-
ed by Christianity, but is blindly and touching
ly groped for by the lowest order of paganism
This belief CLEANS family through many of the
various rites and supersttions of heathenism.
Shining dimly from the symbolic forms that dec
GRATED their temple walls and crowned their
sculptured domes, gathering strength and
brightness through the revolutions of succeed
ing ages, until, strong and radiant as the noon
day sun, the belief in Immortality shines in one
broad blaze of glory upon the nineteenth century,
Belief in Immortality is the very breath of life
to the Christian, the atmosphere in which he
lives and breathes Shall the Almighty Father
of our Spirits, who has fitted up with such in
finite beauty our dwelling place for day, con-
denim the children of His love, longing for the
holer beauty Of eternal worlds, to moulder in
the sleep of eternal death? Hark to the joy
full answer from the heavenly world Il am the
resurrection and the life" Though man die,
yet shall he live again. Christianity, triumph
ing over death and the grave takes up the bless
ed refrain, and fills heaven and earth with her
strains of gratitude. And though the earth
''rock into ruins and the heavens be rolled
together as a scroll, and the elements melt
with fervent heat yet over the convulsions and
groans and death-throes of dissolving worlds
shall rise the ransomed souls victorious paean
of Immortality ty-Recorder
~ L l.