Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-07-03
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For the Bellows Falls Times.
Gleanings by the Roadside.

had opportunity of what 1 saw by the
way as | ego marching along"
There is so much to write about one
hardly knows which to select or where to
commence. 1 shall be compelled to
"draw my bow to venture" so here goes.
| left my native hills and went imme-
diately to New York city to attend some
of the May anniversaries and get fresh
start for my trip.
When l left knew not where / should
go or when return. ! am about as igno.
rant of these matters now. stopped in
New York about two weeks, during
which time l attended many very excel
lent meetings and saw some sights that
people who live in the more quiet and
rural districts of Vermont seldom behold.
New York is really the largest village l
know Of anywhere in the parts. AS the
boy said, :" Its more bigger'n Bellows
Falls and Walpole put together"
had the pleasure to be in the city
when the Hon. Anson Burlingame ar
rived with the Chinese embassy. They
created quite sensation as they passed
up Broadway to their hotel. 1t is really
an important event in the history of In
ternational intercourse. Much good will
doubtless result therefrom, especially to
the Chinese Empire. During the session
of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society an event took place which will
long be remembered by those who were
fortunate enough to witness it. The
Christian people of the north and south
Baptists with others, have long been di-
vided in their feelings and purposes re-
specting the great Missionary work to
which enlightened Christianity is giving
her best talent and energy.
The subject of slavery, and the issues
growing out of it, have been the bone of
contention. For several years prior to
the war the two parties have not met on
friendly terms, and exchanged cordial
salutations. But the war having leveled
the great barriers which separated the
two it was thought best to attempt a re-
Cancellation among the Christian people
with view to further the work of re-
construction. Accordingly some months
ago, the Baptist Home Mission Society
of the North appointed committee to
attend the Convention of the South,
which was to be held at Baltimore. They
attended and were cordially received, and
as a return for the compliment paid
them, the Convention of the South in
turn appointed similar committee to
attend the May meetings in New York.
The venerable defenders of the "divine
institution" came in person. Quite
large delegation including among their
number such men as DIR. Jeter of Vir-
ginia, and DR.. Fuller of Baltimore, the
memorable antagonist on the slavery
question of DR.. Wayland, and many
others of less celebrity, but formerly
equally bitter in their opposition to the
North and northern institutions. These
men came reconstructed men indeed.
1t was glorious time to hear them talk
and Gown up" To hear them say 1--WE
believe that it is the manifest will of
God that this country should be one
country and but one" eve were
wrong. We now see it, and accept the
situation"
Your readers" may reckon " that when
these men made these confessions they
did so under the inspiration of "pro-
longed applause" Then Immediately
following these remarks several of the
battle SCARED veterans in the cause of
abolition were called to the stand, and
as they rose to speak, one thought of the
days of Grant and the fall of Richmond,
such were the thunders of applause which
rose peal on peal from the great audi
ence. When the lions of the North and
of the South stood face to face on the
same platform, and closing their remarks
turned and shook each other by the hand
as only true friends can do it, you may
imagine the spectacle which the house
presented, but your correspondent can
not describe it, nor will he spoil it by
making the attempt.
1t was scene so deeply fixed upon the
memory of the vast throng who witness
ed it that distance and time will never
efface it. The Importance of the event
was rendered vastly more striking by the
fact that it occurred almost simultane-
ously with the nomination of Grant and
Colfax at Chicago. The two meetings
were in session at the same time. The
second fact is that it marks an epoch to
which future generations will look back
as starting point in a new and glorious
history in the cause of evangelical labor.
1t dates the beginning of an era.