The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1869-04-02

II
listers were upon 1t, others were seated
around and in front of 1t; Judge Win
tiers and Mr.. Graham were seated beside
each other and directly in front of the
rostrum. The "love feast" had COM
menced, and one after another spoke
eloquently and feelingly ofthc beauties
of the Christian religion, the duties and
responsibilities OF life In the ministry,
and the pleasures of a reunion like this.
An old man, whose white locks swept
round his high intellectual forehead
like mist clouds nfound mountains
brow, spoke of theprobability Of this
being his last meeting with his breth-
rem as a body, exhorted all to be faith
full to their high calling, and closed by
saying. 's.l GtE.IfE.Ifns.
"To my young brethren just entered
upon the field of labor would say, en-
deavor now to store your minds with
useful knowledge, apply that knowl-
edge to the faithful discharge of your
duty TO your neighbor, your country and
your God, and in old age you DW enjoy
the happy reflections consequent upon q
iceU spent life and die in hope Of a gloif-
Gus immortality" I..... .a..
Judge Winters touched the arm of Mr..
Graham and whispered, "IIe is Mason,
j think" 4 .. .......... -......
A young minister, who was much in
tcrested in the American Bible Society,
now spoke. He thought that the Bible
class and Sabbath school were the Jachh,
and Boaz upon which rested the liber-
ties Of the nation" ....I-
Another thought that 1--WE, as minis
tiers OF the Gospel, should endeavor not
only to teach others their duty, but first
to divcst our own minds and consciences
of all their vices and superluities,
thereby fitting us, as iirinq stones, for
that spiritual building, that house not
made with hands, eternal in the heav-
ems"
But the time allotted to this portion OF
the mornings exercise had passed the
choir sang grand anthem of praise
and thanksgiving; the old man with the
silvery hair offered up short hut ear
nest prayer and the Bishop s. ap-
peared upon the rostrum and announced
the subject of his discourse. 1t was
"Faith." Clearly and concisely he laid
down the proposition to be discussed
and thepoints to be proved. Then, with
an elOquence which won and sw aged all
hearts, with illustrations drawn from
the book Of nature, and applied analo.
gically to the subject under considera.
tion, he passed to attack the strongholds
of infidelity. His mind seemed vast
storehousc of knowledge, ,and very few in
that large congregation had ever before
listened to so able q sermon. The his
tory ofthe world its warriors, statesmen
and philosophers, seemed to pass in re.
view before them. Through the plane
tary system he led them and the inhni
tude of space, studded with its counties
worlds. Only before the Throne of tn,
Living Deity did he pause. Then
stretching forth his hands, in u voic
which thrilled every heart, he exclaim
ed. "Child Of mortality! is not thi
enough ?'' . Hrs.fai. .E"i
"Yes; yes, it is enough !" cried q hun
dred voices sit is enough"
"Then," said the Bishop,and hisvoic
sunk to deep pathos, "lct us belicv
that, when the scythe of time shall Gu
the brittle shred of human life, we shal
be suddenly revived by the ever greer
and ever living sprig OF faith in th'
merits OF the Lion of the tribe of Judah
and doubt not that, in the morning o
,, the resurrection, our bodies will ris
and become as incorruptible as ou
souls. Let us welcome death as kin,
messenger, sent to translate us from thi
: imperfect to that all perfect, gloriou
and celestial world where the Suprem
Architect of the Universe presides."
The Bishop had finished his discourse
, The choir sang hymn Of praise, a ben
ediction was pronounced, and the con
gregation dispersed. Mr.. Graham an,
Judge Winters walked bomeward to
gether.
"What holy man is our Bishop
said the former. ut seems az If tn
heavenly fire came down to consume hi
offering of praise and thanksgiving. Blu
you have bewildered me by your FIRE
quent intimations that such or sucl
were Masons. However, you must re
member, Judge, the evidence was t
be clear and amount to positive knowl
edge"
"Yes," returned The Judge, ~ re
member, and mean TO prove all that
have affirmed. viii you come up t
my Office tomorrow evening, ut 81:
O'Clock ?"
: "Yes, l will be there" And, bidding
Judge Winters good day, Mr.. Graham
turned up the walk leading TO his resi-
, dence.
CHAPTER III.