Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1869-12-04
Ground 10 Powder.


OF Thomas Paine, in The town of New
Rochelle. A plain monument marks the
site of his former home, and bis final
resting place. Erected By few friends.
Ills covered with significant quotations
from his PoIltico-religious writings. As
stood there and reflected on his genus.
his apparent power and his real weak
ness, thought OF ChrisI's striking proph.
ecy, aud It's singular historical fulflmenI
"On whomsoeyer this stone shall FIJI. il
shall grind him to powder"
Thomas Psiue's career was full OF
promise. He welded pen whose pop.
ulsr power has rarely been equaIled, new
er perhaps, excelled. His "Righrs of
Man." published in England during the
exciting scenes of the French revolution,
reached the unparalleled circulation Of
over million copies. His Common
Sense" published six monlhs before the
Declsrslon Of Independence, is ssld 10
have severed The last links that bound the
colonies to the mother country. SIX days
before The baIte OF Trenton The first num-
Der Of his American Crisis" was read at
head Of every regiment, and lirs, aroused,
it is said, the dropping ardOr of The dis
hesrIened people.
When at length that independence was
secured, 10 which his various services in
the cabinet. the field and with the pen
had afforded no mean conclusion. no hon.
oEs seemed 10 triumphant republic TOO
grest TO be lsvished upon him. General
Washington received him with pucuIar
honors as his guest. The National Con-
gress appropriated $4,000 as les,imoni-
al OF nations esteem. New York pre-
sented him with a magnificent! estate Of
three hundred acres at New Rochelle.
Pennsylvania voted him a gratuiy OF
$4,000. New Jersey offered him a
homestead within her borders. Virginia
failed only by single vote in The attempt
ed appropriation 10 him Of q tract Of land
valued at $4,000. "lt is doubtful"
says the historian Bous, whether any
writer ever possessed in higher degree
the art Of moving and guiding the mnltI-
tude al his will" "No writer" says
Thomas Jefferson, "hss exceeded PANE
in familiarity OI style, in Persplcuity Of
expression, happiness OF eucldation, and
in simple and unassuming language"
Such was the man, who, drinking in
lhe irreligiOus philosophy Of The French
Encyclopedias, undertook, in his Age
of Reason" al The end of an otherwise
memorable life, 10 subvtrt the principles,
and undermine the authority Of the Chris
tisn religion. He did not deny, but as
serted The existence Of God, the claims
OF conscience, and the reality Of an i'm
mortal existence beyond the grave. He
simply set his lance in poi,e 10 demoIish
the Cross Of Christ. In vain did Benja-
min Franklin beseech him to repress q
work go shocking 10 the religious sensi-
billties Of mankind. "Among u.s." said
The sage ait is not necessary, as among
The Houeutois. that youth to be raised
into lie company OF men should prove lis
manhood by beating his mother" Paine
persisted. uis "Age Of Reason" for the
moment oul-rivslled the wide spread pop
uIarily OF his Common Sense" and his
Rights of Man" The Church OF Chris,
seemed for the moment to tfenble under
the blow. Christian men feared for the
safety Of their faith before sn attack go su-
dicioIs, from pen so powerful. But the
lance that struck the Cross Of Christ was
shivered into thousand pieces iu his
hand.
His assault was as powerless 10 move
tho Rock OF Ages as the thunder storm 10
shake The granite hills over whose head
lis harmless anger plays. The stone which
be builders refused fell upon him and
ground him 10 powder He is left With.
out secr, and almost without follower.
His services 10 liberty have been obliIers.
led from the memory Of mankind, by bis
assaults upon religion. He is known 10
bot few save as a representative OF the
cosrsesl iufdelity. Even the broad-mlnd-
ed Quskers would mol yisld 10 his bones q
final resting place in their Christian burial
ground. He was inferred upon his own
farm. Half century ago. from his VIC.
lated tomb, his remains were removed 10
England. An enthusiastic friend anilcips.
ted FOR them there warm welcome. But
none was SO poor as TO do him reverence.
Desp.ed,ss by The judg penI Of Almighty
God, not even the place OF iheIr hnsl bur.
ial has history recorded. His works
have well nigh disappeared from fame. hTs
very bones from their grave. And The
name and life OF Thomas Paine remain .
monumental testimonial TO The truth Of
the prophecy, "On whomsoeVer i, shall
fall, il shall grind 10 powder. .'-Rev. Ly-
man abbott.