The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-07-01
LANCASTER, June "a, 1899.
G GENTLEMEN
SIEs AT your request 1 fur.
nish this "copy" of said sermon.
II. S. SNODGRASS.

niSh thlS copy" OF SAID sermon.
II. S. SNODGRASS.
Is. Liz Ch., 10 veTse. "When the enemy
shall como in like q food, the spirit of tho
Lord shall lift up a standard against him."
The tocsin of war sounded first
in heaven. Since the fall of man
it has rung in our world. Earth
has trembled beneath tho tread of
advancing armies. She has been
stained with blood, wet with tears,
drapcd in mourning.
Omit the history of bloody wars,
and glance at the moral world
There arc mighty forces engaged.
There may not sound the hoot of
the war horse, the steady tread of
soIdiery. There may not be heard
the rolling Of artillery, rattling Of
musketry, booming of cannons,
and clashing of arms, yet there
are in conflict forces more power.
full than steel clad warriors. There
are fields which for heartrending
scenes, dreadful destruction, thrill
ling history, fondish deeds, far
surpiss those grounds upon which
great battles have been fought.
Here may be seen in array those
fiery passions by which devils are
moved, and those noble motives
by which holy angels are actpated.
1t is truth battling with error, sin
with holiness. Great generals are
guiding these fearful hosts. There
10 the center may be seen q
most pompous one upon his fam
ing war chariot drawn by fiery
steeds. LIE has bathed his drip
ping sword in the warm hearts OF
millions, rolled his garments in the
blood of generations. He has so
maddened his soldiers that they
have been ready to run any risk,
dare any foe, perform the blackest
deeds, and sacrifice noble princi-
Piles. He has led his raging army
into every country and cut down
men by nations, destroyed antilles
by the millions, laid waste the
wealth of kingdoms. He has tram.
pied under foot tho laws of earth,
and heaven; has crushed under his
bloody chariot wheels cheering
hopes for time and bright pros
poets for eternity, has dragged
hosts from glory and drove them
down TO eternal darkness.
1t has been four thousand years
since this General commenced his
most wonderful march. He has
marked his course by lost fortunes,
shattered intellects. broken vows,
severed ties, crushed families, pol
luted characters, ruined virtues
Yea, he has paved his whole way
with tho graves Of blasted forms.
So fearful have been tho rapid
IN movements that since the Chris
tan era 100000, 900, have fallen
from the tottering ranks. Enough
to belt the Globe with a solid
procession 800 men abreast.
Within a quarter of century
three generations of young men
the hope of country, the hope o.
Zlon-have fallen from the recliDg
companies into untimely graves
yet never since the days of Noah hat
this army been 80 large as to-day
Never was the King more bold
than now. Never has he sent forth
such demoniac shouts Of defiance
as those that ring in the ears
of the people at the present time
He exults as no sits upon his burn
ing throne and reviews his hosts
GIancing at that part OF the army
in the United States he finds it tC
be 100000 strong. Those who are
fully drilled, mustered into the
service and have sworn to die in
the cause Of the warrior.
There are recruiting officers al
over the world. In the Unitec
States alone there are about 18O,
900 regular commissioned officers
Our own loved city has seventy
five of these fearful places, into
which our fathers, husbands, broth
ers and sons are in danger Of being
dragged. There are reckoned t'
bo 5000, 900, in our land who arr
brought under the communicating
influences of this great enemy II
the human family. They arc being
drilled, and from their number
100000 are annually mustered in
to the regular army-men enoug |
to form a marching column u
miles in length. Nearly $4,000
fall from these masses yearly, ye
the numbers have boen steadily in
creasihg and at this hour thu
mighty king boasts of a larger
army than he has ever marshallet
in any preceding age. He is max
ing rapid movements, pouring hi
hordes into every nation like
mighty food, swearing that h
will swell his army to unnumbcreC
millions; that he will sweep owe
the world and bring everythingin
to subjection, before he will hid,
bis sword in its sheath of clottec
blood. He has ordered his officer
to tear husbands from their wives
drag darling sons from the warn
embraces of mothers. He has al
ready seized many Of our nobl'
,non ,Tboua upon whom We do