The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-09-23
Sill TnconYertcd.

No one would have the hardihood
to doubt the genuine righteousness OF
"a Massachusetts preacher. Being q
saint among saints in q sanity land, 1t
would really seem like blasphemy to
question the fullness of his piety or
| the power of his faith. Indeed it
would amount to rank disloyalty for
any unfortunate sceptic, born, raised
and residing outside of the sanctitylHg
! influences of the big organ" or Ply
mouth Rock, to discredit the claims OF
such orthodox infallibles to the pos
session OF 8 faith as grain ofmustard
seed"-if not the size OF the 'Colise-
um'-Which, enables them, if they
would choose to try it, to perform
Notwithstanding this, however, one
of them signally failed a few days ago,
though we must confess the miracle
he undertook to perform was far
more wonderful and extraordinary
than moving mountain. 1t was no
less than deliberate attempt to con-
vert Ben. Butler, and make a Chris
tian of him, a task at least equal to
bringing up" and impressing one of
the beasts of the Apochalypse, with
face, as well as feet o6solid brass.
i The Boston papers in describing this
| attempted miracle at Martha's Vine
yard camp-meeting, state that Gov
ernor Claffiin was on the ground and
"spoke earnestly" and Senator Will
son ''eloquently appealed to the un-
converted" But the Doctor never
! WINGED. Then "an anxious sister
singled out Butler and earnestly en-
treated him to come up to the altar"
But the "anXious sister, could not
begin to move him, he having long
ago become callous to the "earnest
entreaties" of sisters, mothers, wives
and daughters. Then "a Jealous
brother on his knees begged him to
go forward" but the prayer of the
q" Jealous brother could no more in
Grants order when Ben was bottled
up at Bermuda Hundred. Finally, the
clergyman in charge besought him
strennously," even promising GO to
keep the meeting open all night" if
Butler would only try to be converted.
But it was "no CO." Wilson's snuff
fling; the earnest entreaty Of the
"anxious sister," the prayers of the
"zealous brother" the strenuous be-
seeching, and even the tempting
promise of the clergyman in charge"
to make but one nights job of the
most stupenduous scavenger contract
ever undertaken by enterprising NOR
tai, of removing the mountain accu-
mutation of sin and crime and guilt of
Buffers lifetime, failed to penetrate
or touch the alligator heart of the
great revealed "beast." They had
come across one of those possessed of
that peculiar kind of devil which once
baffied the faith of the Apostles and
which the power of godhead could
alone cast out. And they gave up in
despair.
AS to the Doctors conversion, of
course that will now be acknowledged
and confessed as one of the utter sim-
possibilities, but that he could have
been induced to ego forward" and
approach the anxious BENCH" had
the proper means been resorted to
there.is hardly room to doubt. The
mistake of the "anxious sister," the
"zealous brother," and the strenuous
ly beseeching clergyman was that they
endeavored to bring Benny up-as
some sinners are said to take the king
dom of Heaven" by violence" They
should have tried persuasion to in-
duce him " to draw nigh" A little
persuasiun-say in the shape of doz-
en- spoons or silver communion SER
vice suspended over the mourner's
bench" Perhaps the clergyman in
charge did not like to risk so much
for such soul.-EGchange.