Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-06-16
SUDDEN DEATH.

SUDDEN DEATH.
In announcing the decease of Dickens, the
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher seized the occa.
sion to give his views upon sudden death. They
arc quite as peculiar as bis notions upon one
Of the Commandments As to that, he held
that man on bis side in politics. a "loyal''
man, as he phrased it, was entitled to wide
INDULGENCE from "Ioyar' clergyman, which
Mr.. Beecher showed Ly solemDizng an adu-
,erous marriage at the death-bed of an unre-
pentant sinner Truly, sudden death were at
least no worse than one that left time only for
such ministrations His late remarks, about
Dickens, as We find them reported, were as
follows
He has passed IF the stage as one, l think,
might wish to die. One moment In the full
enjoyment of his faculties, and ip the next mo-
ment gone. still cling to that heresy prayed
against in the Episcopa! prayer book-"Deiver
me from sudden DEATH [ should never pray
that God would keep me from sudden death.
do not want to be like an old harness tied up
with tow strings and always breaking, and al.
ways up for repairs. and always good for moth
iog, He has gone at the full of lile Every
year must have let down the tone of his mind
and his work He has died at the right time
for himself and died at the right time for the
world"
Now, here, Mr. Beecher, whose rhetoric is
always better than his logic, begins by coufound.
ing two different things-an early death and
sudden death. We have often heard people
affect, like MIR. Beecher, this desire not to out
live their vigor and usefulness though, they
being the judge, We doubt il the limit Of their
lives would ever be reached. But whether q
pan, die in youth or old age, the manner of his
death may or may not be sudden. Few men,
n la J;o
suddenly. The language of the Episcopal
service to which Mr.. Beecher excepts, IRON
sudden death-good Lord deliver US - is taken |
from very ancient liturgies, and IS the express
sion of o natural and general feeling. Duty |
may constrain man to expose his he and !
death, in tact, is not wholly unexpected where |
the possibility of it has beeu strongly present
70 the mind. But, surely, few men would
homo or pray to receive the sudden stroke OF
ieatb ct the festive board 1t is On aggraVa-
ton of its horrors, as Shakespeare pants
them -
"He took nv father grossly, full OF bread;
With all hiscrimes full blown, as flush as May
and how his audit stands, who knows save
heaven.
Mr. Reechcr may see tho forcs Of this, since
# comes from play book instead OF a prayer
book. Should he have leisure to look loto
the Bible, he will fiud throughout the Psalms
and the Prophecies that to be cut OF suddenly
ia a fate deprecated by the righteous as ire
ouently as it is denounced against the Wicked.
For instance, "0h God, take me not away IN
ihe midst Of my days" is the suppcation OF
David. Psalm lO2, verse o. We are partl-
cular in ctiug scripture Tor MIR. Eeecher S IN
formation, for we remember that he preached
sermon in New 7 York upon the re occupation
Of Fort Sumpter, in which he spoke, with
some elaboration, of Good Friday as the day
OF the resurrection ! The most extraordinary
b,under, perhaps, ever made IN the pulpit.
Il js, indeed, to be regretted-as ne IS a
preacher-that his engagements, literary aou
nolit;caI, have withdrawn him so much i!on
Scrintural studies. But apart from religious
considerations few men really hold Mr.; Beech,
er's opinions upon sudden death. Few are
ready for death, even 10 their temporal con-
Germs Few would willingly torego the last
words OF affection, perhaps OF reconclNation'
with kindred aud friends. we think the lleV,
Mr. Beecher has Improved the OCCASION,
as he too often docs, to pttera startling SO
,,histrv in opposition to wiser doctrine 1t Is
his frequent resort to clap trap that has made
Mr. Bcecher charlatan In religion anc
morals. az his Efforts at momentary effect OF
ten make him but butfoon in the pulpit
C;uaeed by this last utterance, his own iacu
ties might seem to be sounding to him tht
signal for retreat But IN his cWn case, this
,;i probably not penetrate the sell concel
IN which he is mutfied though ne pronoun
ccs ex catbedra that it would have been
bad ,hirg for Dickens fame tor him TO nave
lived any lopger.-ih1L Age.
INSTANTANEOUS The Treasury authorize
40 mot imagine that the perpetrators Of the re
ann, hold robbery from the cfice OF Treasure
Sn;n,er will he captured the robbery was 'e
we'll planned and too successfully carried ou'
Tecbnical}y the loss tails upon Gen. oplnncr, ]
wbose custody the money according 10 u
st,;ct construction Of law, was, at the tine IN
rnh1erv was made, and as the Department hs
nn ou,boritv 10 cover such losses, it will requil
,he massage of resolution by Corgres to re
Geve the treasurer from this loss. There Hr
doubt that this will be done.
The Vermont constitutional Convention, /
close vote, has adopted the policy of blenal
sessions Of the Legislature. This rule u gem
raj in the Western States and 90 the fac'i
ooost and has also been Incorporated INTO II
cons,;tutiops of number OF tho reconstruct
Southern commonweaths.
Lieut.. Col. Leo Lloyd, of Liberia addres
81 the hoard of trade in Phiadelphia on NO
lay night. and Informed his auuienee ct,oon tna,
"mendmen, in this country, the L'benan leg e
lalors at once resolved to expupee an aEtiSIo D;Io
the constitution of their republic when a',O ,
ed the right of suffrage only TO citizens OF al
can descent.
The bill to reduce the army has been ssl
hv the President, and is now law. AZ ~
july lst, 1870, under this act, the st seana s'
srmy will contain no more than $4,000 M
AMY officers cannot enter civil office or rem