Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-10-22
A DISCOURSE UPON THE CHAR.
ACTER OF GEN. ROBERT Z.
LEE; IN THE CHAPEL OF THE
HOLY TRINITY, OCT. 10.
BY THE REV. W. W. LORD, D. D.

BY THE REV. W. W. LORD, D. D.
My father, my fatier, the chariot
of Israel andfth9 hOrsehicn thereof!
2 Kings, Gid Gu. II verse.
AS II one should say, the power,
defence and glory of Israel are de-
parted! The figure is exceedingly
impassioned and striking, even in
the mouth OF an Israelite who saw
the "master taken from the head of
Israel" Contrast it with the ST.
lence of those who ages Ofterward,
in the same land of wonders aud
mystery "stood gazing up into
heaven" where He had disappeared
to whom they had just before said,
Lord wilt thou not at this time re-
store again the Kingdom to Israel ?
Was it better, we may reasonably
ask, that, in either case, the master
should be taken from their head -!
Was il better that Elijah should be
taken from Israel? Was il better
that Christ should be taken, thus to
speak, from Christianity
But if there was some mysterious
necessity why Christ should ascend
to the place "whence he also de-
cended," were 1t not better that the
| Apostles, at least, should have re-
manned with the church to lead
them in this earthly wilderness,
"like a flock Of Sheep"
What IA beautiful picture would
then be realized ST, Peter always
with us to drive with his majestic
voice and pastoral staff the wolf
from the fold St. Paul, with his
mighty eloQuence,
First to mead the dock Of war"
animating and encouraging the
armies of the scross; ST
John, with the mild harmony
of his simple lutte, more like the
Good Shepherd himself, leading
his willing flock in yerdant pas
lures beside murmuriug waters.
Following this train OF thought
(by what suggestion | need not say
to an inference made appropriate
by present circumstances-what a
thing would it not at first seem for
a nation to retain forever its great
men, the founders and defenders
! Of its greatness, always 10 defend
and illustrate il? Some great leader,
great soldier, may perhaps be cN-
! pectcd to a%ppear-as he whom we
a.l today mourn Tor appeared-in
the peoples hour OF need. History
iu,riies the expectation. Like our
, urluycd warrior-Ui,hop LconidaN
! Polk. who loved not war. and yet
became It's victim, h. may even
siart forth from the surpliccd ranks
ul the church. Like our Slunrwnll
jackson, he OF the twu.Cdgcd sword
nj prayer aud steel, The sword OF
LDid aud OF Gideon he may leave
the Professor, chair Tor Tbs head
| uf.hr marching column, But were
IA 800, better for human so-icty il
the great origiuators ,oi its law,
tie real lO.Mdcrs ut government,
,Auuld remain with them to rX.
pound their principles aud enforce
their policy No, not oven were
liza Moses, a Sulon, a Jefferson
In the iirsl place, the greatest los,
OF a people is always It's greatest
gain. Let me explain the seeming
paradox. Death establishes great
ness, aud gives 10 the character and
example OF the truly grcaI, a moral
power aud influence commensurate
with the digHIA and sAuclity with
which il invcsls their person. The
ancients unde stood this, and
the Roman custom OF giving the
deceased Emperor the title dtrus
vas but a reflection Of the old Grcck
thought which made the benciac'
tors Of the human race divine. See
what al Impression, beyond all
teaching, Reasoning aRd assertion
upon the subject, beyond all meal.
cation Of virtue by a living lesson,
beyond all expOslulalion against
prejudice pride, aud passion, ls
produced on both sides Ia The great
national controversy, BY the death
Of q single man Of pure and IN.
questioned, though By same u may
be thought mistaken pair otlsm.
Whiis JelIersoa DaEfnt ~ iva
smeagst ua dAaA reAHie
R~ R1thia. ) -