Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-18
For the Gazette
IS The People Had q Mind to Work.

have heard great lumber OF good SERMONS
in nv day, but one of the best | ever he ard,
was delivered by an eminent Divine in New
York. Although more than thirty years have
passed since it was delivered, | remember the
text and thread of the discourse as distinct
" az if had listened to it last Sunday. His
theme was the power Of Work. What mighty
things could be accomplished when the mem-
beers of church we're united, aud willing to
work to advance its spiritual welfare; aud how
a community and city could Increase its
wealth, and general prosperity by like effort
in TEMPORAL affairs. He read his text from
Nehemiah iv-G: $50 built we the wall; and
all the wall was joined together unto 10 the
half thereof: for the people had mind to
work. !"
The preacher then proceeded to give graph
ic account of the destruction of Jerusalem.
How completely Nebuzaradau a captain OF the
guard performed his work of destruction; " de-
stroyed all the houses thereof, aud every great
mans house burnt he with fire. . Aud all
the army Of the Chaldees, that were with the
captain of the guard brak down the walls of
Jerusalem round about.
The work of ruin was complete, aud had it
happened to people OF less energy, industry
and perseverance than the Jews, the eternal
city from that day would cease to have had
an existence. But, Pheuix-like, it speedily
spruog up from its ashes and became more
exalted and magnificent than ever; aud this
great aud desirable change was accomplished,
not by auy special miracle or act OF Providence,
but by the simple way all great achievements
have been accomplished, and SO torclhly eX-
pressed in the last eight words of the text
For the people had mind to work!
The preacher described the difficulties and
opposition which the Jews had to contcGd
with. "They which bulIdcd on the Wall,
and they that have burdens, with those
that Iadcd, ercry me with one OF ms hands
wrought ia the work, and with the other hand
held weanop, " and from the rising of the
morning till the Stars appeared. y The Jews
worked as one man; they were all OF one ac-
cord, and all influenced by one desire, and that
was 70 re- build the city. The high priests, the
rulers, the mobiles, the gold.miths, the apothe-
carries. the merchants, and the servants aud
common aborcrs each aud all assisted to build
the wall, also laid the beams thereof. and set up
the doors thereof the locks thereof, aud the
bars thereof.
so built we the wall " What 40. exam
pIe have we here of unity, energy and pcrac-
verance. II the priests, the rulers, the nank
crs, the merchants, the goldsnths; and the
apothccaries OF Alexandria possessed onc-haif
he enterprise and earnest zeal that Nehemiah
and and his peope possessed, our city could, 10 less
than ten years, boast of population Of fifty
thousand. One year would give US ship
y ysT1 paying twenty per cent. interest to the
owners In Two years, extensive iron furnaces.
Three wears, locomotive works; then would fol-
low shoe factories, cotton factories, car works
and numerous other branches Of industry. Get
the people right, in earnest, united with :"
mind to work and the cornerstone Of all
these improvements is already laid.
PoTuMAC