Smyrna times., 1874-10-21
mise eIIU21 e OMS.
From the Presbyterian.l
Alfred Cookman.
BY GEORGE b. AYRES.

OF the many golden links in memory schain,
| binding me to the years that are gone, it would |
be difficult to select one more radiant with the |
beauty OF pure life than the one whose name |
heads this chapter.
| Twenty years have passed since | first knew |
Alfred Goodman, but the impression which his
| sanity character lett upon my mind aud heart |
only confirms the adage that " thug Of beauty
is joy forever
1t was during his ministry at Harrisburg, |
Pa, in 1858 4. The people fhs own denOmi.
nation doubtless knew him we'll previous to his
becoming their pastor; but we of the Presby-
terian and other Churches had yet to learn OF
him, then comparatively young man. How
ever, it was the work of very short time. To
hear him, was to admire-to know him, was to
love. There was at once something so simply
Ieautiful, so attracting, so binding, that the
desire tor his acquaintance was instructive and
irresistible. 1t seemed as if the grace Of
the Lord Jesus did indeed rest upon him.
| 1t was his custom in summer time to begin
his evening service about six o'tl ,ck, nearly
two hours IN advance of the other churches
This proved to lie an excellent arrangement
not only for hundreds of us, who could thus
listen to our friend Alfred and then attend our
own services, but it also gave his people an
opportunity TO reclprOcate the courtesy. Many,
many others too sat under his attractive preach.
ing who would have otherwise taken sun
down stroll along the beautiful river bank, or
loll away the evening hour in the capitol
grounds. Let us hope that much of this seed,
sOwn at the twilight, has not been unprOduc
tive Of much good fruit, to the honor Of. the
preacher and the glory Of God.
My recollection Of this now santed man was
peasurably revived in the peru>al of his biOg
raphy by the Rev. H. B. Ridseway; one IF
the most iudciOus and best written of its kind
| have ever read. 1t is an invaluable cOntri
button to the biography of the whole Chris
tian Church | say whole" because we can
no more surrender this blessed son of a blessed
father to our Methodist brethren than we can
let the EpiscOralians carry off Saint Paul
or : bishop Peter.
Those readers OF this book who kae,o Mr.
Goodman, doubt not, feel especially grateful
to his blOgrapher for the insight TO his per
sonal life, as exhibited in his private cores
pOudence, which is largely quoted II it be
true that, TO find out tohdt man is, you
must Lre with him u | think there can be a
unanimous verdict upon Alfred Goodman
lie walked with GUd
Ofmany remaI kable sermons it has been my
ve,y good fortune to hear and treasure up in
memory, | desire to refer to one among those
| emember of MY friend Goodman, although
| undertake all account OF 1t with great dIth
dencc.
During his ministry military company wa,
on visit to the capital, and being there ovei
the Sabbath, they attended the Locust Street
Methodist Episcopal church, by invitation,
presume.
The preachers text was, "a good soldier o
Jesus Chris" e Timothy ii. 81 and the ser
mon was worthy of the fame and name o
Goodman. He seemed to have suddenly swal
lowed the dictionary of military terms an(
phrases; the use of which in those quiet ante
bellum days was very inrcquent.
lie depicted with his wonderful wealth o
imagination the approach OF a great battle
lie brought his champion into the foregrouu
quoting his full text, Thou therefore en-
dure h rdness as a good soldier of Jesu
Christ" Then he clothed him with the he
met of salvation and the whole armOr of God
putting in his right hand the sword OF tn
Spirit, and into his left the shield of faith
Furnishing him with the law and the gOspe
tie invokes the benedictiOn of the Trlune Coo
exhOrts him to be strong" in llte's battle
aud to look forward to the reward of immOrt,
glory!
The enemy was disclosed in three grand d
Visions" the world, the flesh, and the devil
the Latter being commander-in- chief, aud OF
cupying the central position, whence he cOul
oversee and direct his right and left wings.
The contest opened on the right" tn
world by light skirmishiRg, ESQ to speak
in which the temptations, destinations, que
tionable practices white lies, and the less'
evils" in general, were brought into acto
This advance was briskly followed by exec
sive amusements, fashion, pride, love
worldly distinction, fame, ambition, desire f
wealth, selfshness, and positive sin.
All this force having been thrown upon Il
Christian soldier. it was energeticaly supper
ed by Satan's left wing-"the flesh
the lusts thereof were ineffective. Aga
and again did the devil, in fercest rag
hurl forth his reserve of veterans from Il
centre, but they we're as often repelled, al
withdrawn in sullen despar
Ii is impossible, at this distance of time,
recount, in further detail, that wonderful pi
ture of the Christians conflict. Suffice it tn
the good soldier came off "conqueror, al
more than conquerOr," and the enemy of sor
was totally overthrow
But my pen hesitstes to attempt a record
the preachers conclusion. After tho bait
when we find the good soldier Scared al
war worn, his armor showing where mlllo
OF "hellish darts were hurled" he Is 81
strong upon his feet There now awaits hl
an eternal reward in the city OF his King. u
soldier cOnqueror joins angelic processl
sent to give him triumphal entry into {
heavenly city-into the joy OF his Lord.
Who can portray, as Alfred Cookman d
the glory of the celestial homer Those r.
plendent walls, those pearly gates, those gold
streets, those beautiful rivers OF pure wat
that radiant throng of the redeemed, aud
enhancing mnsic about the throne His eJ
beaming with rapture, his melodious a
peculiarly sympathetic voice, his fervid enerI
his indscribable pathos, all conspired to p
duce moment when it was truly good to
there He seemed lifted to the grandest heiQ
that religion could inspire, and true elOquer
reach. lie gave US very glimpse of heav
and the Joy therein, with which all "gOOd s
diers of Jesus Christ shall be welcomed hon
The effect of the sermon was profound, a
the occasion one never to be forgotten.