Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-08-05
A TOuCHING INCIDENT.

The correspondent Of the Baltimore Amc:l-
can, at Long Branch in his letter OF Sunday
last, says:
"A little inciden, conDcc:ed with the dress
parade this evening, seems 10 the mlnd ol your
correspondent to be 50 we'll worthy OF especial
mcution that he canuot refrain 1rum dwelling
somewhat upon IT, as all well knew camp llle IS
not calculated to develop the rei:ious element
in mans nature The sound of trumpets, the
roll Of drums, the tented field, the tread OF
armed men, the waving Of banners, even In
time OF peace are all sights and sounds which
arpcal to other feelings and emotions than
those of rcvereut awe AID piouS aspirations, aud
hence the pleasing little iucideut which occur
red On the parade ground Of Camp Monmouth
this evening, just referred TO, seems TO be all
the more wur by of mention. About hat-past
: o'clock, a> the parade was pear Its close, and
whilst the long Ilue Of srllers was standing
viii statute-hke StcadiueSS at a parade rest,
this incident occurred, which, comlug as II dli
quite un, xpcctedly to the large thrpug II spec
tators was OF course all the more lm, r'sSiVe
Just as the last notes of the retreat were
sounded, the band gave forth with touching
sweetness and solemnlty the sacred ar so Ia
mliiariy associated with that most exquisite
hymE, commencing:
Nearer, my God to Thee
Nearer to Thcc!'
The effect was thrilllngy impr"ssIve--n-
stau,ly there was solemu hush throughout
the throug of spectators, mauy of whom
prlchaUcc had unnI thcu beeu quite forget
tul Of the sacred character OF the day, car
red away with the ga!'ies and trlvolltrS SO
natural at such resort. All seemed to feel
at least something of that which these sweet
sounds expressed with such wonderful pa
thos Nearer, my God, 10 Thee y Al, dis
codant sounds were hushed as every ear aud
many heart, 100, Grank iu the tender strains
expressive Of such reverent hope and humble
trust, whilst the hour, the solemn es seuing hour
and all the voices of nature seemed TO echo
and re echo the loving tone of prayer to The
great Father of all--'Nearer to Thee =
The day was quite over, and the evening
shades were gathering fast; the SUI had gone
down behind the curtaius OF the night; the
full -orbed moon was shining III the clear blue
vaults OF heaven, and already the heavlug wat.
ers OF the great ocean ware bcguulug to re-
feet its svery beams and the only other
sounds than those of the hymp were the soft
whispers of the evening air, and the ceasele.s
song of the surf upou the not distant shore,
all telling Of Him to whom, aud Tor whom, the
sacred aspirations aod ycarulngs were address
ed-"Nearer to Thee ~ No other sounds, did
| say. | am wrong; there was Que other sound,
but by no meaus discordaut one, for Just as
the last noes of the melody died away breath
ing out the holy aspiration, Nearer to Thee;
Nearer, My God, to Thee" there came, watt
ed on the evening breeze, ipm beneath the
modest little spire OF u pretty village church,
just visible above the tree tops, half mile away,
the sound of 'the vesper bel," inviting wor-
shippers to the house Of prayer, as if reverber-
ating with the burden of the sacred refrain,
"N arer My God, to Thee; Nearer TO Thee y
1t was, indeed, an Impressive incideut--one
no, soou to be forgotten by those who really
felt it-aud [ am glad to be able to say that
kuow that many did feel it,