Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
CHURCH AND STAGE.
From Moody and sankey to Sheridan, the
ketor-some Cogitations ana Some
Criticisms.

SAN FRANcIsco, November "a, 1880
THE world this week is given over to
gravy, and the ghosts of turkeys that are
to be eaten stalk along the mental horizon.
The whole seven days sniff OF dinner and
suggest menu from early morn till dewy
eve The human mind is preoccupied
with the supreme moment of Thanksgiv-
ing Day, and invitations to giblets and
cranberry sauce fly about as thick as verses
on Valentines Day. In all these United
States is there one man who holds by the
customs of his fathers and fasts and prays
long -visaged and smileless on the great
Thursday of November? Nay; rather
does every eye bulge oat in fairness and
every voice ring with jollity born of
stufing and mince pie. Att
MOODY AND sANKEY
Meeting the other night hardy indi.
vidual-I think he was minister-sug-
costing day of fasting and prayer in aid
of the cause, but Mr.. Moody, who is stout
and hearty, as if having eaten Thanksgiving
dinner every day in the year, hardly favored
the idea, and asked how many people
would fast and pray were day appointed.
A very humble old woman, having passed
her three score and-ten years, has recently
died IN our neighborhood. Her name
would be of benefit to no one, as it is and
always has been shrouded in obscurity.
Like the most Of Us, she was just no one In
particular, yet l envied her the peace of
he, doc +ho, Is c1a h-1 loa,,
Lady OF US all To the question if she was
not afraid to die, she replied, "Why, no,
dear; why should | be afraid? hope it
may come to. day rather than tomorrow.
have lived out my days and my sorrows
are all behind me. | have raised my chll
dreu, l have tried to do all the good |
could, | have been Christian woman and
| am so sure of my future that | feel God
and heaven just ahead. Afraid to die !!
Oh, no, my dear" Very much impressed
and affected by her calm certainty, and
longing myself for that frame of mind, l
went to hear Mr.. Moody, hoping that he
might convert me to it. | think under
any circumstances | should be ashamed to
focus thousand eyes upon me by shout
ing or going to mourner's seat or rising to
speak, but if to be converted was TO believe
the beautiful things and the strange
unlikely things that seem doubtful
TO me now, then I wished to be
converted. | felt myself specializing
as to my right and left hand-was this
woman a Christian or that man a
pretty young girl with sparkling eyes sas
Just in front OF me, and in a clear melo-
dious voice she joined in ali the hymns.
My impulse, in my yearning, troubled
longing. was to touch her on the shoulder
and whisper, Pretty young creature, do
YOU believe these wondrous tales g Ia the
crowd | saw an acquaintance. How
strange now it seemed that in all our con-
versations we had never touched upon this
vital point. If / could have reached her
| should have peered hopefully into her
eyes as if to find assurance and asked
anxiously, DO you believe 1T 2
ONE BY ONE
The ministers OF different churches came
into the pulpit till it was crowded.
should much have liked to sweep aside
the vail that hung between us. to
see for myself if they believed it all,
or if not quite all, then how
much? Could boldness to confront
them have been given me, / should have
assaulted them passionstely with words, |
am afraid 'sJohn Hemphiil, do you be-
iieve in the mysteries of atonsment? Asa
Fiske, first lawyer and then preacher, DO