Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-12
A COUNTRY'S CRISIS
Abstract Of a Sermon by Rev. Mr.. Mul.
ford Of the Baptist Church in This
City, Yesterday Morning
An Eloquent Sermon.

predcneQ u very anu
sermon upon the "Country's Crisis,
taking for his text q portion OF the des'
cription Of the famine in Israel As des-
cribed In lst King lS:43,t the theme being
"Look Toward the Sea" the command
of the Lord to Elijah. We have in re-
Spouse to many inquiries made the fol-
lowing abstract Of the sermon:
Israel had reached and passed crisis.
Tie situation OF the people had e
most critical and alarming. The danger
that threatened them was two io!d, lot
both the national and religious pros
perity of the common wealth We're toitcr
mo io their fall. For three years aud
siy months the land had known no ain
The skies were merciless, the music OF
fountains silent, the babbling OF the
brooks was dumb. Scorched and wither'
ed fields stretched their CRASHES, gram
less acres far and near.
Naturally a crisis had been reached,
which most surely could have resulted
in d~esolation and ruin had not DIVINE
power interposed. From the sea arose
the cloud. and from the cloud came the
rain, and the threatened calamity
was ayerted. ReliSiously a crisis
mad been reached. Wicked
Abab and profane Jezebel had
corrupted the people and had snbstitu
ted idolatry for the worship OF the true
God. The groves OF Baal crowned every
hill. top, and in Samarla stood the tem'
pie OF the strange god.
But once more Jehovah was lsrael's
ruler-the object Of its worship-the
subject oiits praise. By the o%mnipotent
interposition OF God, when all human
were exhausted, camethlSt"
fold deliyerance. The help that came,
in both instances appeaiett On Carmel Oy
the sea! IN sight OF its lrackIess wastes
and in hearing OF it's never quiet waves
mans extremity and Gods opportunity
were wedlocked in responsive help II
gratitude.
As Israel OF old, We as a nation are
face to face with an alarming Crisis. our
P~resident-he whose authority guards
our firesides; defends persons and
business, our prosperity, has been smlt'
ten by the murd-rous weapon Of a heart.
less sutlaw. The healing tributes oil
| science have been brought to his suffer-
ing chamber, and the ministry OF care
and skill has done its utmost TO relieve
and repair; a patient sufferer has beat
en- back the grim presence; a noble VIE
has soOthed witE gentlest tOuch ana
cheered with sweetest words, n yet
| the nations chief lies amid the shad-
ows; promise has put no bow IN the
clouds.
And now, in view OF all human help
l~essness, in view OF the failure OF science
an | skill to effect the C nsummation So
u.youtIy to be wished, ike Israel before
the Red Sea, with Pharaoh's charlOted
legions in their rear, America must
stand still and see the salvation OF the
Lord" II help comes, it must come
from the throne OF GOd-it our Presl'
dent lives, hs will live by the mirdcu'
lous in]terposition OF the Eternal Jeho.
yah; the hand that jewelled the blue
dome OF the skies, that holds the angry
winds, that scatters the snow flakes,
that pours the rain from the golden
pitcher OF his mercy, must lift the cur
tains that hang porteutous about the
couch Of the sceptred sufferer.
In this dire extremity OF all medical
assistance and OF all scientific skill, He
alone chisels the mountains into tyme-
tries rare and grandeurs magnificent,
who embroiders the hiiisides and wales
with flowers Of gorgeous hue, and
who sketches the lace work oil the
wooded Mills against the background Of
setting days crmsOned sky, can paint
the flush OF health upon the pale, van
cheek, and t ace the noble vigor Of phys.
! zeal strength upon the %whitened, fur.
| rowed brow. The power OF Jehovah is
is now the refuge OF TIE people. And
this solemn fact the nation has lealIz-d.
Never before in our history has the
throne OF grace been So besieged, AMI
earnest prayers so multiplied. by the
fusion OF the more tender and patriotic
| elments of our nationality, the univer-
sal feeling has become dominant that
our President must not die. Party
lines have wholly disappeared. Sectional
animosities have entirely ceased-the
discord Of political rivalry, by the hand
OF suffering, has been turned into uni.
yersal harmony; the brotherhood OF
man has swept grandiy to the front,
and in the distinguished sufferer a IA
ton has recognized a brother, a father
a son. The heart Of the Republic is
dominant, = sy mpathiziug affection Is
on the throne. The occasion has touch
ed a responsive chord, whose vibrations
are filling the land with the melody OF
all that is truly great and good. In the
oosl, .nr;nr ~ pDo ubap Tho ropEa1or-
ate and Federal armies were confronting
each other on the opposite hills OF
Stafford and Spottsylvania, two bands
CHANGED one evening at the same hour
TO discourse sweet mrsic upon either
bank OF the river. In WEAKNESS OF
body, and fond rccollections OF their
homes, the soldiers were resting amid
the twilight. A large crowd OF both or
mics gathered 20 listen to the music, the
friendly pickets not interfering, and oon
the. bands began TO answer each other
First the band oil the northern bank
would play "Star Spangled BInner,"
then "Hsil Columbia" and at its con
clusion the boys In blue" would cheer
Justify. Then the band on the southern
bank would respond with Dixie" and
Bonnie Blue Flag" and THE Boys in
gray would attest their appreciation
with an old Confederate yell" But
presently, one of the bands struck up in
sweet and plaintive tones, which we're
waited across the Rappshanock, AMI
caught up at nee by the other band
and swslled into a grand anthem which
touched every heart, Home Sweet Home.
At the conclusion there went up a sim.
ultaneous cheer, and these hills, which
had so recently resounded with hostile
guns, echoed and re-echoed the grand
acclaim. A chord had bsen struck r.
sponsive to which the breasts of enc
mies-enemies then could beat in
unison, and on both sides OF the river.
Something down the soldiers cheek
Wsshe1 of the stains OF powder.
Only Anew months ago the states were
alive with excitement and party spirit
was rife. A severe battle was waged,
an anxious night passed and with the
dawn the issue was known. In our
ruling executive We have Il party repre-
sentation. In our suffering magistrate,
We have a common brother, and upon
the nations e~ountenance the smile of
triumph and the frown of defeat are
beautifully blended, like sunshine and
storm into an anxious solicitude.
And thus, with one noble sentiment