Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-03-12
TALMAGE.
A Tribute to Hon. Alexander H.
Stephens.
His Christian Character as exempliied by
His Kindness and Beneyolence To-
ward His fellowmen in Num-
erous Instances.
lITILENESS NO BAR TO GREATNESS


This innumsrsble throngs"
Text-ISaiah X. 20: "a little one become
thousand"
In this prophecy is set forth that which
We have all noticed, that it is not the
amount of avoirdupois weight which de-
cides effectiveness Many man with vast
physical equipment has not weighed half
ounce on the side OF the worlds better
ment, while many a one OF Insignificant
stature and feeble forearm and decrepit
limb has weigheda ton on the right side of
the moral balances. David the king OF Is
rael. SO small mite that he upset the grav-
ity of the giant Goliath, yet the sword OF
the giant is hung up in histroy as impotent
beside the sling of his dwarf 1combataat
Napolean was only five feet in stature.
Archibsld Alexander, though he'd aud
shoulders above other preachers of his time
in theological attainment, was not more
than up TO their elbows in physical height.
Some of the grandest, mightiest and most
decisive and resounding strokes that have
been given for God and the church and the
world have been given by some whose
bodily equipment has been only 4 pledge
for the souls earthly retention. Isaac
Watts set bis dimiAutiye presence in i'm
mortal rythm.
One Such Man
as any have mentioned, though built on
contracted corporal scale in intellectual or
moral force amounted to q thousand ordi-
nary people. Their achievements were far
beyond anything their body prophesed,
and 80 my text had its echo-"and little
one became thousand"
Among these men OF small body but
great soul place the name OF one, the an
nouncement of whose death falls upon me
with this evenings shadow. Alexander II.
Stephens, Governor OF GeOrgia, and late
member of the Congress of the United
States, is no more, for God hath taken
him. With him have had warm personal
friendship, and the tidings came TO me this
afternoon more like a sharp blast out of
the North than a message from the balmy
South. have nothing to do with Alex
ander ii. Stephens as politician, but as a
warm friend, as a devoted Christian, as a
great and magnificent soul wrapped up in
frailest earthly tenement, Ihaye something
loving and earnest and gladstone to say.
Though q little one, he was thousand.
He was first of all Christian, msmbef
Of our beloved denomination, bosom friend
of and life companion with Rev. Dr. Sam
uel X. Talmage, whose name is in all
branches of my own family, is an inspirs-
tion and benediction. The theologian OF
whom l now speak, like his senatorial
friend whom | commemorate, little one
who became a thousand. Yes;
Alexander II. stephens
believed in Ged the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus
Christ, His only beg0tten son, with more
brain than all the intidels now blatant, and
broiliDg and disappearing around Wash
ingtOn. He was believer in the Bible
and Christianity, and all up aud down
the South are ministers Of the gospel who
went into college and into theolo ;iCal sem.
mary and into pulpit through Alexander
H. Stephens pocket. With no prinCely
estate | am told, that for the last 30 years
there has not been an hour IN which he
has not been supporting men
on their way to medicine or the
law or the pulpit. Starting
for the ministry and turning aside for the
legal profession, yet preaching today all
which shall yet be TO all people. He was
one of the few men who, like James Len
nox OF New York, could stay outside of the
marriage relation and yet become kinder
and more genial and more sympathetic and
more generous as the years went by. First
he honored God aud next he honored Chris
tian womanhoOd, and whenever there was
burdened man who wanted bel p or a way
ward man who wanted opportunity to re.
turn or a struggling man who wanted
knowledge there was one who might count
on Mr.. Stephens as an ally. Within ten
days have heard his colored servants in
most unlimited terms
Speak His Praise.
H. lo,so N, I ,cu-
tive mansion At Atlanta, his rooms at the
National Hotel at Washington, the centre
of helpfulness and good cheer and hospi-
tality and culture. His heart large enough
for the whole world to enter. Only eighty
five pounds in physical weight, at auv
moment the last forty years the possibil-
ity that through the insufficient bars OF
flesh his spirit might fly away.
Though he lived in stormy times, all who
krew him knew that he was champion of
peace, the very last man in his State to sur
render TO the edecree Of secession, crying out
after General Pope's defeat in Virginia for
compromise, gladly going to Fortress Non
roe to meet William X. Seward in treaty
about the best way Of stopping the wal, and
after the close OF the great struggle every
where counselliug amity on the largest
scale, and forgetfulneSs OF old grudgeS. In
November. lS6O. Mr.. Stephens made the
following remarks in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes OF Georgia when | look
around and see our prosperity in every
thing, agriculture, commerce, art, science
and every department of education, physi.
cal and mental, as well as moral advance
ment, and our colleges, think the face OF
such an exhibition, if We can, without the
Loss OF Power
or any essential right or interest remain in
the Union, it is our duty to ourselves and
TO posterity to-let us not too readily yield
to this temptation-do so. Our first parents
the great progenitors of the human race,
were not without a like temptation when
in the Garden of Eden. They were led 10
believe that their condition would be bet.
tered, that their eyes would be opened aud
that they would become as gods. They, in
an evil hour yielded instead of becoming
gods, they only saw their own nakedness.
| look upon this country with our inStitu-
tions, as the + len of the world, the Para
disc of the universe. 1t may be that out
Of it we may become greater and more
PROSPEROUS, but | am candid and
sincere in telling you that fear if We
rashly evince passion and without suth.
cient cause shall take that step that in
stead of becoming greater or more peaceful,
prosperous and happy-instead Of beoom-
ing gods, We will become demons and AZ
others throats. This is my apprehension.
Let US, therefore, whatever we do meet
these difficulties great as they are, like
wise and sensible men and consider them
in the light OF all the Consequences which
may attend our action.
Let Us See
first clearly where the path of duty leads,
and then We may not fear to tread therein"
read this to shO~ that in his bos,m the +
dove Of peace always nestled. He would
not hurt fly, much less a man. Had
there been ten such men at the South and
ten such men at the North the grave
trenches would never have been dug aud
the great shadows Of bereavement would
not have fallen on every mountain and
valley and home from the Peuobscot to the
Alsbama and from the .Canadas to the
Gulf. Ose such man at the North and one
such man at the South could not stand the
rhakV. ..A1.