The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-12
The Hero OF the SOudan.

General Charles Gordon is now in the
fiftieth year of his age. He began his
military career in the Crimean war,
hardly having attained to manhood. He
earned the decoration of the Legion Of
Honor, and promotion which he valued
far more, the right to further service,
which he rendered to good effect as one
of the commission appointed to fix the
new boundaries of Russia, Turkey and
Roumania. A few years later finds him
in China, where he earns the title,
which he has ever since retained, of
"Chinese Gordon" The Tai.Ping rebel.
lion was one of those phenomena in his.
tory which illustrates at once the cruelty
of ambition and the folly of credulity.
Plumber and ambition are the two
master motives of war; General Gordon
is as Indifferent to gold as to glory. In
Soudan he is offered salary OF $4,000,
and will take but $4,000; in China, with
his cane he flogs from the room the ser.
wants of his majesty, the emperor, who
have brought him bags of gold to pay
him for his service. In England he lives
chiefly on bread and salt meats, and gives
his salary away in charity. When the
cotton famine brings special distress on
Manchester, he grasses the Chinese in
scription from gold medal given him
by the empress of China, and sells it, and
gives the proceeds anonymously to tie
distressed operatives. al have no right
to possess anything" he says, shaving
once given myself to God" We have
seen that sentiment before in books of de-
votion, and heard it on platform and
in pulpit. But to see it in life is rare
alonnanf Il Il
encouragement who was making moth.
ing out of his generalship which made
his mastery of the Soudan so easy before,
and which makes his presence in Khar-
toum to-day more than the presence of a
battalion. Piety is a word that has been
so much debased by cant that we dislike
to use it; but what other word can take
its place to indicate that deep and almost
fatalistlc faith in God which is the secret
OF this extraordinary mans extraordinary
character and career? We are inclined
to the opinion that no egotist ever exerted
a profound and permanent influence on
human destiny; that all truly great men
have believed in Power not their own
with Mohammed in destiny; with Ma.
poleon in star; with Cromwell in God
ruling over US. General Gordon is Chris
tisn fatalist. He is nineteenth century
Cromwell, an English Joshua. al am but
chisel in the hands of carpenter" he
says to friend; if am dull, he sharp
ems me; if he pleases, he puts me aside
for different tool" This is the secret of
his wrathful putting away of all praise
No man." he says, has a right to be
proud of anything, inasmuch as he has no
native good in him; all is given him."
This is the secret of his calm acceptance
OF disaster, real or seeming. ave have
nothing further to do when the scroll of
events is unrolled than to accept them as
being for the best. Before it is unrolled
1t is another matter; and you could not
say | sat still and let things happen with
this belief" A hint here for theologians
in their disputes about DEGREES and free.
will to be an Arminian before things
happen and Calvinist afterward is a
good practical compromise, however ill it
may suit philosophy. This is the secret
as he goes up, in 1877, from Cairo to
Abyssinnia, on an unattended expedition
full OF danger are, al go up alone, with
an Infioite, Almighty God, to direct and
guide me; and am glad to 50 trust him as
to fear nothing, and, indeed to be sure of
success" This Almighty God is his com.
mander-in.chief. "Were it not for the
knowledge that have that God is gov
ernorgeneral could not get on at ALL"
To this Govemor-geDeral he goes for re-
Inducements constantly, hsbitually, in all
his campaigns. He rides across the desert
sometimes almost unattended; sometimes,
in his impatience, running far in advance
of his attendants. AS he rides he prays.
praying for the people ahead of me-" he
writes, whom am about to visit, gives
me moral strength, and it is wonderful to
see how something seems already to have
passed between us when l meet chief
for whom have prayed. On this / base
my hopes of triumphant march to
Fascher. 1 really have no troops with
me; but have the Shekinah, and do
like trusting to him and not to men,"
This faith is no narrow, egotistical, fana.-
ical one. He believes in God of all hui
manity. "The native knows not God"
he says, " but God knows him, and moves
him to prayer, and answers it. The Mus
sulman worships God as we'll as l do; and
is as acceptable, if sincere, as any Chris
tian." A broad and tolerant theology
this as broad as Peters. "In every ma
ton he that feareth him and worketh
righteousness is accepted with him.
From /" The Story of Chinese Gordon" by
A. EgmOnt Hake.