Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-04-17
Gen. Grant,s aiek Room.
THE REV. r. II. PULLMAN ON THE NOR
AL LESSONS TO DE DRAWN THERE
FROM

THE REV. r. II. PULLMAN ON THE NOR
AL LESSONS TO DE DRAWN THERE
FROM.
reported for the Baltimore Snn.l
The Rev. Royal II. Pullman, pastor Of
the Second Univenalist Church, preached
lass night on lessons From the Sick
Room of General Grant-Hope, Trust,
Character, Theology The speaker Sc
lecled for bis text the words from Acts,
tenth chapter, part Of tweniy-second verse
" A lust man, and one that ieareth God,
and Of good report among the nation.'-'
"The centre Of the nations interest at this
time" said Mr. Pullman, rs the sick room
Of Gen. Grant Though all hope Of his
recovery is gone and there Is no cxpccia
ton that be can ever be- of further public
service, and though his death will exert
no political influence Whatever, nor Affect
in any way the business interests Of the
country, yet every word he speaks aud
every item Of news concerning him is read
with the deepest interest by millions OF
his fellOw-cOuntTymen and millions ~
other countries of the world. Has the old
hero passed a comfortable night there Is
general relief. but If his night has bten
one of suffering the nation feels the pres
sure Of s0rrow upon its sympathles. DO
his symptoms take an uniavorablc turn
and is his death feared through the day,
crowds assemble around every bulletin
board in all the cities, at oil the newspa-
per and telegraph offices In the land. The
President gives up popular reception al
an unfavorable report from Gen. Grants
sick room. Festivities have been post
poned or given up altogether for the same
reason. The great public heart Is hushcd,
reminding MS Of the old days when Presi-
dent Garfield was lowering between life
and death IL Is wonderful, the hold tins
man has upon all the people, upon those
who were once opposed TO him in battle
and fought against him with all their en-
ergies. as well as upon those who were
with him in the great struggle. Wonder
ful that the old soldiers Of both armies are
all as one in him now aud feel the Same
Neutrality-suspicious. when he is better and
suffer when he is worse.
"Thc lessons are of great value. The
people honor themselves in their sympa-
thes. The public sense OF an honest mans
worth speaks volumes for the moral tone
of the people. The spontaneous outflow
ing of sympathy shows the bright and bet
ter side of men. Aud when this DISPOSE
ton to honor this man rises grandly, IS it
does, above all old animosties and party
bitterness the moral spectacle reaches the
| sublime and is worthy OF study.
ave have another lesson in the charac-
ter of the man, bis honesty, and another
proof that character tells in the sick room
and in the presence Of death. strict hon
esty of life is the best foundation for trust
in God. II is better than theology with
out character. man may hold to the
doctrines of Christianity as profession,
but unless he be an honest man he cannot
meet death as this old hero is meeting II.
Calm trust in the goodness of God must
have a basis Of goodness in the character
| General Grant is no theologan be holds
to the simple trust in Lis God, and ex-
pressed his readiness TO take all the chances
of that trust for tho future. God give
great hopes to honest men, and so in the
light Of such hopes General Grant IS pass
ing away. This lesson shcnld teach every
man that however sound his creed may b'
it will not stand by him without honesty
and uprightness OF characterto back 10 mp
at was beautiful reply of the dying
man the other day in response TO the state
ment that he had many friends sending
messages every day. Yes he said, an'
have many friends waiting for me owe
there on the other shore This maxim.
friendship 50 real that death itself canno
destroy IL, that those who pass on befor'
us not only think Of MS, but are WATCHING
aud waiting for us, is an estimate Of friend
ship that can I've made only 10y those VIII
know and feel what it is-how true it j
within their own hearts. And that hon
est, manly man, lying there on his death
bed, knows What faithinluess Is. Out o
his own facilities he knows what idclit
is His Easter message bears sweet test
mony to the quality Of his heart. l de
sire the good will Of all, whether hereto
fore friends or not The same lips uttercl
, the memorable words twenty years age
Let us have peace
Mighty in battle, but in peace gentl
and tender as a woman. The circumstance
Of his sickness lift the curtain upon hl
domestic life, disclosing the deep aud ten
! der love Of husband and father-an exam
pie Of fidelity worthy Of all praise.
"As n nation we have reason 70 than
God for snch a man. Not a brilliant mar
but an honest man, Of good, strong con
mon sense, WHO, though raised 70 the higi
, est fame, and honorcd in every land, b
never lost his good sense, but bore himse
in such a fashion that we are proud
point TO him a. representative American