St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-26

Always insisted on their having plenty OF
oats. Gen. GRANTS mother is described as
being modest, intelligent woman, and
sunny in spirit. The general inherited her
nature. She and all her family were devout
Methodists. Thus the general was indoc-
trinated in the faith of the church and held
to the principles of Christianity all his life.
Accepting the Bible as the word of God to
man, he regarded Christianity as divine. But
his mind tended to the sunny side of
Christianity. DR.. NEWMAN says that he
had been a guest of the general many
times, and at ell times, whether in
in the White house at Washington or in
the cottage at Long Branch, he always had
family prayer in which the pastor was
usually requested to lead. He called at the
White house the last Sunday evening Gen.
GRANT was in office. MI. HAYES was
then having a reception at Gen. SHER-
MANS. He found the general and Mrs.
GRANT, Mr. and Mrs. SARroRIs quietly
sitting in the blue room. 1--WE talked a
while" says DR.. NEWMAN, ''then at the
generals request we ali knelt in prayer. L
have been with him in public and in pri
vate, - DR.. NEWMAN went on, land with
all classes of people, yet | never heard him
utter profane word or indulge in an i'm
proper story, nor have l ever seen him
smile approvingly at an immodest story
which some person present happened to
have the audacity to relate. He was alto
gether the purest man in conversation of
whom L ever had knowledge. Dur
ing my passionate of six years
in Washington, which included the
greater part of his presidency, he
was a regular attendant at church. Storm
of no kind ever kept him away. He was
the most attentive and appreciative listener
/ ever had. To me he was an inspiration,
because Of his profound attention and the
indirect influence 1 eXerted through him on
others. lie was president of our board of
trustees and a liberal contributor to the
church. His charities were many and unOs-
tentatious. One day was preachingon Lost
Opportunities. / had occasion TO say that
whoever desired to find worthy objects of
charity could do so with little effort. re-
called a visit L had made during the preced-
ing week to a soldiers widow, who was
dying of consumption, and who, although
destitute. was happy in the Christian faith.
l mentioned also a man who had lost his
sight at government work, and who bore
his affection with q saint like spirit,
although he was in distressing circum-
stances. After the service, as soon as the
president reached the White house. he sent
me twenty-dollar bill pinned to his card,
on which was written: Please give $40 to
that soldiers widow and SO to that poor
blind man. l remember receiving from
him one Christmas day the following letter:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. %, S69.-Dear
Doctor: Enclosed please find my check for
500 for distribution among the poor. Done
forget the ragged school over on the island.
Yours truly, L. 5. GRANT
Ills life was full of such deeds of quiet
charity"
Recurring to his love of family prayer, the
clergyman continued: Il recall visit to
his Long Branch cottage, where daily we
had prayers after breakfast. One morning
an English gentleman called while we were
at the table. He remained so long that
there was no opportunity that day for
morning devotionS. The next morning the
president brought the old family Bible into
the breakfast-room with him. Handing it
over to me he said: Doctor, we were
cheated out of our prayers yesterday, but,
TO make sure that it shall not happen
again, we will have devotions after this be-
fore breakfast
After referring to the interest Gen. GRANT
manifested in the work of American mis-
sions while he was on his trip around the
world, DR.. NEWMAN says: ''IIe had a
wonderful faith III Divine Providence, and
believed in special interpretations of Provi-
dence in the affairs of men and nations. L
have heard him talk by the hour ON that
subject. giving illustrations drawn from his
own life.
"Once I asked him. I remember, what
he considered his most providential eXpe-
rience. Without hesitation he said: My
resignation from the army in 1854. 1 was
then a captain. If had staid in the army
l would have been still a captain on frontier
duty at the outbreak of the war and would
thus have been deprived of the right to
offer my services voluntarily to the coun-
try. That opportunity shaped my future
In connection with the sck-room have
spoken of the prayerful spirit that pervaded
it." DR.. NEWMAN resumed. II might add
that the general never allowed suggestions
for the relief of his infrmities TO interfere
with his reverence for the Sabbath. One
Saturday night lately, when he was ner-
vous, and weary, and very restless his son,
the colonel, hoping to divert his mind. sug-
gested some amusement. The general
frightened at the idea of diversion, but
presently, with grave face, lie inquired
the hour. 1t was nearly midnight. Never
mind, the general said, with perfect resig-
nation. 1t is too close to the Sabbath to
commence any diversion"