Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-07-30

!. O., THURSDA'
designed, it is said, in imitation of the pill
lar erected by the ungrateful Absalom in
the kings day to perpetuate his name. On
the front of the column is curious piece of
fret-work formed of the Hebrew letters in
the first clause of the eleventh verse of the
fifteenth chapter of Exodus. It is transla-
ted "Whoi is like unto thee, O Lord, among
the gods ?" but l cannot write it so as to
give the reader clearidea of the skill man.
ifested in it's execution. This pillar is COW
cred all over with inscriptions significant
and suggestive AS they are read over and
over by one the thoughts run back to the
time when Israel wrestled among the vine
clad hills of the Promised Land, happy
and prosperous people, and the many sad
rejection of the Messiah crowd in upon
memory. Strange thoughts rush into the
mind and strange feelings are experienced.
It is feeling of sadness and sorrow. The
pillar, or rather the inscriptions on the pill
lar, whether designed or not, present sad
picture of the seed of Abraham as they pre-
sent themselves to-day in every land. On
one side is engraved the following:
ga voice was heard in Ramah, lamenta-
tion and bitter weeping Rachel weeping
for her children and refusing to he comforted
for her children, because they were not.
Thus saith the Lord refrain thy voice from
weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy
work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord, and
they shall come again from the land OF the
enemy. And there is hope in thine end,
saith the Lord, that thy children shall come
again to their own border" Jeremiah
81 15-17.
Opposite to the above is: ...
GLOW hath the Lord covered the daugh-
ter of Zion with cloud in his anger, and
cast down from heaven to the earth the
beauty of Israel, and removed not his foot
stool in the day of his anger" Lamenta-
tions PSI.
"But though he caused grief, yet will he
have compassion according to the multitude
of his merces. For he doth not aftlict will
lingly, nor grieve the children of men,"
Lamentations 1882, 33.
On the main shaft of the pillar are the
following StanZas from Byron's Hebrew
Melodies:
so weep for those that wept by Babel's stream,
Whose shrines are desolate, whose land a dream !;
Mourn-where their God hath dwet the goddess
dwell.
And where shall Israel lave her bleeding feet?
And when shall Zion's songs again seem sweet; !;
And Judah's melody once more rejoice
The hearts that leaped before its heavenly voice?
Tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast,
How shall we flee away and be at rest;
| The wild dove hath her nest, the fox his cave,
Mankind their country-Israel but the grave"
On this Absalom Pillar, suppose it may
be called, is portrayed in life-like colors the
sad history Of Israel. Confessedly without
country, and yet, not poor. Scattered
everywhere, speaking every language and
dialect but not his own.
On the very summit of the Metropolis
Hill is a monument erected to the memory
of the great Scotch reformer, John Knox:
1t is not my purpose at present to write
up the history Of John Knox, or even brief
ly sketch his life. This I will do when l
come to Edinburgh, the city in which his
life labors were mainly performed and in
which he lived, died and was buried. AS,
however, the Monument at Glasgow is the
first which was erected to his memory, it is
proper that it be not passed over with a
brief notice.
From the inscription On one side we learn
that the monument was erected on the 22nd
day of September, 1926. This was several
years before the cemetery, which surrounds
| it, was founded. The monument consists of
Doric column surmounted by a colossal
statue of the stern old RefOrmer. The idea
of erecting a monument originated with
Rev. Stevenson MacGill, D. d., Professor OF
Theology in the University of Glasgow.
The funds necessary to defray the expenses
of the undertaking were raised by volunta-
nv subscription. The whole amount collect
ed was six thousand eight hundred and
eighty dollars. This was about three hun
dred and fifty dollars more than was re-
quired to complete the work. The statue
presents John Knox, life-like, with Bible
in his outstretched right hand and his left
across his breast. The statue cost four hum
dred dollars The three hundred and fifty
dollars collected but not expended in erect
ing the monument were permanently in
vested for the purpose of keeping the monu-
ment in repair.
! The names of John Knox and Walter
Scott exercise magical influence over the
Scotch. They never tire talking of him
who "never feared the face of Clay" or 1.-The
Wizard of the North" Every Scotchman is
proud Of John Knox, and we'll they may be.
When the corner stone of the monument
was laid in Glasgow, the whole city turned
out to see it. Those Immediately concerned
in the work met at st. Georges Church,
where sermon was delivered by DIR. Chal-
mers. The house was crowded to excess.
The soul of DR.. Chalmers was aroused and
he surpassed himself From St. Georges
Church the vast throng, headed by Dr. Mac
Gill, moved forward, in regular procession,
to the Merchants Park, as the Metropolis
hill was then called. The procession having
reached the spot selected for the erection Of
the monument, DIR. MacGill, after prayer by
DIR. Burns, proceeded "to lay the foundation
with all the honOrs usual on such occasions"
This done and deposits of several kinds
having been made, and the operative and
master Masons having completed their part
of the ceremony, DR.. MacGill pronounced
the Masonic benediction "May the Grand
Architect of the Universe enable US success
fully to carry on and finish the work, of
which we have now laid the foundation
stone, and every other undertaking which
NAV tend to the advantage of the city of
Glasgow and its inhabitants, and may this
monument be long preserved from peril and
decay"
On each side of the monument there is
an inscription. These are too long to quote
in full. That on the north side states that
the monument was erected by voluntary
contribution "to testify gratitude for inesti-
mable services" and "to Christ unceasing
reverence for the principles of the Great
Reformation" On the east side is a brief
statement of what Patrick Hamilton, Je.
rome Russell, Alexander Kennedy and
George Wishart suffered and died for the
cause of Christ. On the south side is a
tribute of respect to the memory OF Sir
James Sandilands Of Calder, Alexander,
Earl of Glencairn, Archibald, Earle of Ar
gyle, Lord James Stewart "The Good Re-
gent" John Erskine Of Dun, John Row,
Christopher Goodman and John Millock.
On this side it is also stated that John
Windram, John SpottisWood, John Doug
las, John Row and John Knox compiled
'"Hhe First Confession of Faith" and the