The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-25
The Generals Religious views.

hearthstone, and often, in later years he mas
talked with DR.. Newman about his spiritual
training and belief On that subject he was
never reluctant to speak, approaching it as
freely as any earthly topic He spoke of it to
few persons, regarding it as matter with
which only those whom his heart loved were
concerned but in such surroundings his nature
was open and confding.
In recalling tho religious training and ex-
perences of General Grant, Dr. Newman said
HE was brought up in the Methodist EnisconaI
Church. His fathers house was the homo
| or Methodist preachers for over forty
years. The Generals earliest recollections
were associated with the clergy. He had to
care for their horses. He remembered that the
horses were good Ones and that their owners
always insisted on their having plenty of oats.
Many time he was sent out by his father to
take off the saddlebags and put up the horses
Once preacher was to move from the neigh
borhood in which the Grants lived. He was to-
| take his family, and wanted some one to drive
for him. Applying to the Generals father for
driver, the old gentleman detailed Ulysses, then
lad, for that work. Afterward the preacher
reported to the boys father that in his life
had he had such good and silent driver.
The Generals father a farmer at that
time. In later years he lived at CovngtOn, Ky.
He was church goer always, serving in the
Methodist Church as trustee, steward and class
leader. Wherever he went he was ruling
spirit in church affairs He was man of ster-
ling character, strong will, high purposes, and
at times arbitrary. His mother was modest
| intelligent and sunny In spirit. The General
inherited her nature. All of his sisters were
deyout Methodsts. One of them, Mrs. Cramer
married Methodist preacher, now the minister
of the government at Berne, Switzerland.
The General was thus indoctrinated in the
faith of the church. He held to those great
principles of Christianity all his life. Accepting
the Bible as the word of God to man, he re-
garded Christianity as divine. But his mind
tended to the sunny side of Christianity. The
benefcent results of the gospel promised to him
the glory of the Messiah. the universal triumph
of Christianity.
81 became mis- pastor in 1869. I have been his
guest many times. And at all times, in the
White House, at Washington, or at his cottage
in Long Branch. he always had family prayer,
in which he usually requested me to lead
called at the White House his last Sunday
there-his last night in Office. Mr. Hayes was
then having reception at John Sherman's. [
found the General and Mrs. Grant with Mr.. and
Mrs. Sar toris quietly sitting in the Blue Room.
We talked awhile Then, at the Generals re-
quest, we all knelt in prayer.
Il have been with him. Dr. Newman went on,
''ir private and in public, and with all classes OF
people Yet / never heard him utter profane
word or indulge in an improper story, nor have
| ever seen him smile approvingly at an lmmod-
est story which some person present happened
to have the audacty to relate He was alto
gether the purest man in conversation Of whom
| ever had knowledge. During my passionate
of six years in Washington, which included
the greater part of his presidency, he was
a regular attendant at church. Storm OF
n kind ever kept him away. He was the moss
attentive and appreciatve listener ever had.
To me he was an inspiration. because or ms pro-
found attention and the indirect influence
exerted through him on others. He was presi-
dent of our board of trustees and liberal con-
tributor TO the church. His charities were many
and transformations One day was preaching
| a.. lad riA 70
that whoever desired to find worthy objects of
charity could do so with little effort l recalled
a visit [ had made during the preceding week to
a soldiers widow, who was dying of consumption
and who, although destitute, was happy in the
Christian faith. | mention also man who had
lost his sight at government work, and who bore
his affection with saintlike spirit, although he
was in distressing circumstances. After the
service as soon as the President reached the
White House, he sent me a $40 bill pinned to his
card on which was written please give $40 to
! that soldiers widow and $40 to that poor blind
man. l remember receiving from him one
| Christmas-Day the following letter:
EXECUTIVE MANSION Dec. 25, 1869.
Dear Doctor-Incosed please find my check for
800 for distribution among the poor Don't forget
the ragged school over on the Island YOURS truly
Ills life was full of such deeds of quiet
charity"
Recurring to his love of family prayer the
clergyman continued: 81 recall visit to his
Long DranCD cottage, Wnere ualy we nau
prayers after breakfast One morning En-
glish gentleman called while were at the
! table. He remained so long that there no
opportunity that day for morning devotions
The next morning the President brought the old
family Bible into the breakfastroom 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 devotons after this before breakfast
after his term at the White House he went
abroad. He specially interested during his
tour Of the world in American missions, Of
which he visited large number. The educa-
tiOnal movement connected with these missions
appealed strongly to his sympathy. | have a
letter from him, written in Japan, in which he
uufolds the wonderful improvements in moral
and educational mission work which had taken
place in that country under the management Of
American missions. That work made deep
and lasting impression on his mind. On his
return to this country he attended my church in
this city, manitestlng the same deep religious
nature as formerly-the same reverence for God
and personal belief in Christianity. He had a
wonderful faith in Divine Providence, and
believed in special interpretations of Providence
in the affairs of men and nations. have heard
him talk by the hour on that subject, giving
iluStra tons drawn from his own llte
''Once asked him. remember, what he con-
sidered his most providential experience. With
out hesitation he said: My resignation from the
army in 1854 ] then captain. If l had
staid in the army would have been still cap
tain 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 country.
That opportunity shaped my future
"ln connection with the sick room l 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 intirmities to interfere with his reverence
for the Sabbath. One Saturday night lately,
when he was nervous, and weary, and very rest
less. his son, the Colonel, hoping to divert his
mind, suggested some amusement. The General
frightened at the idea of diversion, but present
ly, with grave face he inquired the hour 1t
was nearly midnight. Never mind, the General
said, with perfect resignation. 1t is too close
to the Sabbath to commence any diversion
An Insane Woman's Hallucination.
CLEVELAND, O., July 24.-The peculiar hallu-