Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-12

him. And it was the last time. In six
months from that time he was dead. w hat
shall we say when such life of self
sacrifice passes on to the stars? What
can we say, except to speculate on the
ooundless possibilities that eternity must
contain for such life. What must such
little minute-hand life as sixty years, de-
velope into on the dial plate of eternity
when it is begun as this man IS was. Such
mar as this it seems to me, must at
some time or other have touched the very
hem of the Master g garment.
There are many members of this Confer
ence here to-day who can tell you that
mans name and all about him. Few.
take it, have forgotten the scene, though
l doubt if any of them recollect it as we'll
as [. To them the situation Was not so
new. 1t is with them as with soldiers;
they expect to see men fall, that IS what
they enlisted for. To me, it was an affect
ing exhibition of the power of a church,
which more than any other church, exacts
from its ministers ell that they have. At
stated periods it breaks them from every
tie and starts them afresh to create a new
social life. AS far as their relations to
the World are Concerned, the ground is
broken, ploWed, and narrowed by the un-
sparlng hand of their church. 1t is no
wonder that from such a discipline has
sprung one of the most earnest, devoted,
al of mir ictc no.
are connected with any Religion known
to civilization. Nor is it surprising to
know that it has resulted in establishing
tn strongest and largest church in this
c ntry-for statistics show that it is
III.
I saw in your paper this week an ex-
preston which continues to run through
my head. 1t is an advertisement of a
poultryman for poultry. in which he says
with rough frankness, odd roosters not
wanted Whether it is good policy in him,
while attempting to secure tender and
succulent birds for the clerical stomach, 20
affront that venerable class of fowls up
after the clergy have. left, will not say.
l do not believe, however, that it will go
unresentei or UNPUBLISHED. l believe that
many an old rooster will SO beplume him
self and take on such an extra strut, that
he will at last succeed in forcing himself
as young bird between the teeth of our
clerical visitors. This will be a sweet
revenge. But with this I have nothing to
do; what [ have now to do with. is the
fact that over every department of life
see the same announcement. In society
where the sweet amenities of life
are monopolized by the young, the aged
beau is met by the flaming inscription,
"Old roosters not wanted" In politics
we hear the cry that the favorte candidate
is representative of the young Democ-
racy'' or the "Y Dung Republicans, as the
case may be, and that, except at the bal
lot-box, "Old BOOSTERS are not wanted :"
Ii congregation loses its pastor and CON-
mences looking around for successor, the
FIRST thing 1t does is to print in large let
tiers across the pulpit, cold roosters not
wanted" Across the door of every new
enterprise is the same dread inscription.
What, desire to know, is to become Of
US old BOOSTERS ? Not fit for broiling, too
tough for roasting, too old for Congress
men, for preachers what are you going
to do with US Alb the very question
shows where we stand. 1t used to be a
few years ago, what ere were going to do
with you, but the tables have been turned
and now it seems to me that the cemetery
gate is the only place not decorated with
the legend, "Old BOOSTERS not wanted. y
There they are more than welcome:
indeed, if it were not for their
patronage that institution would
do an amount of business very IN
satisfactory to its stockholders. Having
then this refuge, brethren, let us take
courage Let us take consolation in the
thought that we have gotten over so much
of the rough road over which those fol
lowing us have yet to travel, and THAT hav-
ing once passed that portal we shall have
reached perfect peace. Let US find a
spiteful satisfaction in the fact that long
after we have entered the silent gates, the
young roosters will still have to rise
early and crow hungrily for corn. still
have to skirmish with other roosters for
bread, and the highest pole in the
roost, and that as they slow up in the
race of life, they will have to read. III their
turn, the fatal sign boards along the
track-"OLD BOOSTERS NOT WANT
Ed"
was very much pleased with the War
Song Concert the other night; not only
with the good music but with the. auxili-
aries. think the man or woman who de-
vised the setting Of the stage, by which I
mean to include the flags, singers, uni
formed band, and ali, deserves the highest
praise. The picture was beautiful and 80
it impressed others. l heard stranger
say that when the curtain rose he was
quite astOuiShed at the effect, having OK