Daily Republican., 1886-03-04
The Sweetest Song.
fOONNUNICArRD.l
6weetly the choir sang as people can
only sfng In times Of deepest feeling,

Sweetly the choir sang as people can
only sfng In times Of deepest feeling,
'.Qn Christ, the rolid rock, stand,
All other ground is sinking sand "
Wonderfully the words and time COR
responded; wonderfully snited also TO
the time and occasion. The large church
was full, the union servicss, held for
nearly month, had been deepening
nightly in interest, and all knew that
this evening, a preacher of great power
was to occupy the pulpit. The reading
of the twenty fifth OF Matthew, Chriss's
description of the last great day, had
preceded the singing of the hymn,
which was rendered by christian
choir, all mem bers OF the church. They
sang with hearts deeply touched; as
those who felt and saw all the wonder
ful chapter described; as those who
telt, also, vibrating throughout the
large assembly chord Of sympathetic
interest. Vividly had the scene been
held before them all, the readers skill
portrayiDg as with a limner's pencil
the awful tribunal, bringing each one
face to face with the Judgment seat
before which he must finally and surely
stand.
Taen this hymn followed like the
saints sweet, glad chant of triumph,
as q dazzling, victorious throng, they
ascended Ia spotless robes above the
wreck Of nature aud dissolving worlds.
Many faces lighted up with. n look Of
the same exultant joy, which the visit
ful expression OF many others showed
they longed to share, as the. sweet re-
frain echoed again and again through
the building, down she long aisles and
in ascending waves to the gallery
till It died away In the softly falling
rain outside. Then the preacher, in.
spired by all around him and by all
the spirits eye beheld, buekled on his
armor and addressed himself to his
task. Oh, that all in Wilmington
could have heard him--the young men
on the street corners and In the saloons,
the maidens entertaining in their par
lors, the middle aged delving for gain
into the night hours, the matrons
vainly toiling to keep up with the ever
revolving household wheel, the old
man in the frestde corner, the child on
his pillow
All could we'll have understood him;
not one but would have listened with
breathless interest and treasured the
recollection Of that evening as one OF
the most strongly marked of his life
The wondrous Hjudgment scene, the
account that all must give, waa descrio.
ed with a strength, skill and an
energy which 1t seemed TO us the mos,
| calloused heart must feel, with power
before which all must give way. o,
IadamRntine must have been the nature
that could resist 1t, that could still hold
out against the burning appeals that
| followed, the melting entreaty, the
Iunauswerable argument
Has not all been done for Wilmington
that man can do? The skirts of God q
ministers are clear. They cannot make
any one take the offered mercy. The
blood Of the perishing must lie at their
own doors. Only one weapon seems
left to the church OF God, prayer,
uncesslng prayer, the prevailing prayer
OF Israel for the descent of the Holy
Spirit.
And yet we beg you, all who read /,
come once more. The union meetings
have ceased, but preaching services are
held In the lecture rooms of the Presby.
terian churches every night this week
able as those of the weeks preceding.
II yen only want to pass pleasant eve
ming, come. Come listen to the sing
ing, listen II you choose; II only as to
an intellectual treat, hear the greatest
of themes handled with grasp and
ability not often surpassed.
For one week out OF your whole life,
given 80 far TO the things of this world
only, be reasonable, responsible crea-
lures; think just for little while, and
then If you decide that what is pre-
sented TO you in this most earnest per-
tsuasion and tender manner is not worth
your thought-go on.
When the grandfather of the writeJ
was dying his son, then young minis
tor, bent over him and said "Father
is Jesus precious TO you now" The
Iaged saint threw up his hands and
Iclasping them with energy he said
"Oh, that IL the sure foundation" theI
gazing up with look of ecstatic JOY
Iexpired.
What would you give to be sure o
. such deathbed? Is 1t not worth tn
few remaining evenings of the week
Just these few may make 1t sure 70
Iyou. Don't throw away the oppor
tunity; 1t may not c0me again. Oh
that all who read might find reason b
blees God for this week. oh, that be
fore It's close they might sing with tn
Idying saint and from the heart join il
the raptured chorus of christian be
Ilievers.
"On Christ the solid rock stand.
All other ground Is sinking sand" Z.
----S
There were all tho evidences of
oorDfn aforn, hut Uhan he 6rauy from