Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-23
USES OF STRATAGEM.
OR. TALMAGE ADDRESSES HIS CON-
RADES OF THE THIRTEENTH.

Victorious Retreat-The Triumph Of the
Wicked Is Short-Theatres and Drink
ing Saloons to Be Turned Into Asyiums.
Art Galleries and Churches.
PEEKsKILL, n. Y, July 22-Chaplain T.
De Witt Talmage preached today to the
Thirteenth regiment Of the New York state
national guards, now encamped here. The
regiment assembled at 3 p. m, when people
from the neighboring country, towns and
cities were present in immense numbers. A
military band conducted the musical part of
the service. Chaplain Talmage's sermon,
which was on uses of Stratagem," was
based on Josh. viii, 2: 'Then ye shall rise
up from the ambush, and seize upon the city. "
He said:
Men of the Thirteenth regiment, and their
friends here gathered, OF all occupations and
professions, men of the city and men OF the
fields, here is a theme fit for ali of us.
One Sabbath evening, with my family
aroundme, we were talking over the scene OF
the text. In the wide open eyes and the
quick interrogations and the blanched cheeks,
l realized what thrilling drama it was.
There is the old city, shorter by name than
any other city in the ages, spelled with two
letters-A, I-Ai Joshua and his men want
to take it. How to do this is the question. On
3 former occasion, in a straightforward, face
to face fight, they had been defeated; but
now they are going to take it by ambuscade.
General Joshua has two divisions in his army
the one division the battle worn commander
will lead himself, the other division he sends
of to encamp in an ambush on the west side
Of the city of All. No torches, no lanterns,
no sound of heavy battalions, but $1,000
,warthy warriors moving in silence,
speaking only in whisper; no click
ing of swords against shields, lest
;he watchmen of Al discover it and the
,tratagem be a failure II a registering
soldier in the Israelitish army forgets him
,elf, all along the line the word is Hush"
Joshua takes the other division, the one with
which he is to march. and puts it on the
north side Of the city of All, and then spends
the night in accommodating in the valley.
There he is, thinking over the fortunes Of the
coming day with something of the feelings of
Wellington the night before Waterloo, or Of
Meade and Lee the night before Gettysburg.
There he stands in the night and says to him
elf: 'Yonder is the division in ambush on
he west side Of Al Here is the division l
nave under my especial command on the
north side of All. There is the old city slum-
oering in its sin Tomorrow will be the
battle. Looki the morning already begins
% tip the hills. The military officers Of All
ook out in the morning very early, and while
hey do not see the division in ambush they
behold the other division Of Joshua, and the
ry, ''To armsl To armsm rings through all
he streets of the old town, and every sword,
hacked and bent or newly welded, is
brought out, and all the inhabitants Of the
city of All pour through the gates, an infuri-
Ited torrent, and their cry is: Come, we'll
make quick work with Joshua and his
.roops." No sooner had these people of All
,orne out against the troops of Joshua than
Joshua gave such a command IS he seldom
gave, Fall back" Why, the, could not be-
ieve their own ears. Is Joshua's courage
,ailing himf
lying, throwing blankets and canteens on
,very side under this worse than Bull Run
iefeat- And you ought to hear the soldiers
If All cheer, and cheer, and cheer But they
,uzzah too soon. The men, lying in ambush,
ire straining their vision to get some signal
rom Joshua that they may know what time
@ drop upon the city Joshua takes his
Furnished spear. glistening in the sun like a
haft of doom, and points it toward the
.ity; and when the men up yonder
n the ambush see it, with hawk like
Iwoop they drop upon All, and without
troke of sword or stab Of spear take the city
md put it to the torch. So much for the di-
1ision that was in ambush. How about the
.ivision under Joshua's commando No sooner
ioes Joshua stop in the fight than all his
men stop with him, and as he wheels they
Wheel, for in a voice Of thunder he cried
'Haltn One strong arm driving back tor
ent of flying troops And then, as he points
lis spear through the golden light toward
hat fated city, his troops know that they are
o start for it What a scene il was when
he division in ambush which had taken the
ity marched down against the men
Il All on the one side, and the
roops under Joshua doubled up their enc
mics from the other side, and the men Of All
we're caught between these two hurricanes Of
sraelitish courage, thrust before and behind,
tabled in breast and back, ground between
he upper and the neither millstones Of Gods
Woe to the city of All Cheer
or the triumph OF Israeli
Lesson TIRE hrst; There Is such thing as
notorious retreat Joshuas falling back
vas the first chapter in his successful besiege-
nent And there are times In your life when
ne best thing You can do Is to run. You
we're once the victim OF strong drink The
lemiJohn and the decanter were your fierce
oes- They came down upon you with
'reater Jury tnen tne men Oh Al upon the
men OF Joshua Your only safety is to get
way from them. Your dissipating COM
'anions viii come around you for your
verthrow. Run for your hfei Fall backi
'all back from the drinking saloon. Fall
'ack from the wine party. Your flight Is
our advance. Your retreat is your victory.
here is a saloon down on the next street
hat has almost been the ruin OF your soul.
hen why do you goalong that street, Why
70 you not pass through some other street
ather than by the place of your calamityf