Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-03-14

III our Gay so many young Hel were re-
jecting Christianity. From the earnest
ness and the tenderness and the con-
fdence with which he spoke these
things l concluded that when Henry
W. Grady made public profession of his ATTN
In Christ and took his place at the holy COM
munion in the Methodist Church, he was
honest and truly Christian. That converse
ton that Sunday night, first in the carriage
and then resumed in the hotel, impressed me
in such way that when | simply heard OF
his departure without any or the parrIcu-
lars, concluded that ne was ready to 90.
warrant there was fright in the las ext
gency, but that he found what is COM
monty called the last enemy" a good
friend. and from his hoDa on earth he
went TO a home in heaven. Yes, Mr..
Grady not only demonstrated that an editor
may be a Christian, but that a very great in
tellect may be gospelized. His mental capa-
city was so wonderful it was almost start
ling. have been with MIN in active CONVEX
satlOn while at the same time he was dicta-
ting to stenographer his editorials for the
Atlanta Constitution. But that intellect was
not ashamed to bow to Christ Among his
last dying utterances was a request for the
prayers of the churches in his behalf
There was that particular quality in him
that you d0noc find in more than one person
out OF hundreds of Overwhelmingly, per-
sOnal magnetism. People have tried to de-
fine that quality, and always failed, yet we
have all felt its power. There are some per-
sons who have only TO enter a room or step
upon a platform or into pulpit and you are
thrilled by their presence and when they
speak your nature responds and you cannot
help it. What Is the peculiar influence with
which Such magnetic person takes hold OF
social groups and audiences Without at
tempting to define this, which is indie
Unable, will say it seems to correspond to
the waves of air set in motion by the voice or
the movements of the body. Just like that
atmospheric vibration is the moral or spirit
ual vibration which rolls out from the
soul of what we call a magnetic person.
As there may be a cord or rope binding bod
les together. there may be invisible cord
binding souls. magnetic man throws it
over others hunter throws a lassO. Mr..
Grady was Surcharged with this influence
and it was employed for patriotism and
Christianity and elevated purposes.
Y on may not know why, in the CONVERSE
ton which had with Mr.. Gladstone few
weeks ago, he uttered these memorable
words about Christianity, some of which
were CaD1ed to America. He speaking
IN reply to this remark: [ said Mr.. Glad
stone, we are told in America bv some people
that Christianity does very we'll for weak
minded men and children in the infant class,
but 1t IS not tit for stronger minded men;
but when we mention you, of such large in
teQectuality, being a pronounced friend
Of religion. we silence their batteries" Then
Mr.. Gladstone stopped the hillside
where we exercising and said:
In my faith in religion" Sir" said he with
flashing eye and uplifted hand, ''talk about
the questions of the day, there is but one
question, and that is the Gospel. That can
and will correct everything. Do you have
any of that dreadful agnosti cism in Ameri-
ca?' Having told him we had, he went on
to say: Il am profoundly thankful that
none of my children or kindred have been
blasted byit [ am glad to say that about all
the men at the top in Great Britain are
Christians. Why, sir" he said, II have
oeen in public position ffty-eight years,
and fOrty-seven years in the Cabinet of the
British Government, and during those forty
seven years [ have been associated with
sixty Of the master minds Of the century,
and all but five of the sixty were Christians"
He then named the four leading physicians
and surgeons Of his country, calling them by
name and remarhirg upon the high qualities
IT each of them and added. They are all
thoroughly Christian" My friends, Think
It will be quite respectable for a little longer
to be the friends of religion. William E.
Gladstone. CHRISTIAN; Henry w. Grady, a
Christian What the greatest of English
men said Of Eng land is true Of America and
Of all Christendon. The men at the top are
the friends of God and believers in the sane
titles of religion, the most eminent of the
lawyers, the most eminent of the doctors.
the most eminent of the merchants, and
there are no better men in all our land than
some of those who sit in editorial chairs.
And if that does not correspond with your
acquaintanceship, I am sorry that you
have fallen into bad company. In an
swer to the question put last spring,
Can secular journalist be a Chris.
tian" l not only answer in the affirmative,
but assert that 50 great are the responsible
tiles of that profession, so infinite and
eternal the consequences Of their obedience
or disobedience of the words OF my text,
Take thee a great roll, and write in it with
a mans pen, " and so many are the surround
ing temptations that the men Of no other
profession more deeply need the defenses and
the re-enforcemerts of the grace OF God.
And then look at the opportunities of jour
nalism I praise the pulp and magnify my
office but state fact which you all know
when l say that where the pulpit touches one
person the press touches five hundred. The
vast majority of people do not g', 20 church.
but all intelligent people read che newspa-
pers. While, therefore, the responsibility OF
the ministers is great, the responsibility Of
editors and reporters is greater. Come, broth
er journalists, and get your ordination, not
by the laying on of human hands, but by the
laying on of the hands of the Almighty. To you
is committed the precious reputation Of men
and the more precious reputation of women.
Spread before our children an elevated lit
erature. Make sin appear disgusting and
virtue admirable. Believe good rather
than evil. While you show up tie
hypocrisies Of the church, show up the stu
pendous hypocrisies outside the church. Be
not, as some of you are, the mere echoes of
public opinion; make public opinion. Let
the great roll on which you write with
mans pen be message of light and liberty
and kindness and an awakening OF moral
power. But who is sufficient for these things?
Not one of -ou without divine help. But get
that influence and the editors and reporters
can go up and take this world for God and
the truth. The highest opportunity in all
the world for usefulness to-day Is open be-
fore editors and reporters and publishers
s rIoIr on foot