The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-03-01

ate now that | reveal them. He ex-
pressed his complete faith in the Gospel
and expressed his establishment and his
grief that in our day so many young
men were rejecting Christianity. From
the earnestness and the tenderness and
The confidence with which he spoke on
these things / concluded hat when
Henry w. Grady made public profession
of his faith in Christ aud took his place
at the holy communion in the Meth
odist Church he was honest and truly
Christian.
Yes, Mr.. Grady not only demonstrated
that an editor may be a Christian, but
that q very great intellect may be
gospeli2ed. His mental capacity was 30
wonderful that 1t was almost startling
] have beer with him in actual CONVEX
sation while nj the same time he was
debating to O photographer editorials
for b Atlanta Constitution. But that
Intellect was not ashamed to bow to
Christ. Among his last dying u~tterances
was the request FOR the prayers of the
churches in his behalf.
There was that particular quality in
him that you do not find in more than
one person ont OF hundreds of thou
sands, namely, personal magnetism.
People have tried TO define that quality
and always failed. yet we have all felt
Its power. There arc some persons
who have only 10 enter a room or
step upon a platform or into a pulpit
and you are thrilled by their presence
and whom they speak your nature re-
spends and you can not help it. What
Is the peculiar influence with which
such a magnetic person takes hold of
social groups and audiences? Without
attempting to define this, which is in
definable, / will say 1t seems to CORE
spond to the waves of air set In motion
by the voice or the movements of the
body. Just like that atmospheric vibra-
ton Ii the moral or spiritual vibration
which rolls out from the soul Of what
we call a magnetic person. AS there
may be q cord or rope binding bodies to-
gether, there may be an invisible cord
binding souls. A magnetic man throws
1t over others as q hunter throws a lasso.
Mr.. Grady was surcharged with this in
iuence and 1t was employed for patriot
ism and Christianity and elevated pur-
poses.
You may not know why, in the con-
versation which / had with Mr.. Glad
stone q few weeks ago, he uttered these
memorable words about Christianity,
some Of which were cabled to America.
He was speaking In reply to this re-
mark, l said: "Mr: Gladstone, we are
told in America by some people that
Christianity does we'll for weak-minded
men and children in the infant class but
is not 1T for stronger minded men; but
when we mention you, of such large in
tellectuality, as being q pronounced
friend of religion, we silence their
batteries" Then Mr.. Gladstone stopped
On the hillside where we were exercising
and said: ''Tho older I grow the more
confirmed l am in my faith in religion"
STR" said he with flashing eyes 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 every thing. Do you have
any Of that dreadful agnosticism in
American" Having told him we had, he
went on to say: 81 am profoundly
thankful that none Of my children or
kindred have been blasted by it. / am
glad to say hat about all the men at
the top in Great Britain are Christians.
Why, SIR" he said, 81 have been In pub
lic position f~fty-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 cen-
fury and all but five Of the sixty were
Christians"
In answer to the question put last
spring: Gan O secular journalist be a
Christiane" not only answer in the af-
t1rmatve, but | assert that SO great are
the responsibilities of that profession, so
Infinite and eternal the consequences of
their obedience or disobedience OF the
words of my text, Take thee q great
roll, and write in 1t with a mans pen"
and 80 many are the surrounding temp
tations that the men Of no other profess
sion more deeply need the defenses and
the re-euforcements OF the grace Of God.
And then look ut the opportunities Of
journalism. I praise the pulpit and
magnify my Office. but I state q fact
which you all know when I say that
where the pulpit touches one person
the press touches 500. The vast major
ity Of people do not go to church, but all
Intelligent people read the newspapers.
While. therefore, the responsibility Of
the ministers 10 great, the responsibility
of editors n reporters Is greater.
Come, brother journalists, and get your
ordination, not by the laying on Of hu-
man hands, but by the laying ON Of the
bands Of the Aim ighty. To you is oom-
nitted the precious reputation Of men
and the more precious reputation OF
women. Spread before our children an
elevated literature. Make sin appear
disgusting and virtue admirable. Be
lieve good rather than evil. While you
| show up the hypocrisies Of the Church
show up the stupendous hypocrisies out
aide the Church. Be not, as some Of you
are, the mere echoes OF public opinion;
make public opinion.
Some one might say: "How can you
talk thus Of the newspaper press, when
! you yourself have sometimes been un-
fairly treated and mlsrepresentedr" 1
answer that In the opportunity the
newspaper press In this country and
other countries have gwen me week by
week to preach the Gospel to the nations,
I Am put under so much obligation that
I defy oil editors and reporters, the
world over, to write any thing that shall
| call forth from me one word Of bitter re-
tort frnn now to the day of my death.
My 1Pinion Ia that all rsformers and
religious teachers, instead OF spending
so much time and energy in denouncing
the press, had better spend more time in
thanking them for what they have lone
for the worlds intelligence and declar-
ing their magnificent opportunity and
urging their employment OF it all for
benefcont and righteous purposes.
Again, I remark that Henry w. Grady
stood for Christian patriotism, prospect
i've OF political spoils. He declined all
Official reward. he could have been
Governor of Georgia, but refused it. He
could have been senator Of the United
States, but declined It. He remained
plain Mr.. Grady. Nearly all the other
orators Of the political arena as o o as
the elections are over, go to Washing
ton, or Albany, or Harrisburg, or At
lanta, 20 get in city or State or National
Office reward for their services, and, not
getting what they want, spend the rest
Of the time OF that administration in
pouting about the management OF public
affairs or oursing Harrison or Cleveland
When the great political campaigns
were over Mr.. Grady vent homo to his
newspaper. lie demonstrated hat II
Is possible to toll for principles
which he thought to be right, simply
because they wero right.
Again Mr.. Grady stood for the New
South and was just what we want u