The Forrest City times., 1890-03-01


 ashamed to bow to Chris. Among his last dying utterances 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 moro than one per son out of hundreds of thousands--namely, personal magnetism. People have tried to define that quality, and always failed, yet we have all felt it's power. There arc some persons who have only to enter 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. hat is the peculiar influence with which such magnetic per son takes hold Of social groups and audi ences. Without attempting to define this, which is indetinable, I will say it seems to correspond to the waves of air set in motion by the voice or tho movements of the body. Just like that atmospheric vii bration is the moral or spiritual vibration which rolls out from the soul of what we call a magnetic person. As there may be a cord or rope binding bodies together, there may be an invisible cord binding souls. A magnetic man throws it over others as a hunter throws a lasso. Mir. Grady was surcharged with this influence, and 1t was employed for patriotism and Chistlau- ity and elevated purposes.
 You may not know why, in tho conversa- ton which 1 had with Mir Gladstone few weeks ago, he uttered theso memorable words about Christianity, some of which were cablcd to America He was speaking in reply to this remark, l said: Mir Glad stone, we are told in America by some peo- pie that Christianity does very well for weak minded men and children in the infant class, but it is not fit for stronger minded men; but when we mention you, of such large intellectually, us being pro nounced friend of religion, wo silence their batteries" Then Mir Gladstone stopped on the hillside where we were exercising and said "1he older grow the moro confirmed I am in my faith in religion.n "Sr,' 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 corroct everything Do you have any of that dreadful agnosti eism in AmericaN Having told him we had, he went on to say: "l am profoundly thank. ful that none of my children or kindred have been blasted by it. l am glad tc say that about all the men at the top in Great Britain are Christians Why. sir he said, "I have been in public posi- ton fifty 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 are Christians He then named the four leading physicians and surgeons of his country, calling them by name and remarking upon the high qualities of each of them and added; "They are all thoroughly Christians" My friends I think 1t will be quite respectable for little longer to be the friends or religion. William F.. Gladstone, Christian; Henry W. Grady. Christian What the greatest of Englshmen said of England is true of America and Of alt Christendom. The men at the top arc the friends of God and believers in the saucti- ties of religion, tho most eminent of the doctors, the most eminent Of tho merchants, and there are no better men in ali our land than some of those who sit in editorial chairs. And if that does not cor. respond with your acquaintinceship, l am sorry that you have fallen in to bad company. In answer 10 tho question put last spring, Can secular journalist be Christiau" not only answer in the affirmative, but assert that so great are the responsibilities of that profession, so infinite and eternal Nhc consequences Oi hutlE tpeQituCt UT ulss obedience of the words of my text "1ake thee q great roll, and write in 1t with man pen, and so many are the surround. ing temptations that the men of no other profession more deeply nesd tho defenses and the endorsements of the grace of God.
 And then look at the opportunities of journalism. praise the pulpit and mag. nifty my office, but state a 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 go to church, but all intelligent peo. pie read the newspapers While, therefore. the responsibility of the ministers Is great, the responsibility of editors and reporters is greater Come. brother journalists, and get your ordination, not by the laying on of human hands, but by tha laying on of the hands of the Almighty. To you is committed the precious reputation of men and the moro precious reputation of women. Spread before our children an elevated literature, Make sin appear dis. gusting and virtue admirable Believe good rather than evil While you show up the hypocrisies of tho church, show up the stupendous hypocrisies outside the church Be not, as some of you arc, the moro echoes of public opinion, mako public opinion. Let tho great roll on which you write With mans pen be message Of light and liberty and kindness and an awak. ening of moral power But who is sufficient for these thingsl Not one of you without divine help But got that influence and the editors and reporters can go up and take this world for God and the truth The mightiest opportunity in ail the world for usefulness today is open before editors and reporters and publishers, whether of knowledge on foot, us ia tho book, or knowledge ou tho wing. as in the newspaper, pray God men of the newspaper press, whether you hear or read this sermon, that yop may rise up to your full opportunity aud that you may be divine ly helped and rescued and blessed.
 Some one might say to mo; How can you talk thus of the newspaper press, when you yourself have sometimes been unfairly treated ana misrepresentedi l an swer that in the opportunity the newspaper press of this country and other countries have given me week by weok to preach tho Gospel to the nations, l am put under So much ob. legation that defy all editors aud report. CTS, the world over, to write anything that shall call forth from me one word of bitter retort from now til the day of my death. My opinion is, that all reformers and TO- ligious teachers, instead of spending so much time and energy in denouncng the press, had better spend more time in thank. ing them for what thos have done for ths worlds intelligence and declaring their opportunity and urging their employment of il all for benehcent and righteous purposes,
 Again, l remark that Henry W. Grady stood for Christian patriotism irrespective of political spoils He dacIinad 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 Mir Grady. Nearly all the other orators of the political arena, as soon as the elections are over, go to N ashington, or Albany, or Harris burg, or Atlanta, 10 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 tha, administration in pouting a bout the management of public affairs or cursing Harrison or Clevelani. Whea ths great political campaigns werc over Mir. Grady went home Ia his newspapar He