Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-08-12

cured the flag, gotten some one to copy q
stanza of a favorite hymn which Jackson
had taught him, and had gone in the might
to plant the flag on the grave of his loved
teacher.
MAN OF PRAYER.
Jackson was equally scrupnlous in at
tending 10 all of his religious duties
"L9rd, what will Thou have me to do?''
seemed tho motto of his life. Regular il
meeting all OF his religious obligations, be
walked straight along the path of duty,
doing with his might whatever his hands
found to dc. In the army his pisty, de-
spite all obstacles, seemed to brighten as
the pure gold is refined by the furnace. =
He beautifully illustrated in his life the
lesson of the great Apostle: "Not slothful
in business, fervent in spirit serving the
Lord" He was man of prayer, accas'
toned in all he did to ask the Divine bless.
| ing and guidance. His old body servant
said that he ''could always tell wheu Il bat
tls was near a. h md by seeing the General
get ue a great many times III tie night &c
pray He was frequently observed in the
beginning and in the midst of battle to lift
up bis hands towards Heaven and those
nesr could hear his ejacnlatory prayers
| Just before the battle of Fredericksburg he
rode out iu front of his line of battle and
offered an earnest prayer for the success Of
his arms that day. The morning OF the
campaign of Chancellorsviile he spent q
long time in prayer before mounting to
ride to the field.
Rev. DR.. Brown, former Editor Of the
Central Presbyterian, related cnaracteris.
tic snecdote of this s'man of prayer" Du-
ring a visit to the army around Centreville,
in 1851, friend remarked to DR.. Brown, In
speaking of General jackson, in the strain
in which many of his old friend, were &C
customed to disparage him. "The truth is,
sir, that old Jack is crazy. l can account
for his conduct in no other way. Why,
| frequently meet him out in the woods walk.
ing backwards and forth mutteriDg to him
self in incoherent sentences and gesticulat.
ing wildly, and at such times he seems ut
tering obliv;ous of my presence and of ev-
cry one else."
| DR.. Brown happened next night to share
Jackson's blanket, and in a long aud tender
conversation on the best means of promot-
| ing personal holiness in the camp the great
soldier said to him: 81 find that it greatly
helps me in fixing my mind and Quickening
| my devotions to give articulate utterance to
my prayers, and hence am in the habit OF
going off into the woods where | can be
alone and speak audibly to myselfthe pray
er would pour ont to my God. was at
first annoyed that was compelled to keep
| my eyes open to avoid running against the
trees and stumps; but upon investigating
the matter do OF find that the Scriptures
require US to olose our eyes in praper, and
the exercise has proven to me to be very Ge-
lightful and profitable.
And thus DR.. Brown got the explanation
of the conduct which his friend has cited to
prove that sold Jack is crazy"
A friend was once conversiug with him
about the difficulty of the Scripture injunc-
tiou, "Pray without oeasing;" ala Jackson
insisted that we could 50 accustOm ourselves
| to i5 that it could be easily ooeyed. "Whsn
| We take our meals there is the Grace. When
take q drink of water l al ways pause, as
my palate receives the refrsshmaat, to- lift
up my hsart in th snks to God for the water
of life. Whenever drop letter In the box
at the postofiee, | send a petition along
| with it for GoG's blessing upon its mission
and upon the person to whom it is sent.
When l break the seal of letter just re-
ceived stop to pray to God that he may
prepare me for its contents and make it q
messenger of good. When go to my Class
| room and swait the arrangement of the
cadets in their places that is my time to in-
tercede with God for them. Ard SO with
every other familiar act of the day."
ssBnt," said bis friend, ''do you often
| forget these SEASONS, coming SO frequent-
ly?"
"No," said he: 'tI have made the practice
habitual to ne, and I can no moro forget it
than ferget to drink when l am thirsty"
HIS uNsHAKEN TRUST.
Jackson had firm and unshaken trust
in the promises of God and his superintend-
ing providence under all circumstances,
and it was his habitual practice to pray for
aud trust in divine guidance nnder every
circumstance of trial.
His friend, Elder Lyle, one of the noblest
specimens OF noble Christian that ever
lived, used to question him very closely On
his Christian experience, and one day asked
him if be really believed the promise: San
things work together for good to them that
love God, and to them who are the called
according to his purpose" He said that
de did, and the elder asked: ''If you were
to lose your health, would you believe it
then2" "Yes, think should" Elbow if
you were to become entirely blrd?" 81
should still believe it, ''But suppose that
in addition to your loss of health and sight
you should become utterly dependent upon
the cold charities of the worid?'' He
thought for moment aed then replied with
emphasis. "If it were the will of God to
place me there He would enable me to lie
there peacefully for hundred yeara." He
nobly stood this test whom called upon to
cross the jordan of death.
Soon after he was wounded he said to
Rev. B. T. Lacy, who exclaimed Gn seeing
him, sob, General, what calamity"
"You sec me severely wounded. but not
depr essed-not unhappy. I believe that it
has been done according to Gods holy will,
and acguiesce entirely in it. You may
think it strange, but you nevor saw me
more perfectly contented than I am to-day,
fer am sure that nay Heavenly Father de-
| signs this afliction for my good. ] am per-
fectly satisfied that, either in this life or il
that which ia to come, ! shall discover that
what is now regarded as calamity is q
blessing. And if it appears great calam-
| ity (ss it surely will be great iGeonveni-
ence to be deprived of my arm, it will re-
suit in great blessing. I can visit until
| God in his own time, shall make known to
me the object which He has in thus affi:ct-
ing me. But why should not rather re-
| joica in it as blessing, and not lo TX on it
is calamity at alif If it were 10 my pow
er to replace my arm, / would not dare do
it unlesa could know that it waa the will
of my Heavenly Father.
| have not left myself space to illustrate
further the Christian character OF tnis great
man by qnoSing from his official dispatches
aud private laIsers, telling of BIS personal
activity in promoting religion in the army,
or relating the details of his glorious death.
Suffice it to say that saw al n frequent
ly, heard him converse on relig Gus topics,
heard him offer as fervent. send ~ and every
way appropriate prayers as evor heard
! from any one, and can say from my omn
personal knowledge Of him tilat il eye,
cane in contact with an humble, earnas!
child Of Gods it was this ''thuadasbols oi
war; wbe followed with child-lke faith
the Captain Of our Salvation" F." and who
humbly laid at the foot OF the cross all am
billions and hoHors.
Having lived such life, the logical ra-
suit was the glorious death which has been
SO fully described by DR.. Dabnsy, DR.
Hunter Mcguire and others.
HIS GLORIOUS DEATH.