Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-27
opsrsx.snx or TIE SABBATH.

The religion OF Stonewau Jhchson 49,
enigma 10 many who study the IRE Oh snu
great soldier. while to others II ~ = scuin
and derision. To those VINO seer in
which he carried some things TO an e1.
treme furnish plenty of material for tneil
small wit. Such was his rigid oDser vance
az the Sabbath. Not only did ne
,efrain from all worldly occupations
an that day. be would MT even
wife a letter. nor read one ~
he received It. even though II Wa
from her who was TO be his wire. ne WI IN,
sure that it would keep Its sweethess W
the next day. and mean WINE ne hau 'ho
| pleasure OF anticipation. ras. llo Lee,
II should travel on Sunday. One excep-
t;on however. he was compelled to MAKE.
Sometimes he had TO fight O battle on tnat
bolv jay bat that he looked upon as -, d
.rn,t ~ necessity il not OF mercy ;
and then he would keep Monday, 30
scrunnlous was he not to detraud the
Lord of His just due that he would some
times keep two or three days running 10
balance the account!
Rut more than any outward ooservahce
vas the faith that vitalized his very being.
Tb;s vas the iron in his blood IL has been
said that he is q fatalist; that he had Q
blIud feeling of destiny" like that OF
Napoleon. as If his career was not OF MS
own choosing, but tina. he was Lifted up ana
horne on by a power that ne coulu
not resist. This is the creed of the Mos
lem. TO whom it gives a confidence IN
battle that is in itselfan element OF power
But il Is cold, hard, iron creed, when
sees nothing around us but material forces
that work on aud on with tremendous
mower. caring not for the happiness they
destroy or the suffering they intiict. crush
inc the lives and hopes of men without
pits and without remorse.
LIE NEVER DOUBTED.
Into this stupendous Notwithstanding
universe without soul-faith puts intel
lieence and love. 90 that to the soldier
who looks up from his tent to the stars
above him they are not the cold stony eyes
| of a relentless fate, but the tender eyes OF
one who looks down upon HIM, a loving as
well as an unsleeping watcher. That love
| and care Jackson never doubted. The
power above was a Father, into whose
hands he committed the issues of life
and death with childlike trust. This SIM
ple faith was the inspiration OF his life.
He carried it into war: indeed, 1t grew
stronger as the clouds grew darker. His
marvellous SUCCESSES might well con-
firm his faith in the Divine protection,
which he sought constantly by prayer.
His negro servant said he always knew
when there was going to be battle, be-
cause his master got up so many times IN
the night TO prayl And he at once packed
his hayersack, for he knew that he would
call for it in the morning. When he was
riding TO battle and spoke not word his
iips were observed to be moving in prayer.
Thus relying upon higher power, how
could he help looking upon success as the
answer to his prayers, and say, what he
fervently believed, that il was not by his
own might or power" but that 1t was God
| who had given HIM the victory?
This religious feeling, which was so in.
etnse in Jackson, to some extent pervaded
the southern army. Both armies were
| supplied with chaplains and with devoted
men and women. who ministered to the
sick in the hospitals and to the wounded
on the field of battle. But in the south
ern army there were at times-especlally
when in winter quarters, as at tredericks-
burg-great musterings. like camp-meet-
ings, to listen to the eloquent preachers OF
the South. Jackson often refers in bis
letters TO the enjoyment he had in these
services. Pious exhorters went from tent
to tent talking to the men about their old
homes, and the fathers and mothers far
away, and how they felt for their sons ex-
posed to the dangers of war, the kindly
word ending III little prayer-meeting, &c
that those who passed through the en-:
campment in the evening saw. here and
there soldiers kneellpg round their camp
fires. and heard their simple but ferveni
prayers, with the singing not OF war songs,
but of hymns. such as
"Jesus, lover OF my SOUL
Let me to Thy bosom tly."
LOVE AND FAITH.
This union of love and faith he kept &c
the last. If anything more were needed
to chow how far was Stonewall jackson
from the reproach of cant and common
ness, it Is furnished by the way in which
he met his end. II came not by long,
| lingering decay. but in tho very front OF
battle. where, caught between two armies,
he was fred upon by his own men. Yet
he was not TO die amid " the battles
splendor.o nor, like Wolfe on the Heights
of Abraham, in the moment of victory.
Borne from the field, he had full opportu-
nIty TO contemplate the inevitable future.
| He did not A" long for DEATH" as do some
who feel that life has no more to give them.
| When his wife bent over him with their
child in her arms those little fingers drew
him backward. Nor did it seem TO him
according TO tho fitness of things that his
work should end in mid-csreer; he felt that
the Lord had more for him TO do" But
when he saw that this was not to be, when
| the shadow was on the wall, instantly the
warriors head bowed TO the Almighty will
Nav. he recognized the goodness OF God in
| the time of his departure. He said that he
had always wished to die on Sunday,
and now the Sabbath had come. 1t was q
beautiful morning in May, and the breath
of spring was in the air; it was like the
breath OF Heaven itself, andi seemed as II
the gates were opening before him. Family
he murmured, Let US pass over the river
and rest under the trees" and the great
heart stood still. Who shall say that he
had not vision of the unseen, and thai
he did not in that moment pass from G
world of conflict to that In which wal
comes no more!