The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-03-07
GEN. SHERMAN'S RELIGION
His Belief in God Almighty
Christening Party.

A little less than TWO years a
friend called upon me one morning
and asked hue if | would consent to
act as godmother for her little boy.
General Sherman is to be the god
father" she explained. HE is an old
family friend, and used to be very
good to me when went into society
as a young girl. He was always kind
about finding me partners Tor dane
ing, and in chatting with me himself;
and both because OF my affection for
him. and because | like the name, /
have decided to call my boy Sher-
man."
Naturally / was highly honpred at
the thought of standing as sponsor in
such a connection. and cheerfully &C
cepted my share of the responsibility.
| learned that we were to go to the
Generals home for the christening.
1T would be a dangerous precedent
for me togo to anyone's'house to be-
come a godfather he had said. Il
should be overrun by applications to
accept similar positions elsewhere"
But he had written a cordial note
of acceptance of the honor and had
sent his baby namesake a fine photo
graph of himself, with his familiar
signature on it.
Baby, nurse, parents, and god
mother entered the carriage one
bright spring morning and drove TO
the unpretentious brownstone house
on Seventy-first street, so sadly fam
iliar to us of late weeks. We were
ushered into the drawing room, and
General Sherman and his daughter,
Miss Rachel Sherman, met us cordl-
ally. The old warrior evidently had
a tender spot in his heart for babies.
probably in remembrance of his W
little ones. for he chirped and whistled
to his godchild, and handled 1t with a
dexterity that spoke of previous prac-
tice.
There was a little delay before the
ceremony, and the General chatted
easily with the guests, and watched
the preparations for the baptism with
an interested eye.
II don't know much about these
things" he said, in a semi-aside, as
after some consultation between Miss
Sherman and the Episcopal clergy
man, who was to christen the child,
the little silver bowl that was to serve
as a font was filled and put in place.
But he added, with a humorous
twinkle of the eyes, Rachel under
standc | the church business, and L
dare she and the parson can set
tie it together
"You don't trouble yourself much
with theological problems, do you,
General?n asked one of the company.
Not very much" said the General.
lightly. ''They don't cause me much
uneasiness."
Just what do you believer per
sisted the questioner.
The General answered very rever-
ently:-"I believe in God Almighty. |
am an old man now, but that is as far
as / have come. Some time, in the
world to come, l may be able to learn
more.n
During the christening, Through
which, by the way. the baby behaved
perfectly, as though he appreciated
the honor that had been conferred
upon HIM, General Sherman listened
attentivelY to the service, repeating
his responses after the clergyman
with a sturdy distinctness that indi-
Gated no disposition to shirk the re-
sponsibility he was undertaking.
Then he kissed the baby again, and,
after shaking hands with the parents
and godmother, sat down at the table
to afiix his signature to the certificate
of baptism. When the guests had
been served with cake and wine, the
General strolled about the room with
one or two of US, pointing out Healy's
paintings on the walls, and giving, in
a few graphic words, descriptions OF
the scenes they pictured. We were
especially interested in his account OF
the celebrated council where he met
Mr.. Lincoln, General Cant and Ad-
miral Porter in the cabin of the River
Queen.
We were in the house for perhaps an
hour and a half altogether, and
throughout the General preserved his
manner of bluff geniality, which
seemed a relic OF his soldering days.
His face was scanned with wrinkles,
his hair and beard we'll grizzled, and
his shoulders a trifie bowed; but his
eyes were bright and youthful, his
speech full of a dry fun, and he re
sponded as readily to jest or pleasantly
as any college boy could have done.
do not think | have ever met a mar
who impressed me as possessing 9
keener sense of humor--a humor thai
had been kept bright by constant use
As we drove off finally he stood OF
the steps smiling and waving his HAND
to us until we turned the corner.
never saw him again. -Chr1stine Ter
hume Her7ick IN HG1peT's Bazag.
yictOria's Blind Musician.