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

inmates after o'clock" (the hour appoin!
ed for the meeting). eyes, Major. / ar
aware Of that. but / didn't have time to g
out tonight "Didn't have timer" re
torted Deacon Jackson; "why,sir, 1 shoul,
not suppose that you had time for onythin
else. Did we not set apart this hour (onl,
one 10 the month) for the service of th
church? How, then, can you put asid
your obligation in the matter?" With thi
he abruptly started back to the meeting
and bis brother deacon felt 50 ksenly th
rebnke that he Immediately followed
There was no difficulty in the finances O
that church as long as "Descon" Jacks 0,
managed them.
The venerable pastor said to me, with
deep emotion, "Oh, sir, when Jackson fel
lost not only warm personal friend, q
consistent, active church member, but tht
best deacon ever saw"
He was once collector for the Rock bridge
Bible S1ciatv, and when the time eau6s tt
report Ito the surprise of his co,lsagaes) he
reported contributions from numb1r o.
free negroes, remaiking in explanation
''They are poor, but ought not on that &C
count to be denied the sweet privilege o
helping so good cause" He also report
ed: 81 have a contribution from every per
son In my district except one lady. She
has been away ever since have bsen col
lector, but she will return home at IL o.
clock to-day and will see her at O'clock u
The next day he reported a contribution
| from her also.
Hs frequently sought the counsel and iu-
st'nc.ion of his pastor, upon whom he look
ed as his superior officer" and to whom
he would sometimes "report for orders. %
He was never blessed with large pscuniary
means, but was always most liberal con-
tributor to every charitable object and ever
ready to "visit the fatherless and the wild
ow in their distress"
HIS NEGRO SUNDAY SCHOOL.
jackson was one of the most thoroughly
conscientious masters who ever lived. He
not only treated his negroes kindly but he
devoted himself most assiduously to theil
religious instruction. He was not only ac
customed (as we're Christian masters gener
ally at the South to invite his servants in
to family prayers, but he also had special
meeting with them every Sunday AFTERNOON
in order to teach them the Scriptures. He
made this exercises SO interesting to them
that other negroes of the town craved the
privilege of attending, and he soon had his
room filled to overfowing with eager pupils
This suggested to him the idea of organic,
ing negro Sunday school, which he did
several years before the war, and to which
he devoted all of the energies of his mind,
and all the zeal of his large, Christian heart.
He was accustomed to prepare himself
for the exercises of this school by the mos!
careful study of the lessons. The day be-
fore he left home for the war was Saturday,
and he was very busy ell day long making
every preparation to leave at moment:
warning. He paid all outstanding ac
counts. and settled mp as far as possible his
worldly affairs, while his devoted wife was
busiiy plying the needle to prepare him fol
| the field. at the supper table Mrs. Jack.
son made some remark about the prepara.
tions fer his expected dc parture, when he
said, with bright smile: My Dear, to.
morrow is the blessed Sabbath day. It is
| also the regular communion season at oul
church. hope shall not be called to
leave until Monday. Let us then dismiss
from our conversation and our thoughts
everything pc. tanning to the war, and have
| together one more quiet evening of prepar-
| alton for our loved Sabbath duties.''
Accordingly the dark cloud of war was
pushed aside. He read aloud TO her for
awhile from religious magazines and news
papers, and then they went to their accus-
toned studies of the Bible lessons which
were to be taught on the morrow to the
colored Sunday school. It was such a
bright, happy Saturday evening, as is only
known in the we'll regulated Christian
| home. Alas! 1t has proved the last that he
ever spent under his own roof.tree. Early
the next morning telegram from the Gov
eruor of the Commonwealth ordered him to
march the corps Of cadets for Richmond at
1890 o'clock that day. Not waiting for
his breakfast he hurried to the Institute
and spent the morning making necessary
preparations for the departure of the cadets,
not forgetting to send request to his pas
tor that he should be present to hold with
them brief service before they marched
forth st the call Of their sovereign State.
At ii O'Clock he came homo to take q
hurried breakfast and make few personal
arrangements. The last thing he did be-
fore leaving home wes to retire with his
wife into their chamber, read q part of the
fifth chapter Of Second Corinthians, begin
ming "For we know that if the earthly
house Of this tabernacle were dissolved We
have building of God-an house not made
with hands-eternal in the Heavens" and
then made an humble, tender, fervent
prayer, in which he beggsd that the dark
clouds Of war might even then be dissipat.
cd; that the God OF peace might calm the
storm and avert the calamity Of war, or
that He might at least go forth with him
and with the young men under his COM
mand to guide, guard, hslp and bless them.
At 12 o'clock the venerable pastor was
present to mako the corps of cadets an ap-
to oId cF Chrsctfoy, onu TaepV end
to lead 10 a fergant, tender prayer.
At the appointed hour, to the exact min
ute, Major jackson gave the order: sat.
tentionl Forward, marchl'
And thus the loving husband bade adieu
to his home. The faithful church mem Der
turned away from his communion service,
the earnest Sunday school teacher left his
lesson untaught, and the peerless soldier
marched forth from the parade ground to
win immortal fame-to come not hack
again until his body was borne to its buri-
III 10 the beautiful cemetery at 'Lexiugton,
iu the Valley of Virginia." and two contin-
ents we're bursting with the fame of eStoae.
w8ll'' Jackson.
jackson gave great. deal of time to his
oolored Sunday school. He was accustom.
ed to carry around himself the most care
fully prepared reports Of the conduct and
progress Of each pupil, and to do everything
in his power to interest ths whites of the
community in his school.
Soou after one of the great battles 6
large crowd gathered one day at the post
office in Lexington, anxioasly awaiting the
opening of tho mail, that they might get
the particulars concerning the great battle
which they had heard had been fought
The venerable pastor of the Presbyterian
church was of the company, and soon has
handed him letter which he recognized al
directed ia Jackson's well known hand
writing. Now" said he, I'VE will havt
the news! Hers ie letter from Genera
Jackson himself" The crowd eagerly
gather aronnd, but heard, TO their verI
great dissppolnsllent, lettaE which mad'
nos the most remot, aliusion TO the battl'
or ste war, bat which enclosed q check fn
$50 With which to buy books for his color
ed Sunday school; and was fllod with in
quiries after tie interests of the school ant
the church. He mad no time nor inclina
tion 80 write of the great victory and th
imperishable laurels he was winning, bu
he found time to remember his noble worl
among Gods poor, and to contribute far
70 hn oS = ~ nhiidrnr