The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-22

its salient features. that his old soldiers and
the young men Of the land may contemplate
the simple-hearted piety of this stern war
rior.
his FIRST PRAYER.
There is on incident which illustrates so
well. not only the Christian character. but the
whole career OF Jackson that give II in de-
tail, as being the very key note Of his action,
the very Polar star of his lie. The incident
has been published in various forms, but |
give il AS | received It from his old pastor,
Rev. DIR. w. s. White. of the Lexington
Presbyterian church, whose death IN 1871 was
30 widely lamented.
Not very long after his connection with the
church the pastor preached sermon on
Prayer, il which Il was urged that every male
member of the church ought, when occasion
required. % lead IN public prayer. The next
day a faithful elder Of the church asked
Major Jackson what he thought OF the
doctrine OF the sermon, and II ne was not
convinced that he ought 70 lead IN public
prayer Il do not think Il my duty" ne re-
Piled. and went on 10 assign as his reason
that he hesitated IN hrs speech 70 such an eX-
tent when excited that he did not think he
could pray TO edfcation" in public. Have
you made the matter a subject of secret
prayer persisted the elder No, Sir, but
will DO 50 tonight The elder then advised
him also 70 consult his pastor. and he
went at once to DR.. Whites study and went
over with HIM the arguments and passages oil
Scripture by which he supported his position.
The next day the elder saw him walking rap
idly by his place of business. and fearing that
no wished TO AVOID the subject Of their pre-
vious conversation he called him back and
asked. Have you made that matter subject
of prayerful investigation, Major" Yes.
Sir, and l was Just on my way TO ask Ilr.
White to call on me 20 lead in prayer at the
meeting tonight" Soon after he was called on
and made such stammeIing effort that the
pastor felt badly for him. and he
was greatly mortified. Several subsequent Ell
forts resulted in little better results and the
pastor began 20 think that perhaps Major
Jackson was highland that lie really could
not pray to edihcation' and that he was,
perhaps an exception to the general rule that
members of the church ought 10 pray IN pub
lie. Accordingly he said TO him one day:
Major, We do not wish 20 make our prayer
meetings uncomfortable TO you.and II you pre-
fer it, will not call on you 10 lead N prayer
again"
The prompt and emphatic reply was: My
comfort has nothing In the world to do with
it. sir You. as my pastor, think It Is my
duty 70 Lead in public prayer. think SO too
and by Gods grace | mean 10 do 1t. / 1clSh
that goa ,oould be 50 good as 10 call on me more
fre9ue,sty." DR.. White said that lie saw from
Jackson's manner that be meant TO succeed
that he did call on him more frequently; that
he gradually improved until he became one Of
the most gifted men ia prayer whom he had
IN the church. 1t was my privilege to hear
him pray several times in the army, and II 1
ever heard "a fervent, eiiectual prayer" II
was offered by this stern soldier.
DEACON JACKSON.
He was "deacon"-nOt an elder" as has
been frequently asserted-in the Church, and
was untlrlng III the discharge of oil the duties
of the position. On one occasion he went at
the appointed hour TO attend 'deacOns'
meeting, at which there was important busi-
ness TO be attended 10, and after waiting five
minutes for several absentees, pacing back
and forth, watch in hand, he asked TO be ex-
cnsed for while, and dsrted of TO the house
of one of them. Ringing the door bell
violently the gentleman came out, and
Jackson accoSted him with: Mr.. -- it's
eight minutes after o'clock" (the hour APP
pointed for the meeting) Yes, Major ] am
aware Of that but | didn't have time to go
out tonight" Didn't have timer" retorted
Deacon Jackson why, sir, | should not sup
pose that you had time for anything else Did
we not set apart this hour (Only one Ia the
month for the service Of the church, How.
then, can you put aside your obligation in
the mattorF' With this he abruptly started
back 70 the meeting, and his brother deacon
felt 50 keeniy the rebuke that he Immediately
followed There was no difficulty in the
finances of that church as long as Deacon"
jackson managed them.
The venerable pastor said 10 me. with deep
emotion, "Oh. sir, when Jackson fell | lost
not only warm personal friend, a consistent,
active church member, but the best deacon /
ever saw"
He was once collector for the Rockbridge
Bible Society, and when the time came TO re-
port 60 the surprise of his colleagues he re-
ported contributions from q number Of free
negroes. remarking in explanation. They are
poor, but ought not on that account to be de-
MED the sweet privilege of helping 80 good a
cause" He also reported: Il have contri-
button from every person in my district except
one lady She has been away ever since |
have been collector, but she viii return home
at Ia O'clock to-day and | will see her at
o'clock" The next day he reported contri-
button from her also,
He frequently sought the counsel and in
structiOn of his pastor upon whom he looked
SIS his superior officer" and to whom he
would sometimes report for orders He
was never blessed with large pecuniary
means, but was always most liberal con-
tributor to every charitable object and ever
ready to visit the fatherless and the widow
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 de-
voted himsef most assiduously 10 their relg-
lOuc ulSlIuCllOu. he WAS uOL only hCCuSlOultu
(as were Christian masters generally at the
South TO invite his servants into family
prayers, but he also had a special meeting
with them every Sunday afternoon in order
TO teach them the Scriptures. He made this
exercise so interesting TO them that other ne
groes Of the town craved the privilege of at
tending. and he soon had his room filed TO
overlooking with eager pupils. This suggested
TO him the idea of organizing negro Sunday
school, which he did several years before the
war; and to which be devoted all of the ener-
gies 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 most care
full study of the lessons. The day before he
left home for the war was Saturday, and he
was very busy all day long making every pre-
pa1atIon 10 leave at q moments warning. He
paid al outstanding accounts, and settled up
as far as possible his worldly affairs, while his
devoted wife was busily plying the needle 10
prepare him for the field. AT the supper table
Mrs Jackson made some remark about the
preparations for his expected departure. when
he said, with bright SMILE My Dear, to-
morrow is the blessed Sabbath day. 1t is also
the regular communion season at our church.
J hope L shall not be- called TO leave until
Monday Let us then dismiss from our con-
yefsation and our thoughts everything per-
tanning 10 the war. and have together one
more quiet evening Of preparation for our loved
Sabbath duties"
ACcor6inuix H. LII olo~l e -o~ 800.