Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1893-01-26
NOT EXACTLY NEWS.
A Few General Remarks and FamiE2r
Reflections

Reflections
1t is reported that Robert Louis Ste
venson, the novelist, who afflicted with
with consumption, has determined to
live out the remnant OF his days on the
island of Samoa, is dying. All lovers
of literature will hope that the report is
| incorrect Stevenson is one of the best
writers of the present day. His style is
simple, vivid and searching. His novels
are healthy and robust. The element of
love from which most even great novels
derive their chief interest, is lacking
from his work, and he gives little place
to feminine character pOrtraiture. The
interest arises either from some deep
physcologic problem, or~from the man
ful exercise of manly courage AMI
strength and the employment of
wide historic and scientific knowl
edge with keen insight and fertile
resource For the young there are no
better books than his since Dumas,
Treasure Island, Kidnapped, The Master
of Ballantre, the Black Arrow, the
Wrecker-these are some of the titles of
really valuable fiction, from which the
youth may learn eandor, courage, gen.
tlemanliness, and the mature reader be
entertained and stimulated.
Amid the general chorus of liberal
ideas enunciated by many men in the
foremost ranks of religious scholarship
of the time, and in most marked disso
nance with such voices is the opinion ex-
pressed in the North American Review by
DR.. Coleman. an Episcopal Bishop. He
says that Christianity is the National
religion of America, and that therefore
any one who doubts or denies the funda-
mentals of Christianity, among which he
specifies beliefin the Divinity of Christ,
in Baptism and the Lords Supper, is
guilty of treason. That is agnostics, in
fideIs, unbelievers, Unitarians, and in fact
all the heterdox are guilty of treason to the
State, and should be treated as persons
guilty of such crimes are, namely, shot.
This is an opinion unworthy this age,
and unworthy the religion in which it is
put forth. 1t will, of course have no
weight, but it is remarkable phenome-
non that such mental relics of the bigot
ry and prejudice of the Dark Ages should
exist at the end of the XIXth Century.
Major w. S. Kennon was quite init
mate with ex- President Hayes, while they
were both practising law in Cincinnati
before the war. sour Offices" said the
Major, "were in the same building, and |
was thrown constantly into association
with the future President, and came TO
know him well, and to appreciate his
sterling qualities of mind and heart, his
man.iness, courage, and his immovable
integrity" This intimacy continued for
maay years. On the inauguration of
Hayes into the Presidency, he offered Maj.
Kennon the office of ConsultO Honolulu.
On account of the serious illness of the
Majors father, who was then almost in
ertremis, the offer was perforce declined.
Phillips Brooks, the great Episcopal
divine and Bishop of Massachusetts,, who
died Monday morning, was perhaps as
great preacher as lives to-day. He was
giant in stature, his voice was deep,
melodious and strong. Owing to a slight
impediment which caused him to STAN
mer when he spoke slowly, he spoke very
rapidly. 1t was good stenogragher in
deed who caught every word of mis- ser
mons. When interested his voice was
not raised; it became intenser and deep
er, and the words fairly pound out in a
sweeping torrent of sublime eloquence.
He was a man, too, whose mighty heart
fitted his vast frame. For twenty years
pastor of one the of most exclusive and
aristocratic congregations in the world,
he brought his charge into such shape
that not church in Boston did more for
the masses, or more freely threw open its
doors and pews to outsiders.