Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-28


prophets. enabling him 10 speak with the
awful tones Of prophets voice, with q
prophets authority and power. These
iaymen, under the overwhelming influence
or the solemn Providence impelling them.
urged those 10 whom they spoke 10
| humble themselves under the mighty hand
or God; TO avoid the fatal error of pre-
Stunning on Tomorrow. and at once to be-
gin the needed preparation for the eter-
nal future. The following Thursday was
set apart for religious observance In all
the churches. Sermons on the Capitol
oisaster were preached by many OF the
pastors. What spectacle did that
Thursday present. Had that public reli-
gious observance been assigned 10 the
sabbath there would have been nothing
unusual In the silence of the city: but on
weekday. a secular day. what
strange event II was in a busy, COM
mercial community, to find all business
suspended. all public offices and places
OF amusement closed. the houses OF God
alone open. ard thronged with people of
every age and class: subdued by a COM
mon sadness, the entire population Of the
city bowed in penitence before the Lord.
have made these references to the
Capitol disaster because OF the Illustration
IL Affords of the way Divine Providence
of,en oyerrues great calamities for the
splrituai welfare OF the whole people. The
influence OF that dispensation OF santl-
ned bereavement Is still felt in this city.
Az the time Of the disaster the dark
cloud that lowered over US was converted
into a pavilion for prayer. Its borders
were fringed with a holy light, drops of
mercy fell on the mourning people. and
the Impression then made of the trans
cendant importance of eternal things
adde's to this day
THE EVACUATION.
Another memorable event. never to be
forgotten, was the evacuation OF the city
near The close OF the war. II IL not my
purpose to reproduce the lurid picture
which that night OF terror presents; the
thunder OF military wagons over the
stony streets. the fame OF burning bridges
and warehouses. the deafenlng detonations
or exploding shells. the canopy OF dense
smoke hanging like pail over the city
an. no. let me drop the curtain on that
scene or desolation and woe and turn
to the consideration OF what more espe-
cially relates to this present hour.
When the Confederate struggle COM
menced j became n volunteer chaplain
In the camp OF instruction, occupying
what are now called the Agricultural
Fair-Grounds. without reslgning my pas
toral charge OF this church. In order that
j might preach 10 the soldiers every
Sunday afternoon. DR.. Moore. then pastor
OF the First Presbyterian church, occu-
pied my pulpit at the same hour when
was holding my service with the soldiers
In the camp. and l oficated. i'm return
for his kindness. In his church at night.
Camp Lee. as II was called. was the
camp OF instruction. where newly-enlisted
regiments were drilled and equipped for
the field: some OF them remaining there
for a few weeks. others for several
months. as the exigencies OF the case
might demand. A hundred thousand men
passed through that camp during my
connection with II. a hundred thousand
men was n large number to become ac-
quainted with. The acquaintance was
largely on their part 1t Is true; they all
knew me as their chaplain; my regret is
that i could not know every one OF them
by name. preached there once every
Sabbath. and oftener during the week,
visiting the hospitals as | had opportu-
nifty. I then learned what fearful destl-
tuition of Bibles there was among our
soldiers. sent to Nashville and Charles
ton for as many as could be spared from
those cities. and made an appeal to the
Virginia people for the gift Of as many
Bibles as could be spared from their own
families. The supply was not sufficient
for the ever-Increasing demand. On one
occasion. when I had received a box from
the West, after my sermon was ended
stood on caisson and, with the Bibles
and Testaments before me, announced
that was ready to distribute them There
was an immediate rush OF men with ex-
tended hands for the precious volumes.
Many on the outer verge OF the crowd.
fearing the supply would be exhausted
before they could reach me. cried out.
calling me by different titles. "Parson,"
Doctor" chaplain" Save one for me-"
Alas. for the number who were disap-
pointed!
A MEMORABLE VOYAGE.
II was at this juncture that the Virginia
Bible Society proposed that should make
a voyage to England for the purpose OF
obtaining a supply fror9 the British and
Foreign Bible Society. a voyage to Eng
land is ordinarily an easy and pleasant
affair. / have made IL many times; but
then 1t was a very different matter. / got
ready In a single day and night Ieft
Richmond In the dead OF winter, and
had to run the blockade in going from
Charleston 10 Nassau; from Nassau, in
little schooner, to Cuba: from Cuba TO
the Danish Island of st. Thomas, in
coasting vessel; and from St. Thomas TO
Southampton in the Tasmania, OF the
ROYAL Mail Line, from Brazil to South
ampton; thus reaching England by four
successive voyages.
The Hon. James NJ. Mason was tnen
in London, awaiting the recognition OF
the Confederate Government recoghi-
ton that never came. Mr.. Mason was
we'll acquainted with the Earl OF Shaftes-
bury, and one day. in making him
visit, he told his Lordship OF my arrival,
and OF the purpose OF my coming. ASK
him to come and see me-" was the re-
Spouse. "and l will do what / can to
make his errand successful one"
gladly ayailed myself OF the unexpected
and unsolicited invitation OF the presiceht
OF the British and Foreign Bible Society
He was kind enough TO call a meeting
and on introducing me courteousiy re-
onested me to take time to state what
ever | might consider interesting In re-
ference to my errand. AS | was the first
and only person from the South who had
addressed that body, 1 could not complain
of want of attention, coming. as L DID,
from the bleaguered capital or the Con-
federacy, and during the most criticas
period OF the history OF the great conflict.
The result OF my appeal was free grant
OF 1000 Bibles, t0,cO Testament, ana
10000 portions-that Is, the fsaIins, FRO
verbs. and Gospels-bound separately, IN
glazed covers, with red edges ana round
ed corners-just the thing 10 put IN ,ne
Jackets Of the soldiers. The value OF this
grant was 1900 (sO,O0G)-the best fee
ever got for a single speech!
I remained In London several months
superintending the shipment or the
boxes containing these Bibles on the Con-
federate blockade-runners. only lew
boxes could be sent at time. as all the
space of these swift little vessels was
needed for the transmission OF provisions
and munitions of war. OF course, many
Of these vessels were captured, out al
least three fourths OF the Bibles reached
the Confederacy. This was during the
third year of the war; and had my re-
ward on my return In visiting the camps
and hospitals, and in riding along the
lines. where | saw so many or the men
waiting to be called into battle, readihs
these little red-edged volumes.
LETTERS FROM CONFEDERATE
GENERALS.
One day It occurred TO me TO SEND a
CODY of these Bibles TO several OF the
great leaders In our Confederate army
ACCOMPANIED by a note TO each, eXp.aIh-
ing that they were brought from Eng
land by the blockade-running vessels. lac
result was deeply gratifying to me- as
was rewarded by receiving letters OF dc-
knowledgment (Which have never Deeh
published; and the originals having oeeh
carefully preserved. / regard them as inc
most precious relics OF the war ana Oh
a2W