The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-19


some foreign nation, in which both
sections, marching side by side, would
forget everything but the foe to be
overcome. Well, if you wait for such
foreign conflict, you will wait until
all this generation is dead, and
perhaps wait forever. The war
that will make the sections for
get past controversies is a war
against unrighteousness, such as a uni
versal religious awakening would de,
clare. What we want is battle for
souls, in which about 40, 600, 900 north
erners and southerners shall be on the
same side and shoulder to shoulder.
In no other city on the continent can
such war pe declared so appropriate
ly, for all the other great cities are
either northern or southern. This is
neither. or rather it is both.
Again, it would be especially advan,
tageous if a. mighty work of grace
started here because more representa-
tive men are in Washington than in
any other city between the oceans.
Of course there are accidents in poll
tics, and occasionally there are men
who get into the senate and house of
representatives and other important
places who are fitted for the positions
in neither head nor heart, but this is
exceptional and more exceptional now
than in other days. There is not a
drunkard in the national legislature,
although there were times when
Kentucky, Virginia, Delaware, Illi.
nois, New York and Massachusetts had
men in senate or house of representa-
tives, who went maudlin and stagger.
ing drunk across those high places.
Never nobler group of men sat in SEN
ate or house of representatives than
sat there yesterday and will sit there
tomorrow, while the highest judiciary
without exception, has now upon its
bench men beyond criticism for good
morals and mental endowment. So
in all departments of official position,
with here and there an exception, are
today the brainiest men and most hon
orable men of America. Now, sup.
pose the Holy Ghost power should fall
upon this city and these men from all
parts of America should suddenly be-
come pronounced for Christ! Do you
say the effect would be electrical?
More than that. 1t would be omnipot-
entl Do you say that such learned
and potent men are not wrought upon
by religious infueDce2 That shows
you have not observed what has been
going on. Commodore Foote, repre-.
senting the navy; General Grant and
Robert E. Lee, representing the north
ern and southern armies: Chief JUS
tce Chase, representing the supreme
court; the Frelinghuysens, Theodore
and Frederick, representing the United
States senate; William Pennington
and scores of others. representing the
house of representatives, have surren-
dered to that gospel which before this
winter is out, will in this capital of the
American nation, if we are faithful
in our prayers and exertions, turn into
the kingdom of God men of national
and international power, their tongues
of elequence becoming the tongues OF
fire in another Pentecost.
There are on yonder hill those who,
by the grace of God, will become John
Knoxes aud Chrysostoms and Fene-
Ions and Bourdeleaus when once re-
generated. There is an illusion |
have heard in prayer meetings and
heard in pulpits that soul is soul
one soul worth as much as another. l
deny II, The soul of a man who can
bring 1000 or 10000 other souls into
the Kingdom of God is worth 1000 or
10000 times more than the soul of a
man who can bring no one into the
kingdom. A great outpouring of the
Holy Spirit in this cpital, reaching the
chief men of America, would be OF
more value to earth and heaven than
in any other part of the nation, be-
cause it would reach all the states, cit,
les, towns and neighborhoods of the
continent. Oh, for the outstretched
right arm of God Almighty in the
salvation of this capital.
Some of US remember 1857, when
at the close of the worst monetary dis
tress this country has ever felt, com
pared with which the hard times of the
last three years were a boom of pros
perity, right on the heels of that com,
plete prostration came an awakening
in which 5000 people were convert
ed in different states of the Union.
Do you know where one of its chief
powers was demonstrated In Wash
ing ton. Do you know on what streets
This street. Do you know in what
church? This chrch. 1 picked up an
old book a few days ago and was star
tied and thrilled and enchanted to
read some words, written at that time
by the Washington correspondent to
a New York paper. He wrote: 1.-THE
First Presbyterian church can scar e
contain the people. Requests are dai-
ly preferred for an interestin the pray
ers offered, and the reading of these
forms one of the tenderest and most
effective features of the meetings.
Particular pains are taken to disclaim
and exclude everything like sectarian
feeling. General astonishment is felt
at the unexpected rapidly with which
the work has thus far proceeded, and
we are beginning to anticipate the ne;
cessity of opening another church. u
Why, my. hearers. not have that again
and more than that2 There are many
thousands more of inhabitants now
than then. Besides that, since then
are the telephone, with its semiomni.
presence, and the swift cable car, for
assembling the people. I believe that
the mightiest revival of religion that
this city has ever seen is yet to come
and the earth will tremb]e from Cap.