Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-02-14


often been said that the only way the
north and the south will be brought into
complete accord is to have a war with
some foreign nation in which both sec
tions, marching side by side, would for
get everything but the foe to be over
come. Well, if you wait for such a
foreign conflict, you will wait until all
this generation is dead and perhaps wait
forever. The war that will make the
sections forget past controversies IS a
war against unrighteousness, such as a
universal religious awakening would
declare. What we want is a battle for
souls in which about 10000, 900 north
erners and southerners shall be on the
same side and shoulder to shoulder. In
no other city on the continent can such a
war be declared so appropriately, for all
the other great cities are either north
ern or southern. This is neither, or
rather it is both.
Religion Among Statesmen.
Again, it would be especially advan-
tageous if mighty work Of grace start
ed here, because more representative
men are in Washington than in any 9TH
er city between the oceans. OF course
there are accidents in politics, and occa-
sionally there are men who get into the
senate and bouse 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 drunkard in the national
legislature, although there were times
when Kentucky, Virginia, Delaware,
Illinois, New York and Massachusetts
had men in the senate or house of repre-
sentatives who were maudlin and stag
gering drunk across those high places.
Never nobler group of men sat in senate
or house Of representatives than sat there
Yesterday and will sit there tomorrow,
while the highest judiciary, without ex-
ception, has now upon its bench men
beyond criticism for good morals and
mental endowment. So in all depart
ments Of official position, with here and
there an exception, are today the bralnl-
est men and most honorable men Of
America. Now, suppose the Holy Ghost
power should fall upon this city, and
these men from all parts Of America
should suddenly become pronounced for
Christ. Do you say the effect would be
electrical? More than that. 1t would be
omnipotent. Do you say that such
learned and potent men are not wrought
upon by religious influence? That shows
you have not observed what has been
going on.
Commodore Foote, representing the
navy; General Grant and Robert L.
Lee, representing the northern and
southern armies; Chief Justice Chase,
representing the supreme court; the
Frelinghuysens, Theodore and Frederick,
representing the United States senate
William Pennington and scores OF 9TH
ers, representing the house Of represent
atives, have surrendered to that gospel
which before this winter is out will II
this capital Of tho American nation, II
we are faithful in our prayers and ex
ertions. turn into the kingdom Of God
men Of national and international pow
or, their tongues Of eloquence becoming
the tongues of fire in another Pentecost.
There are on yonder hill those who by
the grace of God will become John
Knoxes and Chrysostoms and Fenelon!
and Bourdeleaus, when once regenerat
ed. There is an illusion l have heard in
PRAYER meetings and heard in pulplts
that a soul is a soul-One soul worth al
much as another. l deny it. The sou
of a man who can bring 900 or 10000
other souls into the kingdom Of God Il
worth / 900 times or 0,000 times more
than the soul Of a man who can bring
no one into the kingdom. A great out
pouring of the Holy Spirit in this capi'
tai. reaching the chief men Of America
would be Of more value to earth anC
heaven than in any other part Of the ma
tion. because it would reach all thu
states. cities, towns and neighborhoodi
of the continent. Oh, for the outstretch
ed right arm Of God Almighty in tn
salvation of this capital
A Look Backward.
Some of US remember 1857, when a
the close Of the worst monetary distress
this country has ever felt, compare'
with which the hard times Of the las
three wears were a boom Of prosperity
right on the heels Of that complete pros
tration came an awakening in whicl
500. 900 people were converted in differ
ent states of the Union. Do you know
where one of its chief powers was dem
onstrated? In Washington. Do yo'
know on what street? This street. ID
Won know in what church? This church
| picked up an old book few days ag
and was startled and thrilled and en-
chanted to read some words, written q
! that time by the Washington CORE
spondent of a New York paper. ID
wrote: 1.-THE First Presbyterian churc
can scarce contain the people. Request
are daily preferred for an interest IN tn
nravers offered and the reading Of thes
| forms one of the tenderest and most ei
fective features Of the meetings. Partlcu
lar pains are taken to disclaim and eA
clude everything like sectarian feeling
General astonishment is felt at the nj
expected rapidity with which the wor
has thus far proceeded, and we are o'
ginning to anticipate the necessity
openirg another church. Why, m
hearers. not have that again, and MOI
| than that? There are many thousand
more of inhabitants now than thon. 80
sides that. since then are the telephone
with its semiomnipresence, and the swli
cable car for assembling the people.
believe that the mightiest revival OF r'
ligion that this city has ever seen Is u
10 come, and the earth will tremole iroi
| Capitoline hill to the boundaries on a
sides with the footsteps OF God as
comes to awaken and pardon and say
these great populations.
People Of Washington, meet Us ne,
Thursday night, at half past o'clocl
10 pray for This coming Of the no
Ghost-not for a pentecostal 5000 th'
| have referred to, but $4,000. such
fire as that would kindle light th,
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