The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-03-11
RELIGIOUS THOUGHTS.
BY REV. J. o. COUGH, MANNING, s. O.


whose eyes may perchance glance
over this column, that We do not wish
to confne ourselves to the discussion
of bible text, but we will try to
gather q thought here and there,
which, like the little dew drop that
twinkles to the morning sun, may
perchance lead the thought Of the
reader up to God.
The Manning Times goes into
many hands, and is q welcome and
familiar friend around many 8 hearth
stone. Would it be wrong for col
umn of religious thought to be in
serted by way OF rest to the reader ?
All through the columns of the Times
you will find much and varied news
Of the latest issue. Dr. Talmage, the
most eloquent of preachers, gives you
on the fourth page sermon in full
as he preached it in the capital city
of this great nation. So you do not
lack for news if you take the Times,
but we thought that with the discus
sions of broad principles in the po-
litical world, while "wars and ru-
mors of wars" are rumbling in the
distance, that perhaps your mind
might grow weary Of the bustling
noise of politics and the disgusting
sights of Office seeker, and would
wish to turn your mind and thought
to more congerial subject. If such
should be the case, the editor, through
this column, wishes to enter your
home, and around your own happy
freside talk to you of things that be.
long to God. We do this With q
hope that We may aid some one along
life's rugged pilgrimage. By nc
means DO We intend to discourage OF
offend anyone.
1t Was our privilege to attend the
meeting Of old soldiers held in '.the
court house last Monday. We can
not express the feeling that come
over US ss We entered the nesting
On every side. ye turned our eyes
there sat . "comrade whose head
was gray, because OF the years that
are past And with the.honored and
beloved chaplain, Brother Mcdowell,
and the comrades OF sixty. one to
sixty-fve grasping at each 9th
er's hand, ! could but ask myself 8
few questions: What are the
thoughts now revolving in the bos.
oms OF these old soldiers? I an.
swered: to some, memories Of by.
gone deys cluster around the meeting
while they rehearse those deeds
which were formed in the dark hou,
of trial and sealed With the red heat
of suffering and danger. To others
the meeting brought together hearts
that once rose apd fell in 8 mutua
common cause. while they recounted
the bravery and virtues OF sheir falleI
comrades who in their tattered gar.
ments of gray shall never fsde from
our memories. Doubtless Others
would 'tlet the dead past bury it,
dead" while they care only tor the
aid the pension you'd give. 60 the
true soldier. whose bravery is backed
by the wounds be bears and whose
record is written in many 3 comrades
heart would it not be Q deed Of hon:
or to receive pension from the
hands Of the government?
But now "comSades," after thirty
years of varying fortune has swept
over you, and you sit in the calm life
of afterthought; as you recall the
host of the brave and true Eho fel
on the dread battlefield, thousands
who in the common walks of life, like
your heroic leader, have passed "ove'
the river to rest under the shade OF
the tree" of life; as you remember
that =:
Part Of the hosts have crossed the5Aood
And part are crossing now"
will you allow me one question
Are you soldier of the cross? Dc
you love the great Chieftain, Jesus
Christi If so. "soon we will gather
at the river" with the Captain Of ou,
salvation, while every general, cap
tain, cavalryman, infantry, scout
picket, und sentinel
Grown him Lord Of ali.