Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-02-15

while he lived there be did not behave
we'll This capital stands where. By its
locality and its political influence, 1t
stretches forth one hand toward the
north and the other toward the south.
and mighty work Of grace starting here
would probably be q national awaken
ing. Georgia would clasp the hand Of
New Hampshire. and Maine the hand Of
Louisiana, and California the hand Of
New York, and say, "Come, let as 20 M
and worship the God of nations. the
Christ of Golgotha, the Holy Ghost of
the pentecostal three thousands. !" 1t has
often been said that the only way the
north and the south win be brought into
complete accord is to have war with
some foreign nation in which both Sec
lions. 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, 600 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 adyan-
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 house of representatives and
other important places who are fitted
for the positions in neither head nor
heart, bat 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-
sentatlves 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 braini-
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 E.
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 in
this capital Of the American nation, if
xra ara faithful IN, orr r,rox,o~o a,d ~
ertions, turn into the kingdom of God
men of national and international pow
er, 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 Fenelons
and Bourdeleaus. when once regenerat-
ed. There is an illusion have heard in
prayer meetings and heard in pulpits,
that soul is a soul-one soul worth as
much as another. deny it. The soul
Of man who can bring 1 900 or $1,000
other souls into the kingdom of God is
worth 1000 times or $1,000 times more
than the soul of man who can bring
no one into the kingdom. A great out
pouring Of the Holy Spirit in this CAPT
tai, reaching the chief men of America,
would be of more value to earth and
heaven than in any other part of the ma
ton, because it would reach all the
states, cities, towns and neighborhoods
of the continent Oh, for the outstretch-
ed right arm of God Almighty in the
salvation Of this capitall
Look Backward.
Some of us remember 1857, when at
the close of the worst monetary distress
this country has ever felt, compared
with which the hard times of the last
three years were boom Of prosperity,
right ON the heels Of that complete pros
tration came an awakening in which
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 you
know on what street? This street Do
you know in what church? This church.
/ picked up an old book a few days ago
and was startled and thrilled and en-
chanted to read some words, written at
that time by the Washington corre-
spondent of a New York paper He
wrote: "The First Presbyterian church
can scarce contain the people. Requests
are daily preferred for an interest in the
prayers offered, and the reading of these
forms one of the tenderest and most eff
fective features of the meetings Particu-
lar pains arc taken to disclaim and ex-
clude everything like sectarian feeling.
General establishment is felt at the un-
expected rapidity with which the work
has thus far proceeded, and we are be-
ginning to anticipate the necessity Of
opening another church Why, my
hearers, not have that again, and more
than that? There are many thousands
more of inhabitants now than then. Be
sides that. since then are the telephone,
with its semiomnipresence, and tho swift
cable car for assembling the people. l
believe that the mightiest revival of re-
ligion that this city has ever seen is yet