The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-20

that other regiments might be bene-
flied by like efforts. They recog-
nized his great aid to them in the con-
troll and care of the men. He preached
when he could and the boys, respect
ing him, listened even though they
we're not interested in religion. He
was twice sick, once nigh unto death,
and they ministered unto him. He
was made chaplain, on convalescing,
of large hospital. He was an angel
of mercy to the sick, the wounded and
dying. His one thought was, What
more can | do for them7" He met
the train loads of wounded from the
battle fields, and cheered and soothed
them with word and hand. He stood
by them and strengthened them
when the surgeons sharp knife did
its cruel work. and bound and dressed
their wounds when it was over. He
wrote letters, dozens day some
times, and sent messages to loved
ones from dying lips. Then back
again to his regiment, on long
marches, in fiery battles, out on the
field caring for the wounded and dy-
ing, while the storm of fire ragged
around him. They called him the
working chaplain" General Sher-
man gave him the name. Other chap
lains envied him his faculty and
power of gaining the regard of the
soldiers; but whoever they were they
loved him and learned of him.
Mother Bickerdyke met him, and
loved him for his love of the boys;
and entrusted to him her stores of
treasures for their good. She never
forgot him, and talked lovingly of
him to his friends long after the cruel
time was over. Vicksburg, Cham
pion Hills, Atlanta, Rome, Hatchie,
Kenesaw mountain, these were some
of the bloody spots that witnessed
his tolls and sacrifices, and angel
ministries. But why try to recount
his efforts? Time and words would
fail. Only 1.-THE of what he did is
history. 1t was all alike, and all out
of the great heart of the man.
When it was all over, back he
came to the old fields, and the old
forms of service. Without a pause
he took up their duties where he had
laid them down. For twenty years
and more he sacredly and lovingly
performed them.
When in the very midst of an act
i've and efficient effort, a hand was
laid upon him and he was hidden to
pause. A voice said, You have6one
enough" All, how hard it was for
him to obey! The command he would
not believe peremptory; and after
little parley he went on. But the
hand would not let go; and so he
dragged about with him a heavier
load for time, carrying the old bur
dens also, just the same as before.
But not long. More peremptory
came the voice day by day, and heav-
Ter grew the load. At last he knew
that it was Gods voice speaking, and
Gods burden imposed upon him,
and he obeyed, and stood still. 1t
was new trial, but he had learned
to bear before, and he submitted
bravely and cheerfully, saying, "Thy
will be DONE" The same bravery,
the same fortitude, the same sublime
patience, tee same mistaken faith,
the same unyielding confidence in
the loving providence of God, the
browning manifestation of these, in
deed, of all his life. And how fitting
ly did these last years crown all the
years that had gone before! The
Spanards say that Ruaz beat out his
own brains against the stony walls of
his three by five cell, made insane
probably by being imprisoned within
such narrrw bounds, by the oppres-
sive sense of hopeless restriction
But here was a man more narrowly
imprisoned, with far less liberty,
whose every muscle, almost, was
bound as if in adamantine chains,
and yet he did not struggle impa
tiently. He did not bruise himself
against bar or stone. He kept him
self sane and whole in mind and
spirit. Indeed, he seemed to grow
into greater Wilderness and complete
ness day by day, until it grew won
der how so frail form could hold so
large and potent spirit. And at last
it could not. At last the fire Of the
spirit burned away it's heshly bar
riers and it was free. And what a
happy release.
Death That word hardly had a
meaning in Barton Rogers's vocabu-
larry. What men called death, to him
was birth and more abundant life.
New and richer life forever more.
How real Immortality ALWAYS was to