The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-07-04

Let him be coi7miserated who Is TOO
blind TO see, too stupid TO appreciate the
helpful influence Of such monument on
the countrys character and destiny.
II am sCm,timcs confronted by cold
hearted. seif-sccking. mountaineering
ing man. who wants 10 know what COCO
viii come TO MS from keeping alive sucn
sentiments. He wants TO Know hvW
much the reunions Of the veterans OF tne
North and the veterans OF the SOUTH
and these memorials, orations, sermons
and songs and this multiplication OF
monuments, will advance the .eri .n
interests OF the country. BE wants "
know how many debts they VIII pay,
how many factories and railroads they
VIII build. and how much new capita'
they will bring our cities ana TOWNS
SENTIMENT DESIRABLE.
MY reply Is that the weakest anu "a
meancst country on Gods footstooi ~
the country without sentiment A nation
without sentiment is a nadon without
character, without virtue, without DOW
er, without aspiration and WITHOUT Sen SEN
respect. Who that has one nDte OF u e ~,
manhood in him, could wish 10 nVe II,
such a nation? The Congors, karlrs anu
Uottentots are noble men ana princes
in comparison with those AneIlcaIs W.
who are too gross and groyelling 10 COM
nemorate the deeds and virtues or those
mon who fought and died for what they
believed TO be their country eood.
patriotism. in its last analysis Is tne
love OF one spot or section OF earth more
than any other. The late Governor /" lh.
throp. OF Massachusetts, IN one o1 tne
neatest orations OF his life said; l an
a New Highlander, and j am bounu' py
the strongest ties of affection anu OIVou
to assist and vindicate, here ahu en-
where. the Just renown or new Ens AZ 1,i',,,
sons You may call that sectohe4sIi,
but I call It patriotism. All honor 10
the man. who. while he upholds MS ma,
tion's flag, and stands ready 70 SUI
his hearts blood in defense OF eneIS
inch of her soil, loves his own se e.',a
his own state moro than any other state,
his own neighborhood. and his own nome
more than any other home. Ihat sehu-
ment deserves. and will receive, the IN
qualified endorsement of every truly pa
triotic mind. ,,so,,.,
the issues upon which two great sec.
tions OF this country went 10 war, ~
IS enough to say that the people OF polh
sections believed they were right, anu,
from the beginning 70 the ehu OF wy
10 be the best interests OF their country
They submitted their differences 10 the
arbitration of war The decision OF tld1
tribunal has BEEN rendered, ana every
honorable and patriotic citizen OF the he,
public. on either side OF the Mason aiiQ
Divnn' { line. will stand by and uphold IL
10 the last extremity. The Scared vet,
Grams OF the North and South have lolneu
hands in a covenant Of peace and frater-
nitv. Inspired by their example thelr
children. of this and coming geneIs.io o,,s
viii stand together In holy compact ana
labor and struggle to make theirs tne
unrest happiest and Greatest country
In all the sisterhood Of nations. 49,.
II am persuaded that brlel discus
Sim III religious events In the Confeder-
ate army. and OF some features or the
religious department Of Confederate SOL
diers will serve not only 10 promote ia
ternal feelings but TO strengthen our iaisn
in the Gospel OF Jesus Chilst as w
great conservator and promoter OF per
sonai virtue NV own experience as mis-
sionarv I'm the army Is replete WIN thrlil-
ing illustrations Of the subject. bu' W "
story is best told by that laborous, sen
denying and successful OF GonleueTase,
chaDlains. DR. John William Jones. MOS
OF the scenes TO which ] refer To-Day are
beautifully delineated In his work en-
titled Christ in the Camp.
m will be readily admitted that tne
conditions OF army life are not faVorhpie
20 niety. Absence from home and sane
tuary. the loss Of all the restraining IN
fuence of female society, the monotony
and weary drudgery OF the camp the lacK
Of food and familiarity with al inc nor
rors ~ the battlefield cannot fail TO dam
pen spiritual aspiration and deaden moral
sons,bilitv hut there Is no environment
u
Goa an impossibility. Christ may be
couch, found. loved and obeyed anywhere
under Gods sun. and under any circum-
stancoe nossible 10 man. Abundant con-
frmation OF this assertion may be FOUND
in the published testimony of Confede-
rate chaolains.
THE GOSPEL PREACHED
"1n every division Of the army The Cos
pei was lovingly and faithfully preached
and never was 1t listened 10 morn largely
and seriously. Never were It's fruits more
visible and abundant; never We're lis Vo-
taries more earnest; never werc It's prlh-
ciples more signally and gloriously Illus
trated BIZ human lives.
"Bishoo Cranberry, in recording the
results OF his personal observations, pays
this beautiful and merited tr butte 10 the
Christian conduct Of the boy0 in gray:
Away from the happy influence OF
nelRhborhood and home the most OF mem
we're temperate and chaste. Cut OF from
church and SundaN-School oileh haNiiIs
10 dav NJ scored rest and little commuh-
ion OF saints they feared the Lord ana
Thought upon his name. On every march
thev carried the well thumbed BLDG ana
the hard ground on which they sIep'
without tent or bed or pillow oi'ch pIoN-
ed a Bethel to their souls. They were
hind and generous TO their cOmlnueS
Thev delighted in devotional meetings,
and were never ashamed 10 witness ioI
Christ Not recklessly. but with thousht-
ful and praycrful solemnty tncy Went N
H. hattie The peace Of God Kept thelI
h,orts from fear If 70 ball shlVered a
limb or entered the body, smile o. re-
sieuation nt up the face as the suucIer
was borne TO the rear ~,
This Is tho written testimony OF ~ us us
unguished and faithful servant OF LOU
who saw and heard what he has put on
record / am sure that upon no tented
field have there ever been more Nohuer-
fl displays Of Gods saving power ahn
praise. than were witnessed in the space
Of tnroe years in the army OF Northern
Virginia.
Writing 10 his church in Tai 'ega.
Ala the late Or. RenfrOe said: ON, IL
is ms. transporting 20 see the caineslhess
with which our men take holu on isI,-
glon There Is scarely an hour IN when
some enduring soul does not come 70
INV tent for instructions In all my life
| have never seen anything Ike H.
"a Virginia minister who had spent
three months preaching TO the same army
said. i'm a. letter 20 the Religious 1ri-
aid: a general predispositlon TO IeilsiSn
Is everywhere apparent. Thousands VINO
iu the beginning of the war were mol
only fhOuEhtless. but profane ana rock
less. are now either happy Christians on
trembling inquirers. II Is impossiole iVl
those who have not been in the army tc
form a correct idea OF the magnitude OF
the work
"I have witnessed the conversion ol
hundreds Two thousand have recently
urofrssed religion In this army. ] have
il directly from the Hos OF the man wh'
YVES the instrument which God hOnoieo
mare than any other In that glorious
work. that there Were more than lo,n
ron,ersions in the arni.- Of Northerr
Vireinin. These wonderful displays o.
divine grace among the soldiers Of th'
South were not confined 10 the army