The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-04-25
A NIGHT BEFORE THE CALL TO
ARMS.
/" IS THE YOUNG MAN ABSALOM SAFE ?"
The Rain Did not Keep the Large Congregation
Away---C chaplain Norman Preached
Powerful and Appropriate
Sermon.

| last night trudged through muddy streets
to hear their chaplain preach, and as Il
result number of them last night
sought the prayers of Christian people.
Many people interested in the service
and thinking of the young men braved
the weather and Edenton street MethO-
dist church was well filled with a con
gregation who heard what may prove
to be the last sermon Raleigh's soldier
boys will hear at home in many days and
possibly forever.
| Captain Crawford and his company
entered the church in single file and inn
mediately before the pulpit took the seats
reserved specially for them.
The choir sang 'The Drowning Day is
| Coming" and DIR. Norman offered
strong and fervent prayer. He prayed
| that God might bless our own soldiers
and make them realize that He was ever
ready to save them. Preserve them
from evil" said the pastor, make them
| true soldiers of the cross, be with them
on the field of battle and return them,
God. in safety. Thou who canst make
order out of confusion give us peace.
| God give us honrable peace i'll this land,
! such as will be for the good of the nation
and for thy everlasting glory God bless
those OH the seas" and as he closed hrs
PRAYER "amen" came from those good
men and women whose hearts are heavy
with sorrow over the expected departure
of dear ones who are to engage in the
great conflict.
| DIR. Norman read the 46th Psalm and
the congregation sang Amazing Grace
How Sweet the Sound" The boys
| in uniform joined in the singing and a
mighty chorus of harmonious voices
tuncfully sang the familiar words.
with the last notes of the organ the
congregation shifted into position to
hear the words of the chaplain as he
was to speak to the favorite soldiers.
| The blue and the gray were mingled
| together and yet distinctly separate. The
| blue was worn by the Guards, the grey
| by cadets, for soldier lads in such times
| as these pay tribute to each other and
| the young cadets from the Agricultural
and Mechanical College, who too would
| love to take up arms at the nations call
were present in uniform to hear the ser
mon and see the guardsmen.
| DR.. Norman stated that the notice of
the Guards intention to be present at
| the night service had reached him just
before the benediction at the morning
service and that he had been unable to
prepare for them special sermon, yet
when he announced his text and through
ont his sermon his hearers could but
think of the appropriateness of his re-
marks to the occasion.
"And the King said unto Cushi, is the
A L. -. ),I tnl
| 1892 was the text for the sermon.
DR.. Norman briefly told of the circum-
stances under which David made the
inquiry
| Dark and troublous times had come to
| Israel. Dire war was raging and Da-
vid's son was in that war. A fierce bat
| tie had Just been fought and courier
came to tell David of IsraeIs victory and
| the downfall of his enemies.
David forgets his people He forgets
IsraePs victory for with him the para
mount issue is the welfare of his wild
son and his first inquiry was rs the
young man Absalom safe?" The answer
of Cushi is well known. and the Bible
story of David's actions, as heart-broken
he went to his room above the gate, is
familiar Bringing the text near to his
hearers and to the young men about te
leave fathers and mothers DR. Norman
said this is the question presenting itself
before men and women as they daily
think of dear ones who have left their
homes.
Pathetically he pictured the mother
who had been an example of morality
piety and faithful Christian who had
prayed hourly for her beloved child alike
when babe. youth and man. The father
too suffered for the true father strived to
teach the son to live noble life, strug-
gled to guide him in paths of sobrlety
uprightness, honor and honesty None,
he said. could appreciate the feelings OF
| the mother and father except those
whose children had left at home anX-
ious hearts.
! Ihen it is that ineXpressible angish ana
mental torture make the mother wiring
her hands i'll agony if the child goes
astray and bad reports of his conduct
come home. Then it is that JOY comes
If the report of his record is good.
| DIR. Norman appealed to those present
not Christians to give their souls to Goo
and four young boys answered the can
from God. The pastor asked that any
who wished the prayers of Christian peo
pie would please bow their heads, ana
among the soldier boys the ranks for
once were broken Here and there :,
head was erect, making the line ragged
instead of united, but few there were
who did not seek the aid of prayers 10
| Heaven.
The sermon was over. the benedlctloh
was pronounced by the pastor ana slle. .,
Mizpah found its way into the he'rts
of all present. a.
Out into the dark night QUERY lic ~
Guard in single file. found the way -
their armory, where they assemble az ,,ln
tonight, possibly to receive the SUNNI fnI. tho
taking them from home to hsn' -
nations honor.
New York. April 24.-Iust at for muSN
the lines of the converted wasp cost ae off
| ly the yacht Columbia, We ',r,ahlv for