The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-07
cHApLAIN IN wEsLEY.s PULPIT.
Rev. DIR. Bolton of the Ninth Illinois
at DIR. Branch's Church.


A large congregation heard the excellent
sermon preached last night in the lecture
room Of Wesley Monumental Church by
Rev. DR.. II. W. Bolton, chaplain Of the
Second Illinois Regiment. Among those
present were a number of soldiers both Of
DR.. Bottoms and other regiments.
The chaplain Of the Second Illinois is an
officer of distinguished appearance, and
his admirable and commanding presence
lends force and dignity 20 his speech. He
is one of the most impressive and eio-
quent pulpit orators that have visited Sa-
vannah in a long while. The warmth and
vlgor of his delivery is equaled by the
force and beauty OF his thoughts, and his
congregation was more than pleased with
the sermon.
AS his text, DR.. Bolton took the pass
age: Have faith in God" He began
with an Illustration Of what il means TO
have faith, citing the planting of his
grain by the husbandman, who puts the
seed in the ground with the conviction
that nature will do its work and that the
fruition of the cereal viii enable him 10
meet his obligations and enable him 70
live in comfort The faith OF the child
in what he is told by his parents was
instanced, and other examples were shown
OF faith. The difference was shown be-
tween faith in man and faith in God.
DR.. Bolton said that faith in Christ is
infinitely superior to faith in man. some
men. he said, may be trusted aud in
some men one may believe. Faith may be
had in them for the performance of GER
tain things to the extent of their ability
but their power is not eXhaustless, as is
that of Christ. Human skill, human en-
durance and human mentality have their
limits, and beyond them no man can go.
With the Lord he said there are no
limitations, and that left with Him may
be accomplished. The chaplain was in
the war between the states and he related
an incident Of his life in the army. Bull
let's were flying thick and fast between
the opposing armies and a comrade OF
DR.. Bolton, who was then a sergeant, was
shot down. The latter lifted him and at
tempted to carry him to the rear. His
strength was not adequate, however, and
he had to lay him on the ground. Never
mind, sergeant" said the wounded SOL
der, you would do il, / know, if you
had the power. But you haven't; so let
me lie and leave me with the Lord, who
has greater power
Faith in God was further exemplfed to
the congregation by the preacher in the
relation of another incident of which he
was a witness. A young soldier, the son
from that home in which he was loved so
well, had been found asleep on his post
while doing sentry duty. A drumhead
court martial had found him guilty of
the offense, and he had been condemned
TO be shot Efforts were made 10 save
him. but they had been found unavailing
until he had been placed in
front of a squad of twelve men,
In one Of the rifles of the
| firing party was loaded cartridge. which.
1t was not known, and the word TO fire
was being awaited Calmly, as calmly.
the preacher said as he himself was tell
| Ing the story, the young soldier stood
| awaiting his death. He had prayed dur
| ing the night with Dr. Bolton. and had
| told him that he had faith in God. 1t
was this faith that had made him able to
meet his fate so unfinchingly. Just as the
| order to fire was about to be given. a
| white horse, with the rider waving a pa
| per above his head, appeared over neigh
boring hill. The message arrived just in
| time. It was pardon from President
| Lincoln. The faith the young soldier had
in the Lord had been justified The story
| is one that has been told often in fiction,
but its verify in this instance is known.
| 1t is expected that DR.. Bolton will fill
other pulpits while his regiment remains
near Savannah. He has been invited to
| preach next Sunday at the independent
| Presbyterian Church