The Springfield herald., 1898-02-04
REFORM OF HICKORY.
BECAME A CONVERT AFTER
LEAVING THE PRESIDENCY.
His Spirit Would Flame Up-The Dis
course Which Led tho General to
Presbyt erianism-A Good story Which
Wont the Rounds After His Death.


bulletin says: Your reference to Gen.
Jackson's religion and to the remark
attributed to Tom Marshall, that the
general finally turned Presbyterian and
cheated the devil. suggests the story
of how he became converted. The
clergyman who had that honor was the
Rev. DR.. Edgar, who had charge OF
Presbyterian church in Nashville. He
had preached some sermons which Gen.
Jackson listened to with interest after
he left the presidency and returned to
the Hermitage. A discourse on the
manner in which Providence regulated
and shaped lives and affairs of men and
an impressive application OF the idea to
the generals own career made par
ticularly profound impression on his
mind. He sent for DR.. Edgar and ex-
pressed wish to be received into the
Presbyterian church at the Hermitage
at once, together with his daughter.
The clergyman propounded to him the
necessary questions concerning the
converts frame of mind, hfs personal
experiences and his faith in the doc
trines of the church. Everything went
smoothly, and "Old Hickory" answered
all the questions satisfactorily until DR..
Edgar aroused the sleeping lion within
him by asking: General, 1t Is my
duty to put you one more question. Can
you forgive all your enemies?" yes.
replied the venerable patriot. with
great earnestness, 81 can freely forgive
my political enemies, but (warming up)
as for those who abused me when l
was serving my country in the field and
those who attacked me for serving my
country-no, doctor, that is different
case"
The clergyman, of course, informed
him that forgiveness Of all men would
be necessary condition to his spiritual
regeneration and entrance into the
church. But 1t required a long argu-
ment before DIR. Edgar could convince
him that 1t was proper thing to for
give his enemies. He was not long al
terward admitted as a member OF the
church at the Hermitage, and 1t is said
that he spent large portion Of his time
until his death reading the Bible. He
was at one time proposed as ruling
elder of the church. but declined to
serve, and in his will he expressed his
religious feeling thus: 81 bequeath
my body to the dust whence 1t comes
and my sould to God who gave it, hop
ing for happy immortality through
the atoning merits of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the savior Of the world" Gen.
Jacksons spirit toward his enemies
hnH tn hn In
and even on his dying bed. 1t was in
his last sickness that this same Pres
byterian clergyman, DR.. Edgar. was
sent for. and it was to him that the
general made his celebrated remark on
Calhoun. The doctor had ventured to
inquire, in the course of conversation
about things in the life of his convert
In the past, as to what he would have
done with Senator Calhoun and mis-
South Carolina friends If they had per-
sisted In their scheme of notification
Instantly the general exclaimed. rising
in his bed: 81 would have hanged
them, sir, as high as Haman; they
would have been terror to traitors for
all time, and posterity would have pro-
nounced 1t the best act of my life +"
His last words were that he would meet
all his household both white and black,
before God in heaven. After his death
there was story to the effect that a
Democratic merchant met Whig mer-
chant and said to him: "Ah. it's a good
and great man we have lost II any
man has gone to heaven, Gen. Jackson
has" The Whig replied that he was
not so sure Of that. well, SIR" was
the rejoinder, Il tell you that II An
drew Jackson made up his mind to go
to heaven you may depend upon it he
Is there"