Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-13
Transmitted Power.

grandmother, VINO nau enough religion
to saturate century.
Transmitted Power.
There sho is, the dear old soul, Grand
mother Lois In beautiful Greenwood
cemetery there is the resting place Of
George w. Bethuno, onco minister OF
Brooklyn Heights, his namo never spoken
among intelligent Americans without sug
gestiIg two things-eloquenc and evan.
gclism. In tho same tomb sleeps his
grandmother, Isabella Graham, who was
tho chief inspiration OF his ministry. You
are not surprised at the poetry and pathos
and pulpit power of the grandson when
you read of tho faith and devotion of his
wonderful ancestress. When you read this
letter, in which she poured out her widow.
ed soul in longings for sons salvation,
you will not wonder that succeeding gen.
erations have been blessed
"NEw York, May 90, 1871.
"This day my only son left me in bitter
wringinRs Of heart He Is again launched
on the ocean-God's ocean. The Lord
saved him from shipwreck, brought him
to my home and allowed me once more to
indulge my affections over him. He has
been with me hut short time, and i'll
hare improved it; he Is gone from my
sight, and my heart bursts with tumultu.
Gus grief. Lord, have mercy on the wild
ow's son. tho only son of his mother.
II ask nothing in oil this world for
him. / repeat my petition Save his soul
alive, give him salvation from sin. 1t Is
not the danger of tho seas that distresses
mo; it is not the hardships he must un
dergo; 1t Is not the dread OF never seeing
him more in this world; 1t Is because
cannot discern the fulflllment of the
promise in hir. l cannot discern tho new
birth nor its fruit, but every symptom OF
captivity to satan, the world and self will
This, this is what distrcsses me- and In
connection with this his being shut out
from ordinances at a distance from Chris.
tians. Shut up with those who forget
God, profane his name aud break his Sab
baths. Men who often live and die like
beasts, yet are accountable creatures, who
must answer for evory momen, of time
and every word thought and action. Oh,
Lord, many wonders hast thou shown me;
thy ways Of dealing with me and minc
have not been common ones; add this
wonder to the rest. Call, convert, regener
alto and establish sailor in the faith
Lord, all things are possible with thee
Glorify thy Son and extend his kingdom
by sea and land. Take tho prey from the
strong roll him over upon thee Many
friends try to comfort me; miserable com
forters are they all. Thou art the God OF
consolation. Only confirm to mo thy
precious word, on which thou causedst
me to hope in the day when thou saidst
to me, Leave thy fatherless children,
will preserve them alive Only let this
| life be spiritual life, and put blank
In thy hand as to oil temporal things
II wait for thy salvation. Amen"
With such grandmother, would you
not have IA right to expect George W.
| Bethunc9 And all the thousands convert
| ed through his ministry may date the saw
| ing power back to Isabella Graham.
God I'LL tho earth and the heavens with
such grnnanothersi We must some day
| go up and thank these dear old souls
| Surely God will lot us go up and tell them
Of the results Of their influence. Among
our first questions in heaven will be-
Where is grandmother They will
| point her out, for we would hardly know
her, even II We had seen her on earth SO
| bent over with years once and there so
straight, so dim of eye through the blind
ing Of earthly tears and now her eye as
clear as heaven, SO full Of aches and pains
once and now so ngile with celestial
health, the wrinkles blooming into carna.
ton roses and her step like the roe OH the
mountains. Yes, / must sec her, my
grandmother on my fathers side, Mary
| Mccoy, descendant Of tho Scotch. When
first spoke to an audience in Glasgow
Scotland, and felt somewhat difiidcnt, be-
ing q stranger. l began by telling them
my grandmother was Scotchwoman, and
then there went up shout of welcome
which made rue feel rs easy as do here
must see her.
Make Religion an Heirloom.
You must see those women Of tho early
pnrt of the nineteenth century and those OF
the eighteenth century the answer of whose
prayers Is In your welfare today. God
bless all the aged women up and down
the land and In all lands What happy
thing for Ponponius Atticus to say when
making tho funeral address of his mother
Though have resided with her OF years,
was never once recenoiled to her, because
there never happened the least tisoord be
tween us, and consequently there was NJ
need of reconciliation"
Mako 1t as easy for the old folks as yol
can, When they are sick, get for them thu
best doctors. Give them your arm whei
the streets are slippery. Stay with then
all the time you can. Go home and SEQ thu
folks. Find the place for them In the
hymnbook. Never DO ashamed II they
prefer styles Of apparel which arc LITTLE
antlquated. Never say anything that I'M
plies that they are In the way. Make thu
road for the last mile as smooth as yol
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