The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-04-26
TIE MESSAGE OF
4 SWORD.
A Relic Of Gettysburg.
REV. STRENGTHENS MEMENTo,

REV. STRENGTHENS MEMENTo
N. c. Baptist.
Sometimes the lifeless speaks ant
bears an eloquent message. It may b'
a sentiment, 1t may be an indescrlba
BILE fascination or attraction that gives
voice to the inanimate, yet sometime.
1tbears a message surcharged with q
feeling which enraptures the soul o1
men and brings mind to be the will.
Ing subject of matter.
1t was but few days ago that we
saw an old sword, worn and rusty,
sheathed in its scabbatd, yet it had a
tongue, and from its prison house OF
steel it whispered into the anxious
ears of it's owner and worshipper an
eloquent message that was sweet to
him and moved him as the wind sways
the yielding tree. He loved the sword
and kept it close by him as he jour
neyed On railway train, and as he
told what it said to him, ana the mes
sage 1t bore from the dying, his great
heart swelled and overHowed. Round
the story of this sword is woven the
heartstrings of noble family. It was
not blade fresh from its maker new
and bright, but 1t had a history, a
history which is glorious part of the
very life OF the South. It was wrough,
out in Richmond and its handle knew
the hand of David Stringfeld as &
familiar and heroic master, who bore
1t IN many struggle and held it
high to his comrades on many battle
field as rallying signal for the charge
Over the hills of Virginia and across
its battle-swept valleys this blade went
manv time. It was in the hand O,
the hero by day, and at night close b,
his side, while the blue sky was spread |
out above him as sheltering canopy
and the shining stars stood guard over
a sleeping army.
1t was at Gettysburg-the grea'
arena OF death-that the sword fasha5,,
for the last time in the hand of the |
Confederate hero from the banks Of |
Moore's Creek, where in the long age
patriots made glorious the soil by
mighty struggle and victory for the
right. Captain Stringfeld was leading
a charge toward the flaming heights
when the messenger Of death came
He fell at the feet of his brother. who
was following his cbivalrous captain
into the jaws of death. The wounded
man saw that death was nigh, and
banding his sword to his brother who
was then stranger to the mysteries OF
grace, babe him, in last falling
whisper, follow the great Captain OF
Nazareth and meet him as a victor In
he triumphant army of God. With
his message On his dying lips he lett
he field of carnage and death to be-
;ome one OF the great host of the re-
leemed, who sing as an eternal battle
;1y, Gail Hail the Power of Jesus
Same." The weeping brother caught
ip the fallen sword and ffom the fatal
lay Of Gettysburg to his death, j..
heard from that sword the
,!eading message of the dying hero
1e cherished it; he loved it. He
ave his heart to God and served HIM
or thirty-fve years. He, too, has
een called up higher, and today the
word is the most valued relic of the I
urviving brother, O. L. SPRINGFIELD, t
rho is the hero of the Baptist Woman l
ood of North Carolina. Fresh from &
be open grave OF his brother, he was :
caring the sword to his home In
.aieigh when we saw it. He held it \
enderly he looked at it lovingly, and
hen he spoke of 1t, its message and
IS history, his great soul overdowed
s banks and great tears fell fast on
ne floor OF the flying train. He would
OF part with it. He told us that
,oney could not buy it, for it repre-
,nted to him the sweet friendship and
eroism of his heavenly kin.
You may call it sentiment II you :
i'll. You may laugh at it as q child y
u devotion, but there is wealth of a
eIing and love in all this which I
,eaks of tho love of God and the fel- e
wsbip of His Son. :,
That old sword, shsathed in Its
abbard forever. coming down as
essenger from the greatest struggle
modern times, is more than cold VI
eel !; 1t Is more than weapon of war
re. it is a sacred memento of a VIC J"
ry greater than that won by shot and )"
eel, of victory in which soul was
ium phant and received IN abunGant
ltrance into the city Of God. Could
speak 1t would tell of prayers and
,nfiicts, OF victory and rejoicing, it
ould tell of the reunion of the soldier Il
AL..c soooroted of Goffychrru ond to