Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-05-30
The Martyred Mad Man.
Concluded from page one.)

poesies shall play
Round the soldier-gnarded gibbet where
the old man les today
And now what are some OF the
characteristics Of this chieftain
What are some of the lessons Of his
life? John Brown was convinced that
he had call from Heaven, 10 carry
on a crusade against the slave sys-
TEN. He was imbued with that idea.
Like the matchless Moses, he stood
upon a sublime and solemn summit,
apart and alone. that he might catch
the sound Of "Shalt not!'' from the
skies. When asked by lady if ne
was not going to lead a quiet life
hereafter. he replied that he should.
unless he had call from the Lord.
When in camp he would retire often
to the solitudes. and upon returning
to his company would say that The
Lord had directed him in visions what
10 do" On one occasion he wrote:
'For twenty years | have never made
any business arrangement that would
prevent my answering the call OF the
Lord. | have kept my business in
such condition that within week. /
could be ready TO obey the call. "
Mrs. Brown also once remarked: ''My
husband always believed that he was
to be an instrument in the hands Of
Providence, for the freedom OF the
slave, and / believed it, too.n
Blessed be president, prophet or
priest who, keeps his ear close to the
ground; who like the loyal Lincoln
aud the magnificent Mckinley, waits
for an expression Of public opinion.
TO such statesmen and scholars the
world owes much. No man can
afford always and altogether to ignore
the acknowledgement, myriad-minded
multitude. For In the multitude of
eounsellors there is safety The
men and women OF the world who
have called for counsel and accepted
advice, have had their names written
high up in the temple of fame.
But thrice blessed is he who holds
his ear close to the clouds; who bark
ems to the summons of the skies; who
stands upon the picket line Of thought
and action in advance OF his age, and
beckons to hating, hesitatiag human
ity to move onward and to mount up
ward. Such a man will find in the
future, as he has found in the past,
the noblest niche in the worlds proud
Pantheon.
Abraham heard the summons OF the
skies and went forth. Not knowing
whittier he went to become the
Father OF the faithful and the
founder OF a noble nation. Moses
heard the mandate from Heaven and
became the emancipation Of his era
and the Lordly lawgiver of all lands.
Saul Of Tarsus listened to the call
from the clouds, and became the
worlds mighty missionary and pro-
found philosopher. Joan Of Arc
heard ..voices" from Heaven, and be-
came the tighter for France, and the
fear of her foes. Oliver Cromwell
was imbued with the idea OF a God
given work, and became the leader
Of the .Ironsldes. !" the hero of Naseby
and Marston Moor and the Protector
Of England. Martin Luther was ODE
dent to divine direction, and at once
became the hereto of Wittenberg.
and the hero of the world. John
Wesley was convinced of a call to
wondrous work, and became the Elk
ponent 81 Evangelism for all lands.
And each Of these characters followed
course which ran counter TO the
current of public opinion and oppo-
site to the teaching OF worldly wis
dom. Each Of them tossed aside the
theology Of the time, the statesman
ship OF the schools, the counsel of
contemporaries and the platforms Of
parties, to act upon Almighty author
ity In the luminous list of such
righteous reiormers shines the name
81 John Brown. who by his spiritual
fly and singularity builded better
than he knew. a monument for him
self which shall tower tall when the
Pyramids shall have perisLe &.
Though this Decoration day his
body lies Acknowledging in the grave
Yet
His soul j. marching on
and will continue TO gather grandeur
and glory as long as the story Of self
sacrifice and sympathy. Of devotion
TO duty and love Of liberty, is told.
Let student, scholar and Statesman
learn the lesson, that public opinion
Is not infallible, that msiorities ar,
not safe counsellors; that ror popaj
IS not ror Del. and that crowds chang,
like the chameleon. Men have al
ways maligned their leaders in on,
century and magnitied them in thr