Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-05-29
a GREAT SPEECH
The shorter chsterhi.m Captures the A.
ssmbly Anew.

ssnbty Anew.
The General Assembly, which was
In session In Jackson during the past
fortnight. was grand assemblage.
During its deliberations many great
arguments were made and wise de-
eisions reached All these have gone
abroad through the telesraphie re-
ports in the press. and our readers
are familiar with them But there IL
one thing-the gem OF the whole oc-
sasi9. so far as appropriateness. wit
A1d brilliancy goes-and that is the
speech OF Hon. c. H. Alexander in vel
coming the great body to Jackson
Never did an audience evince greater
delight or more thorough appreciation
than did his hearers. and for the sake
Of that great multitude in Mississippi
sho was raised on the Shorter Cate
ehism we believe our readers Of other
faiths will be glad to yield this space:
1T is natural 20 associate a Preshy-
terian assembly with the shorter Cate
chism- IL have any slight qualiHca-
ton for the art assigned 70 ne TO-
uight Il is the fact that once had
a smattering knowledge OF that little
book was raised on the Shorter
catschism. I shall never forget it
not the eatechism: I have already for
gotten that-but the raising | began
20 study IL very soon after vas born
into an estate OF sin and misery. and
then | began to realize that | had
been born into that estate was
taught more about the estate OF sin
and misery than was about the State
II Mississippi That catechism m ie
an impression on me. IL male fire.
1uent impressions or me. II made
vivid-I had almost said livid-im-
pressions on me. I took 1t internally.
out chiefly externally. The fact is. 1t
vas administered to me in corporal
and carnal manner. | shall never for
get the outward and ordinary means
whereby NY parents made an ef-
tsctual application Of IL to NE. and
thus did persuade and enable me to
embrace it
My messas- to you Is 'sumnarily
eomprehented' In the one word. vel
come. and viii not attempt to give
the reasons annexed Pardon the di-
sression: am back on the eatechisl-
do not deserve any credit for learn
ing IL Il was Lot. Ike Adam. left
to the freedom OF my own WILL Ny
parents would call me from my world
ly employments and recreations' and
compel me TO study It. II may be
that some Of you never saw that won
terful little book To you l would
say. cannot commend il as light
reading. ii is not novel; IL is not 4
poem. it does not rhyme; II does not
make good vacation reading; 1t is not
sold on the trains. II | ever have TO
AXE IL again | want to take il as
Ezekiel took his roll, or as John in
ais vision took the little book that
was bitter. In fact. | would prefer
to take it in a capsule To the theo-
Logan the catechIsm may be a perfect
compendium Of Bible doctrine. To the
theologian's boy it Is closely asso-
ciated with the idea Of eternal punish
ment.
81 confess do not feel altogether in
place in the sanctuary. have never
beat the drum ecclesiastic.' Unfortu-
nately. belong 10 a profession which
is not always credited with having
for its chief end the promotion of
truth between man and man, especially
in witness bearing In fact. some ig.
norant and misguided persons look
upon lawyers as illustrations of the
sinfulness OF that estate whereunto
man fell The most l am willing to
4dmIt is that no mere lawyer since
the fall ever did perfectly keep the
commandments However, it is true
that the lawyer Of old had his place
in the temple, and they are very LA
BILE to break in the temple even now
when there is any talking 10 do
though they usually show a great
want OF conformity unto or trans
gression Of the propriety Of the oc
casion.'
But to get back to my message:
got an idea long ago that the spiritual
world was divided like all Gaul-intc
three parts-what is required. what is
forbidden, and the reasons annexed
and I have read somewhere that there
Is a commandment which requireth
all lawful endeavors TO preserve the
lives Of others This requirement We
undertake towards you as our guests
during the next few days. There i:
one thirg l have noticed about the
coming Of a general assembly into
town The Marthas are brought tC
the front and are much in evidence
while the Narys are relegated to the
rear In behalf OF the Marthas Of oul
city. must say they are laboring un
der some perplexities. A fire has just
destroyed the beautiful building:
where they had planned a noble re
ception for you Besides. the cattle
have gone into the beef trust How
ever. a small remnant Of chickens are
left and these are preparing, as Gov
Bob Taylor says, to enter .he minis
try am sure you will find your
hostesses to be powerful preserving
and governing women. You will tasts
for yourselves as to their preserving
the men Of Jackson Will testify as tc
their governing. We sincerely hope
that you may while here receive a
competent portion Of the good things
Of this life and enjoy them without
detriment to your spiritual nourish
ment and growth in grace
"One word moro about the cate
chism: II is an invincibie document;
nothing can stand before IL hav.
read that during the Revolutionar,
War. while a company of Scotch-lrisl
| Presbyterians were fighting. their am