The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-23

the enchanting Virginan Valley of Shen-
andoah and said he would so devastate
the charming land that a crow flying
over it would have to carry his own
rations, certain Gen. Phil Sheridan
all fit and boon companions in crime-We
NAV all thank God and take courage
as did the great Apostle Paul on his
way to Rome for trial and rejoice that
such barbaric plunderers are blots or
humanity, and that when the Historic
Muse shall record their awful crime with
her ineffaceable stylus, it will be deeply
craven that their memories are accused
by all right thinking, just and human
people. and are counted with an immor-
tality of infany.
But possibly the great power and au-
thority eXerted by the Book of books
over the nations cannot be more dis
tinctly traced than in our literature. That
Book which has called forth the highest
praise from the gifted minds of earth;
which has furnished themes and bestoW-
ed inspiration upon the grandest singers
of modern times; which so abounds IL
poetry of the sublimest character elo-
uuence of the most exalted and en-
trancing power, and pathoS as tender as
beautiful. has really done more in puri-
flying and elevating the intellectual
Aspirations, and in directing the noble
rivalry of authors than all other books
combined.
1t is indeed the great luminary which
the Mighty God Of the universe hung
out in the intellectual heavens, that the
highest created minds might bask in it's
-. h, ;,H w c
and purifying power. The influences OF
that wondrous Book. whose teachings
are marked with the zeal of high
divinity, and whose ''every leaf is be-
dewed with drops of love-" can no
more be rejected or blotted out With
out changing the whole current ana
character of modern literature and COM
/. pletely denuding it of its most prlncel!
apparel than can the light of the ma
terial sun be dispensed with without en-
shrouding the earth in darkness. Whilst
the regal minds Of Dante. Milton,
Shakespeare Tennyson, have delighted
to draw their highest inspiration from
this great and imperishable source, and
the first two have made some Of Its most
impressive teachings the themes OF tACl"
noblest song, men of less force and small
Ter Intellectual mould have Kissed tier
scoffing insults unto the face OF its
omniscient Author, and thrown their
venomous vaporings and seductive
slime upon its spotless pages. My space
is more than exhausted, or [ would draw
contrasts and show how many authors
are immoral, impure, cOrrupting III spite
of the Book and it's holy, inspiring i'll
/ finances I would show how imperfect
and low and grovelling are the OBJECTS
of worship and the consequent teachings
of the ancients in comparison with the
best ideals and representative genluses
of the Chistrian era. A gifted Baptist
minister. Rev. c. r. Hendrickson, deliv-
ering a fine address before Wake Forest
College. in June, 1850. said this
"The objects of worship, with few ex-
ceptions. were monsters of depravity, UNI
relieved by single virtue. Jupiter was
I sensualist Mercury was a thief;
Bacchus was a drunkard; Mars was a
| savage; Venus was courtezan, and Juno
was a malicious bag. All were the
/ friends and patrons of crime. Moral
| purity was a virtue of which none could
| boast. These were the divinities of that
beautiful country, among the hills, and
grottoes, and fountains of which, lived
/ the most gifted philosophers and poets OF
mankind-Where such as Homer sung IN
/ immortal yerse-where Sophocles and
/ Euripides gave character to the drama
where Socrates and Plato discoursed of
philosophy and morals. The Mythologies
of Egypt of Rome, of Scandinavia, and