Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
church? Did he not serve any patriot
&c purpose?
5ackson's Advice to q Mfnfster

&c purDoSeg
Jackson's Advice to q Minister.
We cannot today too much praise the
WORK OF the gospel minister during the
agonles or Americas four years OF
carnage. One day a man applied TO
General Jackson for a position in his
army. What is your businessf"
asked Jackson. II am u minister of
the gospel" was the reply. Then Jack
son, the Christian soldier, said: MY
friend, l can give you no position as
high as that which God has given TO
you. Go back 10 your own church. In
the name of Jesus Christ. give comfort
to the widows whose husbands have
been slot; TO the children whose
fathers, on account OF this bloody war.
will never come back: TO the young
IDaidens who can never again see their
sweethearts- Go back and preach the
gospel CT sacrifice TO the young men
who must be enlisted from your town.
Go back! In Gods name. go baek.'
Aye. the duty which Thomas ]. Jack
son assigned 10 the ministers OF Jesus
was grandiy and nobly fulfilled by
hundreds OF consecrated clergymen,
day | honor the memories OF the noble
men of God who at home were true
and firm TO their Lord and their people
during the awful conflict
But have still, another long list Of
unpraised heroismS- would not
praise the boy In blue or the boy I'm
gray for what be did in 1861 and 1865
more than would praise him for what
he did after peace had been pro-
claimed It was spectacle that as
tonished the world. a spectacle unprece-
denied In history. that OF the soldiers
OF those two huge armies laying down
their muskets and taking up the
plOwshare. To their honor be 1t said
that they were ready to turn their
backs upon strife and. side by side.
work together In the vocations OF
peace. The vast armies OF America
going forth to battle is not nearly as
impressive. from a historic standpoint
TO the student OF sociology. as those
armies almost Instantly melting away
and then and there their ex-members
fraternzing with one another and
striving to the uttermost to build up
as they had shown In fighting each
other to the death.
Without any doubt. Robert f. Lee
was one or the finest characters Ameri-
ca ever produced. Would you like to
know what was TO me the greatest act
OF that grand life? ] find it not in his
actions before the war. 1 fin2eit not
In his wonderful equipoise Snd gentle
ness and marvellous powers during the
war. But after Appomattox the chief
nobility OF that life glowed before his
fellow countrymen as single star
might outshine all the other stars In
the heavenly Ornament. After the war
was over n rich financial company Of
New York city. I'm order to catch the
southern trade through Robert T.. Lees
popularity. offered Lee $4,000 per
year at n salary to become it's manager.
What sssd General Leef NO. | can
not come. | must stay among my own
people TO help teach them TO become
true Christian citizens. TO hep teach
them how TO have faith I'm their God
and patriotic love for their whole
land" Robert 4. Lee turned HIS back
at tndt liule upon the most Erlncely
salary then offered In the city OF New
York. In order TO teach his people TO
love o reunited country and 10 have
faith In God he accepted humble
position as the president or one OF Yir-
ginia's bankrupt schools. Rather than
live for mcrcenary gain he quietly and
yet nobly and unselfishly went 10 live
among the shattered walls OF Wash
ingtor college i'm Lexington. He lived
there until the close OF his life. Some
people may tell you that the greatest
service the American soldier did for
bis country was when he suffered up
on the field OF battle. / tell you that
the greatest service the Confederate
army and the Federal army ever did
for their native land was when they
dissolved and when their Christian sol
diers became the earnest. consecrated
advocates OF Christian peace, So to-
day l praise no less highly than the
soldier who went out in 1851 to fight
his country's battles the soldier in
1SGG returning 10 civil life and striv-
ing in home and factory and store to
heal the wounds OF the nation and re-
unite its people in the bonds OF Chris.
tian love.
The Senffnel's Chill