Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-10-18
SOLDIERS
OF THE CROSS.

When the Saviour of Manhood made
his entry into jerusalem we are told
he was met by multitude who sang
"Hosana to the Son of David: bles-
sed is he that cometh in the name OF
the Lord" Some hostile to the man
of Galilee took exception. 'Have We
not read" said he, "out of the mouths
of babes and Stockings l have or
dained praise"
The scene in the City OF the Great
King was suggested in our North
American home, thousands of miles
from the thrilling scene Of nineteen
hundred years ago, wHen one-tltth OF
the population of Alexandria formed
monster parade, yesterday after
noon. 1t was Sunday school rally,
Old and young formed the pageant.
Aged pilgrims, whose locks have been
whitened by the SHOWS of many VIM
tiers were in the line, while innocent
little ones toddled along filled with
enthusiasm.
The scene caused many soliloques.
Had such an army of witnesses APP
peared in Armenia at the present day
another slaughter of innocents would
have disgraced history. While twelve
nations are at war and the music of
"Tis Long Way to Tipperary,"
"Thc Watch of the Rhine" "The
Marscillaise," ETC., are sending chills
down the backs Of lovers of peace
in Europe, the notes of Nearer My
God to Thee" Onward Christian
Soldiers" etc. were adding sanctity
to the Sabbath in Alexandria-where
all can worship the Creator under his
own vine and fig tree.
IN this busy age, when spiritual
matters are those of secondary i'm
portance to so many, such scenes arc
an Inspiration, and the army which
paraded the streets yesterday as wit
nesses to the truth delivered silent
sermons more effective 1lan all hui
man arguments.
The quotation the Saviour made in
rebuking the straigllt-iaced religious
professors of His day is taken
from the 9Th Psalm and evidently re-
fers to another and a more glorious
age of the world-thc Messianic King
dom-when "the wolf shall dwell
with the lamb, and the leopard shall
lie down with the kid; and the calf
and the young lion and the failing
together, and a little child shall
lead them. And the COW and the
bear shall feed; their young one
shall lie down together, and the lion
eat straw with the OK, And the
sucking child shall play on the hole
of the asp, and the weaned child
shall put his hand on the cockatrice'
den. They shall not hurt nor de-
story in all my holy mountain: for
the earth shall be full OF the knowi-
edge of the Lord, as the waters CO.
yer the sea.
But some will doubtless say what
does it all amount to? Well, let US
see. Many years ago the late DR..
Moses Hoge, of Richmond, delivered
sermon in the Second Presbyterian
Church of Alexandris. During his
sermon he referred to the power of
children in the church. He said
rich and acknowledgement woman
of Richmond was a regular attend
ant at his church for years. Many at
tempts had been made to induce her
to become member Of the church,
but all had failed. One night at a
meeting of the session this woman un-
expcctedly appeared and asked to be
admitted to membership. Upon being
asked how she had so suddenly be-
come interested in spiritual affairs.
she replied, ''It was the example OF
a little girl saw join the church re-
GENTLY" The c;1iiti'S back was to the
woman; the former had not uttered
a word, but her silent sermon was
more effective than Or. Hoge's clio,
quence.
In Trinity NJ. L Church, in this
city long time aso a Jewish rabbi,
who had been conycr,c 70 Christian
ity delivered an intcrc tire and high
ly spiritual sermon, during which he
said ne had been turned 10 Christian
ity by the expressions Of faith by a
little girl who had hei' hack - him
and was talking to hfi r?atfcr.
Arnold man@in Alexandra many
years ago. one of the many who looE
upon the spiritual life as a myth
and a matter to amuse women and
children, met e2 acq.aia;aacs in tie