cluding prayer, and, after the Doxology, pronounced the Benediction. The grand mass of soldiery, as brigade after brigade took their places in perfect order; the great number of State and National banners floating in the breeze; the respect of the men, with the devoutness of many, and especially the majestic music of the united bands pouring out "America" and "Old Hundred," in which blended`a multitude of voices, made it a scene long to be remembered. The author of the "Army Hymn" has never yet heard his own poem sung in all its majesty. He never will till he hears it from thousands upon thousands of men in active service, waiting impatiently for the order to advance to victory, with the sunlight playing upon sabres of dragoons, on the pieces of artillery caps, and on a forest of bayonets. VII. THE ARMY HYMN. After the allusion to this noble lyric in the last paragraph, the reader may be pleased to read it again in this connection. The hymn became popular at once; and not least because the earnest moral tone which pervades it found its echo in every patriotic heart. The author added the last verse but one when the President's Proclamation of Emancipation went into effect, on the first of January, 1863. O Lord of Hosts! Almighty King! Wake in our breasts the living fires, Be thou a pillared flame to show God of all nations! sovereign Lord! No more its flaming emblems wave, To blast with woe one child of thine! From treason's rent, from murder's stain, Join our loud anthem, PRAISE TO THEE! VIII. GENERAL ANDERSON IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. General Anderson, the hero of Fort Sumter, on the invitation of a Christian friend, visited a German Sunday school in Cincinnati, Ohio. The golden words which he spoke to the members of the school on that occasion should be treasured up in the hearts of all the children and youth of the land. My dear friends and children (said he), I did not expect, when I came here, to be asked to address you. It may be well, perhaps, for me to say a few words. I have been placed, providentially, in a situation which has turned the attention of the country to me and to my little band. I would not have you misunderstand me or my position. But GENERAL ANDERSON IN THE SUNDAY SCHOOL. 191 If I have been led wonderfully through many and great perils, I wish you to ascribe it to the right causes. No unaided power of man, no skill or bravery of our own, could have saved me and my companions. I am not ashamed, my young friends, to declare the truth. I say openly, that no event, no transaction of any interest or importance to our cause, took place while I was in Fort Sumter, without my looking to God in the morning of each day for his blessing on us. I besought him to give me a spirit of wisdom to learn and obey his will. I besought him to give me strength of purpose and energy to perform my duty to him, and to my country. None of the credit, therefore, of what was done belongs to me. It belongs to him who cares for us and who, if we commit our ways to him, will give to us all needful success. Before I left Fort Sumter, I was admonished that I might be in more danger from my friends than I had been from enemies. Some who wished well to me wrote that I must be on my guard, and not be spoiled by flattery. The advice was well timed; but I trust God has saved me from that danger. I say again, I do not feel that I am to take to myself the least credit for what has been done. It was God who put it into my heart to decide and act as I did. Therefore, my young friends, I would urge upon all of you to look to God in the transactions of life you may be called on to perform. Each individual has transactions to perform as momentous to him as what I have performed is to me. Each one of you has to gain or lose for himself the true end of his being here and hereafter. The destiny of each one depends, under God, on his own actions. I would have you all put your trust in God. Do that with a humble heart, and you will be blessed in this life and prepared for everlasting blessedness in that which is to come. I can say no more. IX. PRAY FOR THE PRESIDENT. It is impossible to read the following words of the chief magistrate of the country and not be convinced that they are prompted by the real feelings of his heart. It is evident that the cares of office have not diminished his sense of the difficulties of his position, or of his need of the guidance and wisdom which "God giveth liberally to them that ask him, and upbraideth not." Pray for the President. On Saturday, October fourth, 1863, the members of a Synod of the Presbyterian Church, holding their annual session in Washington, went to the executive mansion in that city, and were received by the President. The Moderator stated that the Synod wished, as a body, to' pay to him their respects, and offer to him their salutations. Each member, he added, claimed to belong to the kingdom of God, and was loyal to the government. The President, in reply, spoke as follows: "I can only say, in this case, as in so many others, that I am profoundly grateful for the respect given in every variety of form in which it can be given from the religious bodies of the country. I saw, upon taking my position here, I was going to have an administration, if an administration at all, of extraordinary difficulty. "It was, without exception, a time of the greatest difficulty this country ever saw. I was early brought to a lively reflection that, with nothing in my power whatever, or in that of others, on which I could rely, no undertakings of 1 See page 180. FAITH AND WORKS. 193 mine could succeed without direct assistance of the Almighty. I have often wished that I was a more devout man than I am; nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance on God, knowing all would go well, and that he would decide for the right. "I thank you, gentlemen, in the name of the religious bodies which you represent, and in the name of our common Father, for this expression of respect. I cannot say more." The members of the Synod were then severally introduced to the President. X. FAITH AND WORKS. An example of self-denying patriotism like the following deserves to be put on lasting record. In July of the present year, the Rev. D. B. Bradley, a self-supporting missionary of the American Missionary Association, of Bangkok, Siam, sent an order to the treasurer of that society, to pay over to the United States three hundred dollars on Dr. Bradley's account. This patriotic missionary writes as follows: "I regard the war, on our part, as one of the most righteous that was ever waged, and I see the hand of God in it so distinctly, and his merciful purposes for those millions of our enslaved brethren at the South so gloriously fulfilling, that my whole heart ascends to God in prayer continually for our cause. And while I pray, I feel that I must also contribute what I can from my small resources to the millions of money that will yet be needed to complete the great and glorious work of our government now |