The
following interesting statement of facts was made by Bishop Mcllvaine (first
Chaplain of the US Military Academy at West Point, and 3rd Chaplain
of the US Senate). Bishop Charles Pettit McIlvaine was, at the time of this
writing, the Bishop of Ohio (PECUSA). The occasion was the ordination of
Leonidas Polk to the priesthood - later as Bishop of Louisiana. Bishop Polk
later served as Major General in the Confederate Army and was killed at Pine
Mountain, north of Atlanta.
It is now
nearly thirteen years since a very remarkable work of grace occurred in the
Military Academy of the United States. During a condition of almost universal
indifference to religion, and of wide-spread infidelity, against which the
efforts of the ministry of one man, set for the defense of the gospel, seemed
for a long time to make not the least way, suddenly almost, in a very few days,
many minds without communication with one another, and without personal
intercourse with the minister, appeared deeply, and almost simultaneously
interested in the great matters of eternal life. Officers as well as cadets
participated in this, and to such an extent, that the minister's study was soon
occupied every evening with assemblies, composed of both, for prayer and the
exposition of the word of God; and a serious impression, more or less deep and
abiding, was spread over a large part of the whole military community. Several
became at that period very decided soldiers of Christ.
Many
others received impressions then, which God has since ripened into manifest and
energetic piety. Many more received the seed of the word, in whom, though it
seemed to die, it has since, under the continued influence of the Spirit,
sprung up and brought forth fruit. Some are still in military life. Others have
been, long since, adorning the Christian profession in the ministry of the
gospel.
The very
first appearance of this work of grace, so remarkably and singularly the work
of God, was the coming of a cadet, alone and most unexpectedly, to introduce
himself to the chaplain, and unburden the sorrows of a contrite heart. All
around him was coldness and skepticism. To speak decidedly in favor of religion
was then so unusual in the academy, that it made one singular. To converse with
the chaplain on that subject had not been ventured by any, except out of
opposition to the truth. That anyone would appear there seriously seeking
eternal life, even the chaplain was afraid to hope.
A cadet,
however, did venture to come, in open day, to the chaplain's study, too deeply
concerned to heed what would be said of him. He was personally unknown to the
chaplain. His message he tried to utter, but could not. Again he tried, and
again; but his heart was too full for speech. At length he said, " Tell me
what I must do; I have come about my soul. I know not what I want; I am
entirely in the dark. What must I seek; where must I go?" Such was the first declaration of one
who, for some days, had been awakened under the preaching and reading of the
truth. A sermon preached on the Scriptures, and a tract, sent at a venture from
the chaplain's study, to whomsoever it might meet, had been blessed to his
soul. Doubts and cavils were all abandoned. Implicit submission seemed his
engrossing principle. From that moment the young man appeared to take up the
cross, and to stand decidedly and boldly on the Lord's side.
The
singular and very prominent evidence of the hand of God in this case, was very
greatly blessed to others. After graduating at that institution, and leaving
the army, he passed through a regular course of study for the holy ministry,
and was successively ordained deacon and presbyter. Many years have since
elapsed.
The
chaplain has since been called to a higher order in the ministry, and more
enlarged responsibilities in the church. The cadet, meanwhile, after many
vicissitudes of active duty and of disabling ill health, supposed he had
settled himself for the rest of his life as a preacher and pastor to an humble
and obscure congregation of negroes, whom he had collected together from
neighboring plantations; to whom, living entirely upon his own pecuniary means,
he appropriated a part of his own house for a church, and to whose eternal
interests he had chosen cheerfully and happily to devote himself, as their
spiritual father, with no emolument but their salvation.
But such
was just the true spirit for the highest of all vocations in the church. To be
a servant of servants is the very school in which to prepare for the chief
ministry under Him who " took upon himself the form of a servant."
The church needed a missionary bishop for a vast field, for great self-denial,
for untiring patience, for courageous enterprise. Her eye was directed to the
self-appointed pastor of that humble congregation. With most impressive
unanimity did she call him away to a work, not indeed of more dignified duty,
but of more eminent responsibility; not indeed of more exquisite satisfaction
to a Christian heart, (for what can give a true Christian heart more exquisite
satisfaction than to lead such of the poor to Christ ?) but of severer trials,
and vastly greater difficulties and hardships. Counting the cost, he has not
dared to decline it. Regarding the call as of God, he has embraced the promised
grace, and is now ready to be offered. And thus the chaplain has here met the
beloved cadet again, seeing and adoring the end of the Lord in that remarkable
beginning.
