Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-24
Mik,iu inst?
The Rev. Mr.. GuRLEY, who pronounced the
funeral Grafton over the remains OF Presi7

The Rev. Mr.. GuRLEY, who pronounced the
Funeral Grafton over the remains OF Presi7
dent LINcoLH,at Washington City, said
.gI'rne. this new sorrow and Christening
has come in such an hour and in sucha way
"A we Thought not, and ii bears the impress
of a rod that Is very heavy, ana OF mystery
that is very deep. That such life should
be sacrificed at such time, by such foul
and diabolical agency; that the man at the
head of the nation, whom the people nilu
learned to trust with cOnfiding ana iov-
ing confidence, and upon whom more tnan
upon any other were centered, under God
our best hopes for the true and speedy paclll-
cation of the country, the restoration OF the
Union, and the return of harmony and love;
thai he should be taken from us, apa Gaken
Just as the prospect OF peace was DTiShtiy
opening upon our torn and bleeding coun-
try, and Just as he was beginning TO be AMI
mated and gladdened with the hope OF ere
long enjoying with the people the blessed
fruit and reward of his and their toll ana
care and patience, and self-sacrificing deyo-
tion to the interests of liberty and the
Union--oh! it is a mysterious and a most
affecting dispensation. But 1t is our rather
i'm heaven, the God of our fathers, who per-
mits us to be so suddenly and sorely smit-
ten, and we know that His judgments are
right. and that in faithfulness He has atiilct-
ed us i'm the midst of our rei0icings. we
needed this stroke. This dealing, this discip-
line, and thereforetHe has sent 10. Let us
remember our affliction has not come forth
of the dust, and our trouble has not sprung
out of the ground. Through and beyond
all second causes let us look and see the
sovereign permissive agency OF the hrst
great cause"
We are here told that 1--WE needed this
stroke" and that "He [Godl has sent IT."
By this manner of talk the assassination OF
the President is invested with a sort of dig
nifty. If it was sent by Him by way OF
chastisement, we should not accept it as
spur to our wrath and indignation, but as
prompting to humiliation. Further on in
his grafton, Rev. Mr.. GURLEY says:
'When he was leaving his home in Hi
nois and coming to this city to take his seat
in the Executive chair of a disturbed and
troubled nation, he said to the old and trled
friends who gathered joyfully around him
and bade him farewell, L leave you with
this request-pray for me- They did pray
for him. And millions of others prayed for
him. Nor did they pray in vain. Their
prayers were heard, and the answer appears
in all his subsequent history. 1t shines
forth with heavenly radiance in the whole
course and tenor of his administration, from
its commencement to its close. God raised
him up for agreat and glorious mission. furnish
ed him for his tcork and aided him in its accom-
plishment Nor was it merely by strength of
mind and honesty of heart and purity and
pertnacity of purpose that he furnished
him in addition to these things; he gave
him calm and abiding confidence in the
overruling providence of God, and in the
ultimate triumph of truth and righteous.
ness through the power and blessing OF
God"
Herein the statement is made that "God
raised him ABRAHAM LINCoLNl up for q
great and glorious mission, furnished him
for his work and aided him in its accom-
plishment." Is it not very strange that If
God raised LINCOLN ''up for great and
glorious mission" and that while He was in
the act of assisting him in its accomplish
ment-directing his mind and his heart-He
should send an assassin to strike him down?
Is it just to the Almighty to say that He
would do this thing?