Delaware State journal and statesman., 1865-05-23
BISHOP SIMPSONS
0 II A Il 1 O N,
DELIVERED iron THE OCCASION OF THE oBsgouIEs
PRESIDENT LINCOLN,
SPRINGFIELD. MAY 4, 1866.

ahu growing STATE OF llinolH, IN The must
this beautiful grove, aud ut the open mouth Q
the vault which has just received the remains o
our fallen ohieitain, we gather TO pay lribut
Of respect aud drop the tears Of sorrow aroun
the ashes OF the mighty dead little NOR
than four years ago, he left his plain aud quie
home in yonder city, receiving the partiul
words Of the cOueourse OF friends who, in th
midst Of the dropping OF the gentle shower
gathered around him. He spoke Of the pain o
parting from the place where his children hat
been torn, and his home had been rendered st
pleasant by early recollectlons And as be lef
he made an earnest request in the hearing VI
some who are present at this hour, that, as ht
was about TO enier upon responsibilities whicl
he believed to be greater than auy which hai
iaiien upon any man since the days OF Washing
ton, the people would oder up their prayeIl
that God would aid aud sustain him Ia the work
they had given him to do.
His company left your quiet city But as il
went, snares wtre 10 waiting for the ehiei
magistrate. Scarcely did be escape the dangers
OF the way or the hands Of the assassin as he
neared Washington, and believe be escaped
only through the vigilance Of the officers aud the
prayers Of the people so that the blow was
suspended for more than four years, which wa.
at last permitted, through the providence OF
God, to iail
How different the occasion which witnessed
his departure from that which witnessed his
return Doubtless you expected to take him
by the hand, TO feel the warm grasp which you
lslt in other days and 10 see the tall form walk
ing among you which you had delighted to
honor in years past. But he was never per
mitted TO return until he came with lips mute
and silent, his frame encOHlned, and weeping
nation following as his mOurners. Such scene
as his return to you was never witnessed.
Among the events Of history there have been
great professions Of mourners. There was one
for the patriarch Jacob, which came up from
Egypt, aud the Egyptians wondered at the
evidences Of reverence aud flial affections which
came from the hearts OF the Israelites. There
was mourning when Moses fell upon the heights
Of Pisgah and was hid from human view. There
have been MORNINGS in the Kingdoms of the
earth wien kiugs and'princes have fallen. But
never was there in tue history of man such
mourning as that which has accompanied this
funeral procession, and has gathered around the
mortal remaius Of him who was our loved one,
aud who row sleeps among us. II we glance at
the procession which followed him, we see how
the nation stood aghast. Tears filled the eyes
Of manly, sunburnt faces. Strong men, as they
clasped the hands of their friends were unable
TO find vent for their grief in words. Women
and little children caught up the tidings as they
ran through the land, and were melted into
tears. The nation stood still. Men left their
plouEhs in the fields, and asked what the end
should be. The hum Of manufactures ceased,
and the sound OF the hammer was not heard.
Busy merchants closed their doors, aud in the
exchange gold passed no more from hand to
hand, Though three weeks have elapsed, tn,
nation has scarcely bieathed easily yet.
monraful silence is abroad. upon the laud; mo-
s this mourning confined to any class or TO an,
district of country. Men of all political parties
and OF all religious CT eeds, have united IN pay
Ing this mournful tribute. The archbishop oil
the Roman Catholic Church 10 New York and q
Protestant minister walked side by side in the
sad procession, aud Jewish rabbi performed d
part Of the solemn services.
Here are gathered around his tomb the repre-.
sentatiVes vi the army aud navy, senators
Judges, governors. aud officers Of all The branches
OF the government. Here, too, are members oil
civic professions, with men and women from tht
humblest as we'll as the highest occupations
Here and ihere, too, are tears, as sincere and
warm az any that drop. which come from the
eyes OF those whose kindred aud whose race have
been freed from their chains by him whom they
mourn as their deliyerer. More perscns have
gazed On the face of the departed than ever
looked upon the face Of any other departed man
More races have looked on tue procession fol
1900 miles or mOre-ty night and by day-bl
sunlight, dawn, twilight, and by torchlight, thai
ever before watched the progress OF procession
We ask why this wonderful mournng-thi,
great procession! ] answer, first. part Of the
interest has arisen from the times in which ",
live, sud in which he that had fallen WAS
principal actor. II is principle Of our nature
that feeings, once excited, turn readily from tn,
object by which they are excited to come 0ihel
object which may for the time being take pos
session Of the mind. Another principle IL, thu
deepest affections OF our hearts gather arounl
some human form in which are ipoarnated III,
living thoughts and Ideas Of the passing age
II we look then at the times, we see an age
excitement. For four years the popular hear
has been stirred to its inmost depth War ha,
come upon us, dividing families, separalin!
nearest and dearest frieuds-a war the exten
aud magnitude Of which no one could estimate
"a war in which the blood of brethren wa
shed by brothers hand. A call for soldier
was made by this voice now hushed, and all owe
the land, from hill and mountain, from plain /
valley, there sprapg up thousands OF build hearts
ready to 60 forth and save our national UDiOn
This feeling OF excitement was transferred mex
| into feeling OF deep grief because OF th
dangers In which our county was placed
Many said /; "Is il possible to save our nation !!
Some in our country, and nearly oil the leadin
men in other countries, declared II to be impos
sble to maintain the Union and many o
honest and patriotic heart was deeply paine
with apprehensions Of Common ruin and many
in grief and almost in despair, anxiously in
CURED What shall the end Of these things be
in addition to this, wives had given thei
husbands, mothers their sons, the pride and jo
of their hearts. They saw them put ou th
uniform, they saw them take the martial step
aud they tried to hide their deep feeling
eaduess. Many dear unes slept upon the battle
field never TO return again, aud there wa
mourning in every mansion and in every cabi
in our broad land. Then came feeling ,
deeper sadness as the story came Of prisoner
tortured to death or starved through til
mandates Of those who Me called the represen
tatiyes of chyalry, and who claimed to be III
honorable ones Of the earth and as we rea
the stories OF frames atteuuated aud reduced
mere skeletons, our grief turned partly int
horror aud partly into cry for vengeuuce
Then this feeling was changed to one Of jOl
There came signs Of the end Of this rebellion
We followed the career Of our glorious general
We saw cur army, under the command of III
iraye officer who is guiding this procession
climb up the heights Of Lookout Mountain at
drive the rebels n ON their strOnghods. Anolhi
brave general swept through Georgia, Sout
aud North Carolina, aud drove the combine
armies Of the rebels before him. while the hoi
ored Lieutenant. General held Lee aud his hos
in death grasp.
Then the tidings came that Richmond WI
evacuated and that Lee had surl rendered. II
bells rang merrily all over the land The boou
lug Of cannon was heard lluminaiions III
tUreh-lighi professions manifested the gener
10y, and families we're looking for the speed
return OF their loved oues from the field
battle. Just in tie midst OF this widest ijy
one hour-nay. in one moment-the iidin
thrilled throughout the laud that Abraha
b Lincoln. the hest Of Presidents, had pershe
the hands Of an assassin aud then all the fee
. Jugs which bad been gathering for four year
in forms Of excitement, grief, horror aud jn
turned into one wall Of wOe-a sadness iue