Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-29
PRIEST LINCOLN's FUNERAL.
A Very Imposing Demonstration.
Extracts from Sermon and Prayers.

A Washington dispatch dated the 10th,
gives the following account of the funeral
obseuuies of President LINCOLN at the CAPT
tai on that day:
The day was beautiful and quite warm. Bus
mess was suspended and every available spot
filed With people to witness the ceremonies.
In the immediate neighborhood of the man.
sion dense crowd had assembled during the
forenoon. Various bodies met at the Treas
ury department, separate rooms having been
assigned them there by Assistant Secretary
Harrington, who had charge OF the admission
to the Executive Mansion. They included
the Assistant Secretaries, the Assistant Post
master Generals and the Assistant Attorney
General, Senators and Representatives in
Congress, Governors of the several States, the
Judiciary and others of prominence. None
could enter the mansion without tickets, room
having been provided for six hundred persons
only upon the raised platform and steps on
the east, north and south sides of the room.
The corpse lay about the centre, space being
reserved all around the cstatalque with chairs
for the occupation of the family of the de-
ceased. It was here, in the east room, that
the bodies of Presidents Harrison and Taylor
Law in state, but the arrangements on these
occasions were far inferior to the present.
At III o'clock the guests began to arrive, a
body of about 60 clergymen being the first
to enter, then the heads of government bu-
reaus, governors of states, members of mu-
nicipal governments, prominent officers of
the army and navy, the diplomatic corps,
&C., &c.
At noon, the President of the United
States, in company with his cabinet, except
Secretary Seward, approached the catafalque
and took last but brief look at his illustri.
GUS predecessor, and then retired to a posi-
ton Immediately on the east and in full view
of the coffined remains.
At 10 minutes past II o'clock, amid pro-
found silence, Rev. DIR. Gurley, approaching
the head of the eatafalque, announced the
order of the religious services, when DIR.
Hall, Episcopalian, read a portion of the
Scriptures according to the form of that
church.
The opening prayer was made by Bishop
Simpson, methodist Episcopal,) who, in the
course of it, said that in the hands of God
were the issues of life and death, and that our
sins had called for His wrath to descend upon
us, as individuals. For the sake of our blessed
Redeemer thanks were returned for the
gift of such a man as our Heavenly Father
had Just taken from US, and for the many
virtues which distinguished all his transac-
tions for the integrity, honesty and trans
parency of character bestowed upon him, and
for having given his councillors wisdom to
guide our nation through period of unpre-
cedented sorrow Thanks were also returned
that his arm was strengthened, and wisdom
and irmness given his heart to pen declara-
ton of Emancipation, by which were broken
the chains of millions of the human race.
He concluded as follows:
God be thanked that the assassin who struck
down the Chief Magistrate had not the hand to
again bind the suffering and oppressed. The name
OF the beloved dead would ever be identified with
all that is great and glorious with humanity on
earth. May the spirit OF rebellion soon pass away.
God grant that the sun may soon shine ON free
people from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the
Lakes TO the Gulf. May He not only safely lead
US TIN Dug the struggle, but give US peace with
all the nations of the earth. God bless the weep
ing widow, in her broken heartedness she bows
under a sad stroke, more than she can bear. En-
circle her in thyarms. God be gracious with the
children lett behind. Endow his sons with wisdom.
''We pray Thee to make the assassination Of
personal profit TO hearts, while by the remains
OF the deceased whom we had Ssii' bs made tSe
stronger for the blow, while here We pledge our
selves to set faces as flint against every form
of opposition which may rise up Tor ITS destructlcn
so that the children may enjoy the blessed ad-
vantages of a Government derived from our
fathers"
He concluded by repeating the Lords
Prayer
The Rev. DIR. Gurley then delivered ser
mon, standing on the steps near the head of
the coffin. He commenced by saying:
ave recognize and ADORE the sovereignty of Al
mighty God. His throne is in the Heavens aud
His Kingdom ruleth over all. 1t WAS cruel hand,
the dark hand of the ASSN that smote our hon
ored wise and noble Pr RESIDENT and filled the land
with mourning; but above this hand is another,
which must see anu acknowledge. In the
midst of rejoicing needed this stroke, this
discipline, and therefore God has sent it. Our
haa Vnfa nm forfh ia N or mr.
trouble from the ground. Beyond the act of as
sassiuatIon let US look to Goa, whose pserogative
is to bring light out OF darkness, and good out of
evil. lie who had led US so Tar ana prospered us
so wonderfully during the last four years OF anxi
iety and conflict will not torsake us now. He may
chasten but will not destroy"
Rev. DR.. Gray, Baptist, closed the solemn
services by delivering prayer, concluding:
''God of the bereaved, comfort aud sustain this
mourning family bless the new Chief Magistrate,
let the mantle OF his predecessor fail upon him.
Bless the Secretary OF State an his family Bless
all the members OF the Cabinet, endow them with
wisdom from above Bless the commanders in our
armies and navy and ali the brave defenders of the
country. Give them continued success. Bless
the ambassadors fl ON foreign courts, and give
peace with all the nations OF the earth.
sob, God let treason that has delug ed our Ian d
with blood and desoIated our country and bereay-
ed our homes and filled them with widows and Or
phaDs, which has at length Eliminated in the ass
assination OF the nation chosen ruier,-God OF
justice and avenger OF the nations wrong,-let the
WOrk treason cease anu let the guilty psrpetTat
of this horrible crime be arrested ana brought
to jus. ice. ON, hear the cry and the prayer aud
the wall rising trcm the Nations smitJen
ed hearts, deliver US from the power OF
and peedy peace into all our borders through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The corpse was then removed to the hearse
in front of the door of the executive mansion,
and at O'Clock the procession was formed
1t took the line of pennsylvania avenue. The
rooms, portico, and windows and all elevated
points were occupied by interested specta-
tors. As the procession started minute guns
were fred, in the rear of St. Johns church,
the City Hall, and the Capitol. All the bells
were tolled.
First in the order of the procession was a
detachment of colored troops. Then follow
ed white regiments OF infantry, bodies of ar
tillery and cavalry, the navy and marine
corps, and army officers on foot, and the pail
bearers in carriages. Next the hearse drawn
by six white horses the coffin prominent to
every beholder The floor ON which it rest
ed was strewn with evergreens and white
flowers. Then followed the president and
cabinet, the diplomatic corps, members of
congress, governors of states, the delegations
from various states, fire companies, civic as
sociations, clerks of departments, and others,
together with many public and private car
riages, closing up with a large number of col
ored men.
The body was conveyed to and deposited
in the rotunda of the capitol.
This was the largest and most imposing fun
eral nrocesSiOn ever in Washington. An