River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1872-12-20

tScmarAs OF rev. henEy W ~ u Btecner
ana DIR. Cbapin-Descrlptio OF the
Church Decorations An Immense
Procession 20 the Cemetery.
The following is full and interest
ing account of the funeral obsequies
of the late Horace Greeley, whose death
occurred NJ the residence of DIR. Choate,
near Pleasanton, New York, on Friday
November, 30, 1872:
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher spoke sub.
stantially as follows: "When men
have filled the household of God with
their presence, it is not surprising that
we miss them when they leave us for
ever and yet they are constantly, like
in the present case, going from us, and
others are being called upon by means
of heavenly impulse, to take their
places in the great cause of Gods
truth. The occasion, my friends, is
solemn and sublime one, and we forget
the strife and contest of the world
that strife that separated us politically
in the affairs of the nation and JON
in tins meeting to weep over the re-
mains of him who is now in our pres
ence and soon to be taken from us, but
whose memory shall live forever in the
annals of his country. Who is this
man whom We are here to-day to com
memoratel For thirty years he has
filed the land with the greatest contro-
versy. He was a man of war, and yet
he died without civic honors a private
citizen, and yet we honor him, one and
all. The President of the United
States and his officers are here, and
bow in silence to the win of God in
taking from us our great brother. A
little time ago we were in the midst of
a fierce battle with tho great dead, the
leader on one side, and yet he now lies
lifeless before us. 1t is because the
man was something more than
professional man, SO good and
noble that he has Few com
peers, it is for this reason that we
assemble here to mourn the loss of
Horace Greeley. For thirty years he
built for himself no outward monu-
ment and no estate but here to-day,
between the oceans, there is not a man
who has not felt the effects of Horace
Greeley. What matters it that in the
conflict over political economy he
should be upon one side and you on
another He has given his life blood
for the good, to the purposes of a noble
manhood. 1t is the presence of the
man to-day. We are all speaking kind
ly and sorrowfully for him. Think of
these conflicts in which you forget hui
mainly, out of which you have come,
and summon your charity now, you
that have been battling on the other
side After long and tempestuous
voyage he has reached the shore, and
angels will welcome him to their out
stretched arms. Let US hope that when
we die angels will open the gates for
us and receive us to the glory of the
Lord"
After the address of Mr.. Beecher,
which continued but a few moments,
"Sleep the Last Sleep" was rendered
in beautiful manner by the choir from
St Francis Xavier's Church.
Rev. f. II. Chaplin then spokea as fol
lows: "One month ago many who are
now present met in this place to ex-
press their sympathy with one who sat,
with palhd face and quivering lip. a
heart-striken mourner over his wife.
To-day, as in the freshness of his quiet
sorrow himself, he is to be by her side.
The shadow of death through which he
was then passing has envelopGd HIM
Such is Providence, that checks all
human operations, and makes life a
continued surprise. | cannot attempt,
here and now, to unfold the life nor es-
innate the worth of Horace Greeley.
Such an attempt would on one hand be
premature and on the other unneces-
sary, because the trials and lessons of
the great life car but be reviewed when
the grief and excitement have ceased.
This work ought to be done, and trust
will be done, in the utterance of some
public memorial service which will de-
mand a much wider hearing than can
give it.
To speak of Horace Greeley is I'M
necessary. 1t has already been doue.
There have been but few instances in
our history where expressions of re
greet and regard have been so spontane.
Gus, souniversal, and so similar. These
eulogies, that pour in so thick and fast
from every part of the land, are not
made mp of artificial rhetoric. They
are genuine. Tears are as freely shed
to-day by the country fresides and in
distant cities as beneath the shadowing
drapeTy of this house from which he is
soon to go out forever. Iney represent
the invisible sympathy, but represent
the peoples thoughts, and are twined
abOut the peODle'S heart bearing wit.
ness TO career OF honest purpose.
And why this deferential regard tor the
memory Of Mr. Greeleyl II Is not for
his mere intellectual ability, large and
undeniable as it was. 1t is not be-
cause he was an high official,
for Horace Greeley held no Off
cial station. The will of tn people,
expressed through the Electoral Col
legeto day, decides that he should hold
a., gf,a1 st,tt,p. N,a1aV Nba Will &c Col