Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1881-10-28
IMPRESSIVE SERVICE Ar TIE
CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN WASH
INCTON.

The following is from 1.-The WASH
inston Star" Monday Sept. 26:
| "rbc little Christian church on Vermont
| Avenue, which President Garfield attended
WAS the scene, this morning, Of 81 most i'm
! prcssive service. Many persons in the city
! not regular wOrshippcrs ut other churches
found their way to this unpretcntious build
| ing, and j1ined with the members III prayer
| and humiliation.
| So the church was well filed.
| Over the doors and front windows of the
church are simple icstooms of black cloth
| Within the eye was attracted ut once to Il
| pew, made conspicuous both because 10 one
sought To intrudc within its sacred limits
| and by the $, m.rc folds of black which coy
creG it completely.
The pew is in the corner near the pulpit,
| In front of it was placed an easel bearing a
picture ofJamcs A Garfield, framed with a
deep border of black Some loving hands
had hung wreath of cycrgrecns and roses
over the picture, and the light which came in
from the window just over the sable drapcd
pew. seemed to play about the pictures and
flowers and to give to all an unwontcd glory.
This is all that could he seen unusual in the
church, save Il basket roses on the preach
er'S desk.
HE used to lean his head against that win
reporter.
1T was there Guitcau came to shoot him,
Dut changed his mind for fear he would hurt
some one else" The services were simple in
the extreme, but more impressive. When
the honest prayers, the words of hOmely
praise and genuine sorrow were uttered there
were few in the house who could sit with
fearless eyes.
Elder VIM. II. Shell opened the services
With lnyorntiop and fhrn
hymn, There is a land of pure delight
Such singing as that is not often heard. 1t
was singing by the congregation, who took
the key from 4 melodcon, and us the hundred
voices swelled and died away it seemed as
though every heart strovc to speak its love
and grief, its trustful hope in the music.
10 members of some wealthicr con@rc "a
choir who might have strollcd into ihc little
church this morning, that title hymn gave
rcvalatlOn OF what congregational sill ring
really means, and his fellow -worshippers say
that in former days the voice of Garfield,
clear, sonorous. grand and musical could be
heard in every hymn, imparting to the song
much of his own CHEEKY strength and life.
The song over, Elder Russcl,of Missourian
elderly man, with heavy beard and trembling
step offered a prayer.
After which was sung with beautiful effect, |
"Comc yc Disconsolate"
Elder Russell thea spoke. His style was
PLAIN and unadvanccd except now aud then,
catching an inspiration from his theme, his |
words rang With thrilling cloqucncc. He |
addressed his hearers is follows |
The time had never been he said, since our
fathers threw oil Rritain's CALLING yoke of |
priest craft and kings craft and broke the
iron fctters forged by the dcspots of Europe.
when the American people felt the need of,
and demanded II strong and wise man for
President more than now, Il man who knew
the right and dared to do ii, who by the sweet
nature Of love and bcncvolcncc could quonch
the fires burning in our body polite
We want Il president that has all the char
acterlstcs of christan--knowca@c cour-
age, temperance. patience, brothcrly kindness
and cllaIlty-and such man, we were sure
we had in James \. Garfield
But he is dead. No, he is not dead the
speaker said He lives in the beautiful cline,
IN the paradise of God, in halng the rich fra
GRANGE of immortal bloom, drinking from the
river of life. flowing from beneath the throne
IF God, plucking the fruit from the tree of
ife and wears the victors crown.
Tie lives in the hearts of his countrylnen
md his memory will be cherished by nations
yet unborn. Little boys and girls, young
men and maldcns will even love to think and
peak of James A. Garfield. He has simply
'cen called to Il brighter mansion in The
.O,irts celestial.
The speaker said We should all pray to God
o help us TO tc resigned to this sore hercay
ncnt, and "as the mantle of Elijah fell upon
hSha, sad the spcakcr,so may the mantle of