Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-29
The Aurkrille Gmquirer.
YORKVILLE. s. C.. :
THURSDAY MORNING, SEPT. 20, 1881.
THE NATIONS GRIEF.

IHE NAIlUN|S UhlEEs
On Monday last the earth closed forever
upon all that is mortal of James A. Garfield.
A strong man-strong in mind and body-and
in the zenith of all the honors attaching to
the highest office within the gift of power
full nation, while yet in the prime OF man
hood, he fell victim to the assassin's bullet.
In this taking off the nation mourns and the
civilized world shares its grief. In his heroic
struggle for life during period of eighty days
of suffering, the nation was at his bedside, and
though the people were not unprepared for the
final result, they are plunged in woe, at what
in a worldly view may well be termed ma
tional calamity.
Entering upon the executive duties of the
government at the head of a great party which
knew naught but hostility to one section of
the Union, it was with gloomy forebodlngs
that the ostracised section looked upon his
accession to the Presidential chair. He then
was known only as the standard-bearer of
political party, supported alike by the conser-
vative element of his party as well as the ''stal-
warts of the stalwarts," a." who swelled the ranks
of that party as do the camp-followers and
plunderers increase the number of conquering
army. But though in his brief career as Pres
ident, the policy of his administration had
not been fully developed, enough had been
shown to prove to the people that he could
rise above party; that in the administration
of the government he would know no North,
no South, no East, no West. Under the poll
cy by which he seemed to be guided, sectional
ism was dying out the bitterness engendered
by political events of more than quarter of a
century, and perpetuated by politicians only
for selfish purposes, was fast giving way to
fraternal feelings between the estranged Sec
tions, and, rs was we'll remarked by one OF
our clergymen in the memorial services last
Monday, for the first time in a period of twen-
ty years did the people of the South feel that
they, too, had President in common with the
people of the North and West. Were eulogi'
um Of the illustrious dead necessary after the
statement of this fact?
When we remember the wonderful changes
he had wrought in so brief a time as the period
elapsing since the 4th Of last March and the
fateful End of July-a brilliant career un-
happily closed-unfnished in it's mission, yet
marvellous in it's achievements, do we wonder
that a nation mourns t? While the gloom OF
consuming sorrow falls upon every household,
the grief is no less poignant in the South than
the North, and the sad requiem of the Pine is
gently waited back by zephyrs from the Mag
nolia and the Palm.
In accordance with the recommendation OF
Governor Hagood, Monday last was observed
in Yorkvlle as a day of humiliation and
prayer. At O'Clock p NJ, the bells of all
the churches were tolled, stores, shops and bus
mess houses of all kinds were closed, and large
and attentive congregations repaired to the
Methodist, the Presbyterian and the Episcopal
churches, where memorial services were ap-
propriately conducted by the respective pas
tors. In consequence of the absence OF the
pastor, no services were held in the Associate
Reformed Presbyterian church. The services
were simple and unpretentious, though impress
sive. In the Episcopal church the service was
conducted in accordance with the recommen-
dation of Bishop Howe, and at the conclusion
of the lesson, after reading appropriate selec-
tions from the Scriptures, the rector, without
the formality of a text, delivered an euloglum
upon the illustrious deceased, drawing lessons
of wisdom from the marked events of his life,
as we'll as recent visitations of Providence
upon the country. The rector, in speaking of
the Christian virtues of the deceased, alluded
to the fact that with the exception Of Wash
ngton, he was probably the only chief e%ecu-
tive of pronounced religious opinions that this
government has ever had. To this church the
corps of cadets of the Kings Mountain Mill
tary school, under command of Col. Coward,
marched in a body, the flag Of the school draped
in mourning.
At the Presbyterian church, after the read
ing of appropriate scriptural selections by the
PASTOR he addressed the congregation in terms
eulogistic of the character of the President,
and at the conclusion of his remarks was fol-
lowed in the same strain by Rev. w. G. White,
principal of the Yorkville Female College.
AT the Methodist Episcopal church, after
singing an appropriate hymn, Rev. A. Ervine
read the nineteenth Psalm and offered prayer,
when he was followed by the pastor, who read
selections from the burial service Of the church,
and then pronounced fitting eulogy to the
worth of the honored dead. This church was
tasteflly and appropriately draped in mourn
ing.
Memorial services were also held in the
two colored churches of the town. With these
exercises closed the day of humiliation in
Yorkville-a sad day in the history of our
country.