The Evening critic., 1881-08-22
APPEALS TO HEAVEN.
Services I'm Churches Yesterday.
The President Remembered II


The President Remembered In
Prayer.
Among church people of every denomi-
nation the utmost concern was manifested
yesterday for the Presidents condition. and
special services of prayer and song were
held At the Christian Church, on Vermont
avenue, in the morning, Rev. DIR. Power, the
Presidents pastor, preacheda feeling sermon
and delivered u fervent prayer, appealing
for the patients recovery. In the afternoon,
at tho Memorial church, similar services
were conducted by the pastor, Rev. DIR. j.
G.. Butler, assisted by Rev. DIR. Power and
Rev. DIR. Pitzer. The attendance was large,
and made up of members of congre-
cations of various religious dcnomi-
nations, all appearing to enter into the
gravity Of the situation.
The Presidents Religious COnvic-
lions.
In the evening, after Rev. DIR. Power re-
turned to his church from his usual visit to
the White House, he assumed charge Of
special service of prayer. During his ad-
dress he referred to the additional cause for
alarm over the Presidents condition yes
teriay. He did not think the alarm was
well grounded. just few minutes before
he came to church he talked with Mrs.
Garfield, who said the nausea was caused
phlegm collected in his throat on account of
the swelling Of the parotid gland. She was
very cheerful, expressed confidence in the
Presidents progress toward recovery, and
said that the wound was doing beautifully
and the pulse was strong, though high. He
had turned in bed and seemed to have more
strength than usual, and did not suffer much
pain, but bore himself with cheerfulness.
He did not want to go to the Soldiers Home,
but to the seaside to avoid the malaria Of
the White House and Washington. From
what she said the speaker felt assured that
| there was not so much cause for alarm as
was generally felt. 1t must not be forgot
ten though that their Brother Garfield was
in most critical condition, and they must
pray to God to turn away from him tho
shadow of death and raise him up. 1t was
pleasant to reflect that what consoled and
cheered him was the thought of the Saviour
and of the gospel of Christ. 1t was not
what he said. He was not man to speak
of his religious experience when it was to
be made matter Of record. Reporters had
asked the speaker what the President had
said to him since the wounding on religious
subjects, and his reply was that they
would not hear from him if the
President talked to him an hour u
day. Such conversation ought not to
be published in the same man
ner as the news of his physical con-
dition. AS man lived, so he died.
Since the President was nineteen years
old he had actively, practically and publicly
illustrated the gospel precepts. 1t was not
necessary to hear nything from his bedside.
Five years ago-in October. 1S76-whcn he
was in the greatest distress since the
speaker knew him, having lost little boy
by sudden death, he wrote note asking
that few of his brothers and sisters attend
the funeral, and ended by subscribing him.
self in the hope Of the gospel so precious
in this atfiiction." What cheered him then
cheers him now. The divine revelation
as recorded by the living God that which
was the saving of health to all nations
the leaves of the tree of life, fit for the
loftiest king or lowlicst beggar of un-
mited power and adaptation. The gospel
of Christ gives to overy man, no matter
what his position or aflliction, the same
cheer and comfort in time of need.
According to announcement made at the
meetings referred to above these special ser.
vices of PRAYER and song will be held every
evening at the Vermont Avenue Christian
Church at 1880 o'clock until further notice