Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-09-28

WEST RANDoLPH.-A memorial service in honor
of our late president was held at the various
churches on Sunday and each was appropriately
decorated. At the Congregational church the
portrait of the president was hung in the alcove
back Of the pulpit, draped in festoons OF black,
which extended to the front of it. On the front
and top of the pulpit, on background Of green
and white, was the initial G, and Just below, in
white letters, the words, The Nation Mourns."
A cross, crown and other beautiful combinations
Rev. V. NJ. Hardy's discourse was taken from
Lamentations v: 10, II, 1.-THE crown is fallen
from our head Woe unto us that we have
sinned. For this our heart is faint for these
things our eyes are dim" Two lines of thought
are possible on this occasion-one in eulogy Of
the life and character Of President Garfield; the
other, lessons that are enforced in his death and
the circumstances attending the sad event.
choose the latter best in keeping with the Sab
bath and the worship OF God One lesson that
has impressed itself upon the mind by this I'M
timely death is the value to the nation and the
world OF one noble life. There has never in our
history been shown so much interest in and
anxiety for the restoration of any citizen to
health as in his case. Has it been misplaced
Has the estimate of his life been over-made
Why this interest and concern They express
the value to the nation of his life. Mark how
this estimate and the value of his life Is based
upon his character. 1t is a tribute paid to honest
worth; national expression Of his transparent
goodness. special blessing to us In these times
is such demonstration to true merit. 1t shows
that humanity after all recognizes the higher vir-
tues OF character. The second lesson is the shame
and humiliation that attaches to us as people
that it is possible for as nation to be bereft
Of such a life as this and in such a manner. |
will not open discussion here whether the crime
that caused his death has a political meaning or
not. Certain it is, however, that that act is not
one whit too base, too cruel, too malignant to
| represent an element Of evil that pervades our
political life. Bullets have been used to re-
move political distractions. Other families have
mourned and been torn asunder because they
stood in the way of some ambitious scheme The
whisperings of calumny and SANDER in the last
campaign toward Mr.. Garfield himself were suf-
fclent, II true, to warrant the forfeiture of his
life. The bane Of all this is that the politics of
the country encourages such evils The respon-
sibility OF this evil must rest upon the nation and
| the entire nation must bear its portion of blame
The humiliation that the nation seems to feel is a
becoming complement to its mourning. Govern
ors and public servants have written that unwel-
come word repentance in their resolutions
and proclamations with bold hand. II the sack
| cloth that envelops our land means sorrow for
sin as well as sorrow for good mans death, the
| blessing TO this nation is secured for more than
one generation. The nation has been led in this
event ~ recognize the divine hand in its affairs
and TO bow to the divine will in reverent sub
| mission. Never In our public affairs have the
rulers OF the nation been so unrestraned in their
acknowledgment of Jehovah as in the words
which have centered in the death OF the president
This confession Of God as our God is meet and
timely The nation has been pulled up with
pride Its prosperity and power has made its
head dizzy. 1t has approached the spirit of
Babylon king In its boastings, 1t has caught
glimpses OF its coming greatness and glory and
forgotten God Now OF a sudden 1t is brought
low and in sorrow replaces Jehovah again upon
his throne The remedial blessings of this great
sin and sorrow are already gathering in. The
nation has united In its sympathy and sorrow
more freely and heartily than for half century.
Expressions OF sorrow and humiliation have come
alike from north and south Pacifcaton of old
animosities and wrongs have been forgotten In
the general anxiety and mourning. What means
this 1t IL AN omen for good What time is
this for the promotion Of "good will among the
nations 1t sets the day OF war far off. We owe
our first gratitude to God for giving us country
in which such u life as this is possiblei which
takes hold Of the ends of the earth In its
grasp and influence, and where also true man
| hood has so true an estimate. God make us
worthy of IT,. Walter Smith goes TO Jackson
vile, Florida, October 10Th, as clerk In a dry
goods house, Some Of the principal business
blocks were handsomely draped in mourning on
| Monday. The Congregational church will cele-
brate its semi-centennial October 2lst'