The daily gazette., 1881-09-27
MEMORIAL MEETINGS.
PUBLIC TRIBUTE TO TH1 DEAD
PREsIDRNT.
Imposing Msss MsstAng ~ the Opera
House, and aashsFings at
the Churches.

hVOuy Wo8 Voo 01V8b
graceful tribalss - the. dead. Chief
Magistrsts. The doom wsrs not opened
until three o'elock, bdss b two o'clock
the great hallway vas packsd from the
inner doors tol ths stfSst with patient
peopls, who Waited 10 this uncomforta-
BILE location fer tie purpose Of obtaining
good seats whom the d0ors were opened.
Outside the crowd extended - far dswn
a. Eighth street and nearly to Ninth,
while in the shade scross Market street
hundreds stood rsady ste .rush over ct
the nrst intimation Of the opening Of the
doors. NJ IS "a "
Al three O'Clock the doom were
opened, and, with one grand continued
rush the people packed In, until inside
Of hye minutes every seat was occupied
except the orchestra chairs, which were
reserved tor the Grand Army Posts and
other specially invited guests. The
crowd kept coming in until every aisle
was tightly packed with standing, swell
tering humanity, and only whom II was
impossible for people TO get within six
fest Of the entrance doors, did the still
waiting hundrsds turn slowly and dis
appoIntedly away. A few minutss after
the First Regiment Band came up from
Fourth and Market sti ssts followed BY
another large crowd, but only the band,
members Of City Council and Of the
Grand Army Posts vsre permitted 70
enter the auditorium from the rear On.
trance on King street. The band vent
| upon the stage and the others soon
filled the orchestra chairs. More than
hundred psopls also occupied seats on
the stage, inclnding the Philharmonic
Society and orchestra. By this time
there were fully three Thousand people
gathered within the spacious walls Of
the building, and tho view from the
stage was Of vast sea OF waving fans
and earnest, serious faces.
| The Opera House drapings were i'm
pressive and elaborate. The balconies
wore festooned with graceful and som-
brs hanging sichesi Of Grape, bound with
knsts OF white silk ribbon, the ends Of
which were allowed TO droop down. The
pillars supporting the balconies were er-
twined with Grape. The private boxes
were shrouded 10 black, and the entire
stage was heavily curtained In tho same
color. Upon the rear Of the stage was q
handsome column Of sverRreens, ferns
and flowers, the shaft Of which was sur
mounted by . beautiful white dove,
while At the front, and TO the right and
left Of the speakers, large pertraits Of
the martyr presidents, Lincoln aud Gar
field, were suspended on easels. They
were executed BY ]. Paul Brown, Of this
city, for ths Young Mems Republican
Club, and added much to .he general
effect.
Judge Wales bad beep chosen to pre-
side over the meeting, aud at 8.36 O'Clock
be announced that it would be opened
with prayer by Rev. Lafayette Marks,
pastor of Hanover Presbyterian Church.
Mr.. Marks prayed fervsntly and appro-
priately.
Judge Wales followed with brief ad-
dress, pertinent 10 the solemn occasion
and highly eulogistic Of the dead Prssi-
dent, and after musical selection. "rhs
Garland Of Flowers" by the First Reg
men. Band. Rev. DR.. Wilson, Of the
Unitarian Church, was introduced. He
spoke Of the deep feeling Of the people
all through the course Of this national
calamity and referred particularly to the
iilustrious character Of the dead Prssl-
dent. This character will always re-
main Q bright and shining example, all
over the world. It can never die. We
may lay the dead body OF the President
by the shores of Lake kfie to-day, but
his character will live for ages. From
his tomb over which are she'd the tears
OF millions Of people will spring grea
tree of remembrance, whose fruits shall
tempt the minds Of many nations.
..Nearer Nv God 10 Thss'' was rem
dered by the Philharmonic choir and Or
chestra, and then Benz. Nields, E.q.,
was introduced and saId:
We are to-day . sorrowiDg people,
standing 10 spirit around the grave oil
our dead president. Onr great love for
him, tho tears shed for him, the prayers
OF the whole people that he might be
spared TO us, were nnavillng, and ws
have conn together TO mourn his death,
10 lay some tribute of Affection upon bis
tomb, and out OF the abundance OF ths
untimely aud cruel death Of this son,
husband, father, scholar, soldier, graai
statesman, and Christian. Then refsrr-
ing to his loving tenderness Tor bis moth.
or, his great love for his wife, his suffer
iDg without complaint,or word OF bitter.
ness tor the assassin Whs shot him, and
his early struggle through poverty until
he reached the rositien Of chief magic
trate Of the nation, all accomplished be.
fore he had reached the age Of 20 years
and Of the fact that no had touched the
highest point Of human greatness before
be bad more than reached the prime oi
life, he said, "Along the track OF his lifs
he had touched human character practi.
ca)ly at almost svery point, hence hls
great sympathy and love for humanity
10 every condition. Il was this touch In
his nature that made every class, and oil
people claim him 10 be their kin--theil
friend; 1t was this touch in his nature
that makes every political faction, ever
race, people Ill every condition OF life
and every religious donomination stanc
, with uncovered heads around his grave
to day, each feeling that hs has lost I
, friend. 1t was this touch that makei
smperors, klngs, ministers, and senators
} the 90 called high and the 90 called low
his unseen pallbsarers TO day, and al
, people throughout the civilized worlt
eagerly pressing forward 70 lay som'
, word Of euloey upon hls bier"
Mr.. Nieids closed with 4 beautiful
} quotalion from Tennyson's dedication
Of the Isles of the King TO Prince Al
bert.
"Sleep thy last Sleep" the musi
and words Of which were composed b.
, the late Bradley James, was finely rem
l dered BY the Philharmonic choir.
Anthony Higgins, Esq, was th