Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1881-09-28

49,
is to be thought of the practice, SO common
in our day all over this broad land, of excul-
pating murderers on the plea of insanity, SO
that man, who in all his life before, had
never been suspected of mental alteration,
but disappointed and chagrined over the loss
of suit in a civil court, may take his
stand, with double .barreled shotgun,
at the very vestibule of temple of
justice, and in the glare of day shoot down
the judge who had presided at the trial, and
go scot-free on the pretence of irresponsi-
bility Who knows-in all this land, who
knows but that such things as these, of
which before heaven and earth we are
guilty, who knows but that this guilt is the
gravest cause of Gods controversy with us
as people-a controversy manifested III
the unusual season of protracted drouth
which has cut short the products of the
earth SO generally throughout all the length
and breadth of our national domain; con-
troversy manifested in the desolation of so
many homes, the distress of SO many
families and the destruction of such
an area of country, by conflagration that
has not only consumed dwelling houses and
barns, and destroyed the lives of men and
cattle, but has burnt out the fertility and
destroyed the soil of the earth to depth be-
yond the reach of cultivation; controversy
manifesting itself at last in the permission
of the nefarious assassination of the Presi-
dent of the United States, whose untimely
taking off has spread pail of gloom and
mourning over this whole land, awakened
apprehensions of danger to the stability of
the government itself, and that to-day, at
this very hour, holds the whole American
people bound in grief over the yawning
grave of James A. Garfield, whose
death we lament as a national calamity,
Calamity. Calamity indeed it is. But ali,
sirs, may it not be more than calamity
May it not be national punishment, in
fiicted upon us by the special providence of
Almighty Ged-punishment in kind,
for sthe low estimate we have placed
upon human life, and the immunity our
easy going justice has allowed to men whose
hands are defiled with blood? And shall
we not pray that God in His wrath may re-
member mercy; and hope that in His mer-
cy He also intends to call us to repent
ance, and to awaken this whole
people to a better appreciation of
human life; to more hearty detestation of
the atrocity of needlessly shedding human
blood; to better and more faithful ad-
ministration of law and justice, and to
fuller and more devout recognition of His
holy and righteous sovereignty over us as
individuals, as States and as nation?
Surely, to-day, we may hear this call
among the other voices of this providence
and if we are wise, if we are true to JUS
, tice, if we are loyal to law and order, if we
desire the peace and safety and we]Lbeing
Of society and humanity,-fro this afro
cious crime, not only against good and
noble man, but a crime taking
on all the exaggeration of being
committed against the chief
executive officer of the nation, and there
fore, reaching out with bloody hand against
the life of the government and the liberties
and sovereign rights of the people-yet
from this atrocious and wicked crime may
spring a revival of such salutary principles,
and pormpt administration of law, as will
rebound to the glory of God and the we'll
, being of man, and secure to every citizen,
from the highest to the lowest life, liberty,
and the pursuit of happiness"
Prayer was offered by DR.. Goforth, DR..
Park gave out Hymn 2O6, To Thee O
! Lord, Our God, we come" &c, which was
! rendered by the choir, followed by the long
meter doxology, g Praise God from Whom
all Blessings Flow, &c, and the benedic-
ton by DR.. Goforth, after which the con-
gregation dispersed. The service contin-
ued one hour and half.
A. NJ. E, ZION CHURCH.
Elder J. NJ. Washington, of this church
preached very touching sermon yerterday
to large congregation. He exhor edhts
hearers to be obedient and submissi re to the
will of God and without mourning, although
they had lost friend in the death of the
Chief Magistrate of the nation. The lead
ing voices in the choir were Miss Bette
Robinson, soprano, Miss Carson, alto, ant
Miss Mary Rowland presided at the organ
After singing
"Why do we mourn departed friends? 2"
which was rendered very touchingly
Rev. Mr. Adams made feel
ing address, and the choir sang Nearer
my God to Thee" Alex. Hodge then made
some appropriate remarks, and also Mr.
Bradley. Then followed music by the
choir "There is no love like the love OF
Jesus" John L. Alexander spoke in fitting
terms of the life and character of our noble
dead, and was followed by singing Amy
where with Jesus" The contribution Boz
was passed around, and 1888 was raised t.
be contributed to the Garefeld monunen
fund. The services wer deeply impress
sive, every one appearing to feel as if he OF
she had lost dear friend. The contribu.
ton will be turned over to Mr.. w. P
Chamberlain, the local treasurer of the fund
1t was very liberal one.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
The church was tastefully draped il
mourning. The attendance was universally
large, drawn hither to hear the "Trauer
rede " or funeral Grafton" on the dealt
of the President. The services were opened
with a beautiful anthem by the choir
"Thou shalt rise again." after which thu
pastor, Rev. j. G.. Schaidt, read the follow
ing Scripture selections: Romans, XIII, L
s. Samuel XVI, lib; II Samuel, III
&c 80.
After an appropriate hymn and prayer ht
took for his text l Samuel, III chap, 3stl
verse. His discourse was mos
impressive one, in which b.
showed the business and fitness OF oui
sorrow, both on account of the good quail
ties of the man, and also on account of tn
contemplate means which caused his death
! He drew number of lessons from the event
If the people of this nation by this sad oc
J currence learn more respect for life in gen
eral, learn to respect the Government, ant
make it more worthy of being called al
"Order of God" and especially if they SCI
selfshness to be the great cause of evil, thel
the sad event deplored to-day will yet bear
harvest of blessing.
THIRD PRESBYTERIAN.
The churches north of the railroad, &C
| cording to the programme previously agreed
upon, met at DIR. Harrison's church. tn
Third Presbyterian. The large church wa
| well filed, the services brief, but of an i'm