St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-09-30


Had borne 6im-clear, calm, earnest, fell
His iIst words, like the prelude notes
OF some great anthem yet to swell
We prayed, and we said, let him lire
to bring to us the fruits of his con-
summate abilities, his ripeness in af-
fairs, his resolute and many-sided man
hood. Let him live and not
die.
But the Chief Husbandman looked
down, and said, No-the most choice
and enduring fruits shall come the
other way. He must die.
in this browning grace of time,
This triumph Of lifss zenith-hour."
In this tragic way, and against the
darling hopes and prayers of the peo-
pie, he must die.
Gradually they will come to see the
springing up of precious fruits from
this rare seed. Some part of this
harvest already APP
pears in the general sobriety of feel
ing; the hush of the nation as in Gods
presence the unparalleled spirit of
sympathy rising everywhere to cover
earth with its fragrance. More will
appear hereafter in the reproduction
among our young men of President
Garfield's solid qualities. Temperate
habits, hard work, brave fighting and
gentle manners simple piety, patient
suffering, will be better appreciated
now that he has died. We shall have
stronger Republic, purer states
manship, more religion in politics.
Surely we shall. God did not let this
noble life go down in such tragic fash
ion for nothing. We prayed that he
might live. But God, who answers
prayer, said, except he die, nOlo, you will
miss the richest fruit of his life.
AT THE FREE BAPTIST CHURCH
pulpit and organ were draped, and
portrait of President Garfield hung di-
rectly in front of the desk. Rev. Mr..
Lockhart spoke from Luke xiv: 81
eve trusted it was he which should
redeem Israel" We thought he was
the man for the hour and to redeem the
nation and when he was laid low we
trembled for the consequences. Our
worst fears have been realized What
shall we say of such life Life is not
made up of years, but of deeds-deeds
which give character to mans life.
From bOyhood to manhood, noble
deeds characterized Garfield's life. His
life is worth something to you and to
me. 1t is of incalculable worth to his
tory. We draw from his life that it
is possible to be a politician and a
Christian. Is not the nation better
from having Christian Presidents 1t
will not soon lose the influence of such
a life as this. He has recOnciled the
nation. The beauty of his life is that
he recognized the same principle which
Christ recommended. Gods purpose
in this calamity is a wise one. He
wanted to teach us how dependent we
are on him.
AT THE METHODIST CHURCH
Rev. Mr.. Locke preached from IL.
Timothy ii: 10 - Nevertheless the
foundation of God standeth sure, hav-
ing this seal: the Lord knOweth them
that are his" 1t is source of con-
graduation to the devOut mind that
God has moral government. Evil
dences of the fact seen in the early
experiences of the human race evil
dence also abundant that it is strong in
the earth tO-day-the multitude of
church spires, of gospel sermons, of
songs and prayers of public worship,
the self-denying labors of missionaries !;
the fact that all just laws of the civil
lied world are based upon the Holy
Bible. AS nation we mourn
to-day our hOnOred dead. The Chris
tan world prayed for his recovery. He
died. God is greater than any individ-
ual. The prayers of the world lay him
under no more obligation than the
prayers of two that are agreed. AS
God is greater than man, so he knows
better than men what the nation needs.
God is not pledged to do always just
what man asks him to do. The Chris
tain world has besought God more than
three times that the life of the Presi-
dent might be spared, but instead is
the answer, "My grace is sufficient"
etc. Though he has passed to join the
innumerable company of the redeemed,
bestOwment of a greater good than the
gift of one life could possibly be.
Reasons for this faith. The nation
will learn its dependence upon God.
The safety of our national interests is
not vested in the life of any man, and
J depends not upon the supremacy OF
any political party, but alone upon
God. The nation that will not serve
him shall be destroyed, says Revela-
ton and history.
The death of the President may APP
pear mysterious in view of the prayers
offered, but if we are taught our de-
pendence upon God thereby, he has
not died in vain. Again this event will
greatly assist to heal sectional strife
The South mOurns with us the death
of James A. Garfield. He is the ma
TONS martyr. But for what
have we been praying, for the life of q
man No, for the best good of om
nation. We desired his life, but we
: want God to be sovereign. "GOd
moves i'll Il mysterious way" He led
his own Son to the cross and by his
death broke the bonds of hell.
Do such things indicate the insecurity
of Gods foundations Nay, but its
security. Its security has given us a
Garfield. Its security holds the people
to the supremacy of law so that this
event cannot create a revolution. The
: honor we feel, the tears we have shed
testify to the enrolling influences OF
Christianity. These emotions never
could have been awakened in a semi
, barbarOus nation. The security OF
5 Gods foundation renders the outlook
hopeful.
AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH
! Mr.. Sandford spoke from Psalms xcvii
| I-3. After referring to the national
loss, the preacher directed attention t.
: the truths set forth in the Psalm
= l. The Lord the Sovereign ruler OF
a the nations. The rule of Christ shOulC
: be extended over the nation in thing,
temnnral as we'll as sniritnal Rnlerl