The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-10-12
REV. J. z. TAYLoR,s SERMON.

V' " ~. AAI AOs . SrlfSMON.
Mark the perfect man, and be.
hold the upright, for the end of tha,
man is peace" Psalms xxxvii: 81.
| DEAR FRIENDS: We meet this sad
day to pay our last tribute of respect
to the memory of our beloved Presi-
dent, who has passed from the
scenes of this earth away. Fifty
millions of people join in these sol
emn services over our broad land
to-day-and far away on foreign
shores multitudes unite in expires
sions of deepest sympathy for us in
this our greatest bereavement. We
mourn the loss of the grandest man
of the ages-of the highest product
of our Christian civilization. And
what is so sad is that this grand life
IN its very prime should be torn
from us by the bullet of the assassin.
We exclaim with the afflicted wife
of our fallen chieftain, ''why must
we suffer this cruel wrong?" In
our finite capacity it throws a shad-
ow over the ways of Providence, and
We ask how justice and Judgment be
the habitation of His throne ? Why
was not the arm of the assassin par.
alyzed? Why was not the bullet
stopped in its mission of death
"But the Lord reigneth," neverthe-
less, and, though 'clouds and dark
ness are around and about Him,
still justice and judgment are the
habitation of His throne" In this
majestic universe, where law reigns
over all, from the atom to the globe,
from the infusoria to the archangel,
and all things move forward in ac-
cordance with this uniform force
in universe where the human will
plays its parts in the events of life
where evil exists so abundantly and
triumphs over the good so often, the
soul sometimes sinks under the ter
ror OF the dreadful thought that
there may be no Divine Providence
over the affairs of men. But our
vision is too limited, our field of OBJ
servation too narrow to pronounce
upon the ways of Providence, or
solve the mysteries of the universe.
OF this vast subject, how little is
known. He who has built the uni
verse and created the intelligences
that people it; who guides the pie
iades in their course and watches
over the falling sparrow, surely for
gets not him whom He has made in
His divine image. This is the true
thought,
God moves in a mysterious way.
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps on the sea,
And rides upon the Storm
We must remember that the pow
er and influence of great life does
not depend upon its duration. One
single act may stamp itself on all
coming ages one short life may
generate a force that will perpetuate
itself in noble deeds through all
time, yes, in good results, extend
ing through all eternity. How short
was the life of Jesus of Nazareth,
how tragical His death; and yet,
from that life and that death force
has been developed that, in its
mighty results, is increasing rapidly
as the ages move onward. What,
then, has given our beloved dead
his great power over the people.
Evidently into that problem his suf-
ferings enter largely. For eighty
days a nation has stood by his bed
side watching intently the eb5 and
flow of life. Up from the hearts of
millions ascended the prayer daily
and hourly, "If it be possible let
this cup pass from us, yet not our
will but Thine be done" This is
a noble people to die for" he said
As he passed through those long
weary days of suffering, he drew all
hearts to himself, and cemented by
his death our nation into peace and
harmony, and, Sampson-like, achiev-
ing more in his last awful struggle
than in all his previous life.
The history of this grand man
seems brief. He was born on the
10Th day of November, 1881 was
left an orphan by the death of his
father when 2 years old was reared
amid poverty and hardships by his
widowed mother; by great diligence
he became fine scholar was presi-
dent of a college, general in the
army, congressman, senator, and
finally president of the United
States. He assembled from the canal
boat to the White house-to the
highest place of honor on this earth.
1t is grander to be president of these
United States than to be czar of all
the Russias. For it is the gift of a
place of honor, of a free and noble
people.
OF his character we may speak !:
In a magnificent physical constitu-
ton resided a massive mind, pos
sessing breadth of culture and q
force of intellect that placed him at
once in the front rank of American
statesmen. He was man of great
industry. The indomitable energy
displayed in early life in gaining a
livelihood, and, amid poverty, Sc
curing a splendid education, did not
forsake him in the halls of Congress.
"He is the most laborious man in
the House." said ex-Congressman
Havens to your speaker once. He
was also man of pure morals-of
most yirtuous habits. He could,
therefore, endure great labor
Again he was true to principle,
unswervingly devoted to his convic-
tions of truth and duty. He said in q
speech at Columbus, Ohio: There
is one with whom l always endeav-
or to be oa good terms; one who is
always present with me, with whom
/ must always eat and sleep and
live; that is with myself" That
was his own conscience. Like Paul
he could say, "I have lived in all
good conscience before God until
this day" His life proved this
When preaching in Washington
city ! never on Lords day missed
him from the house of worship