The Portland daily press., 1881-09-24
CEREMONIES AT THE CAPITOL.
The Services in the Rotunda and the
Mournful Procession to the Depot.

WASHINGTON. Sept 23.--At 1.45 p. m. the
crowd about the capitol numbered many thou
sands and was constantly receiving fresh Access
sons. Every entrance OF the building was
closely guarded, however, and none were adj
mitted without special tickets. Arrangements
for the funeral ceremonies in the rotunda were
all completed and the chairs and sofas labelled
to designate for whom they are reserved. Inc
positions of the floral offerings were changed
and nothing remained upon the casket save
few branches of palm. AT the head OF the cata-
faluue stood broken column of white and
purple flowers surmounted by white dove,
and on either side of this were tastefully ar
ranged a crown and a pyramid OF roses AT
the foot and resting against the black drapery
was the wreath which, by order OF the queen,
was yesterday placed upon the casket. Ar
ranged on each side of this Offering from the
Queen were handsome crosses, while at their
base was placed magnificent floral pillow, on
which was inscribed in violets "Our Martyred
President" Next to this was placed The
gates Ajar," which attracted SO much admir-
alton yesterday. The Knights of Malta con-
tributed large Maltese cross and the Union
Veteran Corps, of which Garfield was men,
Der, pillow of white flowers bearing in violet
letters the inscription 81. V. @. to their Com
rade." The whole appearance of the catafal
que was tasteful and elegant. In front of the
chairs which were placed an the south side OF
the casket were arranged sofas for the accom-
mediation of Mrs. Garfield and family Di-
reetly opposite, and on the north side OF the
catafalque, seats were reserved for members OF
the Cabinet and distinguished guests. The
front row of chairs in the northwestern section
of the rotunda was placed at the disposal of
the Justices of the Supreme Court, while IN
the rear of these several rows were selected
for the accommodation of Senators The Rep
resentatives occupied seats on the southeastern
and southwestern sections. Behind them a
row of chairs was reserved for representatives
Of the press, and the remainder OF the seats in
that section were given to the public generally.
At quarter to 2 the doors of the rotunda
| were opened. The first society to arrive was
| the knights Templar, Beausant Commandery
of Baltimore. They entered in full regalia
but did not remain in the hall, simply passing
around the catafalque in double file. -Four OF
their number bore floral offering In the
shape of an immense Maltese cross which was
reyerently placed at the head of the dais. At
ten minutes of 2 the army of the Cumberland
filed in by the door leading from the Senate
chamber and took seats reserved Tor them.
Ats O'Clock the members of the diplomatic
corps entered and took the seats assigned to
them in the rear of the sofas placed for the &C
commodation of the Supreme Court, the men,
bers of which soon after entered headed by
Chief Justice Waite. AT 2.40 Dol. Rockwell,
DR.. Boynton, Private Secretary Brown, Messrs,
Judd, Pruden, Warren, Young, Hendley and
Duke, Mr.. and Mrs. Bolney, Col and Mrs.
| Corbin, Mrs. Pruden, Mr.. and Mrs Montgom-
| cry and Mrs. Dean, representing the household
| of the late President entered and TOOK the
| seats reserved for them. The members OF the
House fled in through the south door preceded
by the officers of that body and by ex-Speakers
Randall and Banks They were followed by
the Senators, Senator Anthony leading, who
entered by the north door, At o'clock the
Cabinet and distinguished guests entered IN
the following order:-President Arthur and
Secretary Blaine, ex-Presidents Grant and
Hayes, Secretary and Mrs Window, Secretary
and Mis-. Lincoln, Secretary and Mrs. Hunt.
Attorney General and Mrs. MacVeagh, Secre-
tary Kirkwood and Postmaster General James
and Gems. Drum and Beale. The vast assem-
blage, as of one accord, rose to honor the new
President and when they had regained their
seats the ceremonies were opened with the
hymn, Asleep in jesus, beautifully rem
dered by the volunteer choir. Rev. DIR. Ran
kin then assembled the raised platform at the
head of the catafalque and read In clear and
distinct voice the scriptural selections. Rev
DR.. Isaac Errett then offered prayer he
spoke in a clear but low tone OF voice
and with much evidence of deep feeling.
"Our beloved President is Dead" he said
RAISED by the voice of the people to the
Chief Magistracy of this great nation, he was
stricken down by murderous hand, cut oil III
his glorious promise, and all the high hopes
and expectations connected with his admins
tration of public affairs sunk into disappoint-
ment and nothingnesS. o, Lord, as we stand
in the presence of this fearful calamity may
our hearts be exceedingly humbled before
ln06, ana as We arc SLOIt lSubOo WO pAdJ OuoS
Thy hand may be reached down and we may
be taken through this darkness and into the
light, and enable as to realize that even In the
thickest darkness Thou dost not forget to be
merciful; and while we deeply feel beyond
we can say in words. the bitterness of this
affection we cannot forget, o Lord, how
much we have to be thankful for. We desire
to praise Thee that though the President dies
the nation lives; that though our Chief Magls-
trate is thus cruelty and violently taken away
ant
peaceful performance of all its functions;
that there is no jar in its machinery, and
that the blessings of good government
are still continued to us In all the land.
For this we praise Thee and we humbly pray
that the President who sits near to our de-
parted President may be filed with all love
of righteousness and truth and be prepared in
every way by the blessing OF God for the faith
full performance of his responsible duties. May
he be able to guide the affairs OF this nation
with discretion; may party luminosity and strife
and sectional division be overcome by means
of this sacrifice SO that we may be one people
in deeper sense than we have ever been;
there may come blessings out OF this terrible
affiiction.
The reverend gentlemen then, in conclusion,
paid an eloquent and touching tribute to Mrs.
Garfield, referring to the noble and Christian
spirit which she had. exhibited in the hour OF
sorrow and tribulation, and exhortlng her to
look to God in the days of her aff1iction. He
children, that the sons should under the bene-
diction of God grow up to noble manhood,
and that the bereaved daughter might rise INTO
a true and glorious womanhood and i've 10 Dc
able to be the comfort OF her widowed motner
He appealed to God to have pity on the dear
old mother over the mountains waiting Tor the
dead body of her darling son. now that the was
old and gray hrired.
Immediately after the close of the service
the floral decorations were all removed Mrs.
Hor al tad tbau ha SAINT tn her house at
Mentor,) except the beautiful wreath, the. gift
of Queen Victoria which had been placed un-
der the head of the coffin when the lid was
closed, and which remained their, when the
coffin was borne to the hearse, and will be up
on it till the remains are buried. This touch
ing tribute of Queen Victoria greatly moved
Mrs. Garfield as only woman can feel women's
sympathy at the time of her greatestsearthly
sorrow.
AS the closing words of prayer died away,
Rev. f. D. Powers of Vermont Avenue Chris
tian Church, of which President Garfield was
a member, delivered feeling address.
At the conclusion of DR.. Powers address,
Rev. J. G. Butler offered prayar as follows:
Our Hather we bow before Thee with bleed
ing hearts Thy judgments are unsearchable
and Thy ways past finding out We rejoice in
the light that comes from Thy throne in this
hour of darkness and adore Thee as our
covenant God, the God of our now sainted
President and the sovereign among earth's
rulers. There is forgiveness with Thee and
we come with penitent hearts in the name
that is above every name. We thank God for
the life of his servant around whose remains
the nations host gathers in sorrow, for his
patriotism and purity, for his courage and
patience, for his faith in piety-faith that was
first in his now heartstricken mother. U Lord
deal very tenderly with her and preserve her
unto everlasting life. God be praised
for the blending of hearts at
the mercy seat asking the life
of our President Father, not as we will, but
as Thou wilt. Thy wisdom and love are inf
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