Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-10-01

less and so cruel, and the nation seemed
20 rock with the frenzy of its helpless
grief and rage. The President was at
the railway station. going off with all
the glee of schOOlbOy to enjoy brief
respite from official cares, with his poor
wife, who was just struggling back to
health after most perilOus illness; and
suddenly at an hour when men looked
not for 1t, the blow fell. But President
Garfield felt no evil, even then. II am
in the hands Of God; you know am not
afraid to die Mrs. Garfield, the Presi-
dents mother, and Mrs. Garfield. his
wife, were soon by his side, and display
ed the heroic fOrtitude which true Chris
tian faith alone inspires. They hid their
sorrow, that 1t might not embarrass
their ministry: and they won the heart
OF the American nation as the heart of
one man by their beautiful self-contrOl,
their heroic bravery, and their tender
strength. Some weeks after, L was
talking to well-knOwn and influential
man in America, and he said some words
to this effect to me: "HOw do hope and
pray that Garfield will recover. We
can't spare him; the man is Christian to
the core, and longs to Apply the precepts
of the Gospel to the politics of to-day.
Have you noticed that the papers have
begun to call his boy and girl by their
Christian names? know something of
the American people, and will tell you
what that means. 1t means that the
nation loves him, and-if he lives
President Garfield will have more per-
sOnal influence in America than any
single man has had among us for many
a long day; and this found was the
general impressiOn-the general i'm
preston amongst all classes of society
and amongst men of every shade OF pO-
litical creed. Everywhere, in church
and chapel, wherever went found the
people assembled to pray for the Presi
dent. 1t was very touching and solemn
to join such gatherings, for it really
seemed as If the people realized most
keenly their helplessness, and realized
not less keenly the power of that God in
whose hands are the reins of life and
death. "They will not let the old SOL
der die" was the grateful murmur of
the poor sufferer at the White House, as
he heard of the continued snpplicatiOns
which the churches of America, of every
creed, were sending up on his behalf to
the fOOtstOOl of the Heavenly Grace.
shall long remember with thoughtful
gladness midday special prayer meet
ing at which it was my privilege to be
present in the city of Chicago, assembled
to intercede for the life of the President.
The meeting was most interesting one.
and solemn and deep feelings evidently
prevailed. Addresses, strictly limited
to five minutes" were delivered by
speakers who started up unlimited in
various parts of the rOOm-but the bur-
den of all that was said was the same,
sympathy with the President and the
strong hope that the nation would be led
to deeper and purer life by the calami-
ty which had thus befallen it, The
PRAYERS that were offered were short and
simple, and rich with the truest devO-
tiOnal feeling. 1t was great relief to
turn in from the noisy streets to this
the busiest hour of day, some 500 men
gathered together to plead with God to
sustain their ruler, and, if it was HIS
good pleasure, to bring him back to life
and health. My impressions of Chicago
were. as whole, the reverse of pleasant
it seemed to me life all but wholly
given to the idOlatry Of worldly success,
and the pretentiOns of the citizens; but
l shall, nevertheless, remember that
gathering of men who had not bowed
the knee to Baal, and that brief bright
'hOur of worship and Of song" which l
was permitted to enjoy in their midst,
and which gave wings to ones tired
spirit to lift Through faiths calm and
sunlit spaces-"nearer to God" / have
but little more to add, for feel | need
not further enlarge upon the feeling
which everywhere prevailed. 1 might
tell you of what was said in the various
churches at which wOrshipped during
the Sundays when the Presidents life
seemed to tremble (as, also 1t seems
again to do now in the balance; but I
feel as if should be guilty of irrever-
ence if attempted even to portray the
scene. You can easily imagine it; but
what you cannot, perhaps, understand
as well as an eyewitness is the remark
able Outburst of affection which the
American people at once lavished on the
man who had fallen in day of natural
peace and prOsperity-a martyr to the
public cause. One proof of this will suf-
flee. brief letter, as you know, appear
ed in the New York papers stating, or
rather limiting that if General Garfield
died, his wife and children be but poor
ly left. Immediately-by letter and
telegrams-th rich and poor spOntane-
Ously offered assistance, and in few
days the Presidents family had if need
ed) fortune placed at their disposal. /
believe that this calamity has been to
the churches blessing in disguise.
Men have realized their brotherhood in
Christ i'm most wonderful and beauti-
full way, as they have knelt together un-
der the shadow of the wings Of death in
prayer and duplication. The hearts of
Christians have been united, and the
sympathies of the various communities
one with another greatly increased.
Sectarian animOsities and party cries
have shrivelled up into their true pro-