The Evening critic., 1881-09-06

of the President mass being celebrated in
them at IL q. m. At st. Patrick's. Rev.
Father Walter ofiiciated and delivered n
sermon upon the occasion. At st. Mat
thcw's Rev. Father Boland, resident pastor
in the absence of Father Boyle, celebrated
mass. Mass was celebrated In all of the
other Catholic churches in the District and
in Trinity Chsrch, Georgetown.
The services at the Memorial Church
werd especially interesting and attracted a
very large congregation representing every
religious denomination. The services were
presided over by Rev. DR.. Butler, the pastor,
who opened with q brief prayer. Follow.
ing him Rev. Frederick ID. Power, pastor of
the Christian Church on Vermont avenue,
of which President Garfield Is member,
delivered touching address explaining the
object of the meeting and urging his hearers
to join with him in prayer Of thanks.
giving and an appeal for .no pMsident's
speedy recovery. Prayers were also offered
by Key DIR: Rankin, Of tho Congregational
Church, and lev. DIR. Ramsdell. The choir
sang hymns of an appropriate character,
closing the services by singing "All Hail
the Power Of Jesus Name,r In which the
entire congregation Joined. -
The First Presbyterian Church, on Four
and-a-half street. in answer to the proclama-
tion of the Commissioners, held brief
prayer meeting Mt IL o'clock. In the alb
sence of DIR. Sunderland Elder Otis c..
Wright ofiiciated The attendance was
slight, owing to the short time since the
meeting was proposed and the services
were simple. There was no sermon, but
there was an appropriate extemporaneous
prayer by Elder Wright for the recovery of
the President, followed by the singing of
hymns of praise by the congregation.
The service of prayer for the President at
the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church Gap
itol HilD was largely attended by persons
of all denominations.
Rev. DIR. Chester opened the exercises
with prayer, and also read some appropriate
passages of Scripture, showing how prayers
for rulers had been answered. He spoke of
the appropriateness of this hour for prayer,
as the President was on his journey, on
which so much hope of restoration was
founded. He regretted the shortness of
time given for notice of this meeting but
rejoiced that at length an opportunity was
given for what the nation had long desired,
the setting apart of a day Of prayer for the
President.
Rev. William J. Van Doren followed with
some pertinent remarks on the reasonable.
ness of prayer. He said that as the first act
of child In need was to call upon its
father, so'the first impulse of man in time
of danger is to call on mis- God. He thought
that the desire of the nation to unite in
prayer for its President was itself an an :.
swer to the cavils of infidelsas to the bcne-
fit of praying to God The nations sense of
need swept away the cobwcbs of such
sophistries.
Messrs. Robert Leitch and Philip Bohrcr
led in fervent prayers for the Presidents
recovery.
Rev. Geo. V. Leech, pastor of the Fourth
street NJ. E. Church, led in prayer, and
closed the meeting with some beautiful and
pertinent illusions to the reasons for de-
string the preservation of the life of our
President. He alluded to his pure moral
character, his high sense of right, the ben
eft of his example to the young. He also
reverted to the many dark days through
which the country had passed, and from
his goodness to us then, urged our trusting
Him in this dark hour. Mr.. Leech also
dwelt on the necessity of humiliation for
our national sins and rededicat:on to Gods
service.
The services were interspersed with ap-
propriate hymns, and all felt that it was,
indeed, good to be there.