New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-27
President ARTHUR,
SERVICES AT THE CAPITAL.
PRESIDENT ARTHUR AT ST JOHNS PROTESTANT
EPISCOPAL CUURCu-IMPRESsIVE WORDS AT IHF
LATE PRESIDENTS CHURCH


LATE PRESIDENTS CHURCH.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNE.I
WASHINGToN. sept 26.-rhe day was generally
observed here of humiliation and prayer the
Departments and most of the business houSes being
closed Tor the day. There religious services NJ
I all the churches. at which the attendance was
unusually large. The services at St. Johns Prot
cstant Episcopal Church were held at IL o'clock
/ this morning There mourning emblems
within, but the columns outside were heavily
drapcd in black. A few moments before the ser
vice began, President Arthur entered by side
door. He dressed in full suit of black. lie
took n seat i'll the second pew. The services con
sisted merely of the usual morning services of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. There was no ser
mon. Tho music was simple, the congregation
uniting. The church was well filed but not at all
crowded
1 The little Christian Church on Vermont-ave
which President Garfield used TO attend, was the
scene this morning of very impressive service.
Many persons in the city not regular worshippers
at other churches found their way to this unpre-
tentious building and joined with the members in
prayer. and the church well filled. over the
doors and front windows of the church were simple
1 iestOons Of black cloth. Within the eye was at
tracted at once to an empty pew made conspicuous
! by the sombre folds of black which covered It
completely. The pew is in the corner the
pulpit. In front of il placed easel bearing
"A, deep
border of black Some loving hands had hung a
wreath of evergreens and roses the picture.
and the light which came in from the window Just
over tho sable draped pew seemed to play about
\ the picture and to flowers. This was all that
could be seen unusual in the church. ex cept a
4 basket of roses that rested the preachers desk
The services were simple in the extreme but
4 mono the less impressive When the prayer the
words of praise and genuine sorrow were uttered
I there were few in the house who could sit with
fearless eyes. Tho hymn, There il "A Land of Pure
Delight" was sung by the congregation, who took
4 the key from melOdeon; and as the voices
swellcd and died away it seemed as though every
heart strovc to express i'll the music It's love and
grief and trustful hope. To members of some
Weather congregation blessed with IA fine organ
and artistic choir, who may have strolled into the
3 little church this morning, he singing OF that
hymn gave revelation of what congregational
singing may be- His fellow -worshippcrs say that
4 in former days the voice of Garfield. clear and
sonorous, COT Id be heard in every hymn impartng
a TO the song much of his own CHEEKY strength The
song over ElGer Heischell OF Missouri, elderly
8 man with hoary bead and trembling step. offered
Ia prayer The HAVllth Psalm was then read, and
a Come We DlsCOusOlatc" was sung.
q Elder Russell then spoke. His style was plain
Il and unadorned., Now and then, catching an in
u Drilling eoquence we want a PRESIDENT he
said. " who has all the characteristics of u Chris
q tian-courage, temperance, brothcrly kindness
q and such "A man we were sure we had in James A.
y Garfield. lie is not dead. He lives. IIo has
q simply been called to brighter mansion in the
courts celestial AS the mantle Of Elijah tell upon
q Elisha, may the mantle of James A. Garfield
q tall upon Chester A. Arthur; and rs Elisha had a
double portion OF the spirit of Elijah III wisdom
and goodness may our present President have a
4 double portion of the spirit of Garfield. Let us
81 remember this Injunction: Speak not evil of the
ruler OF the people"
The preacher urged that the prayers of loyal people
q be thrown around Arthur as they had been about
Garfield. "Lct him Ieel our sympathies." he said.
Let him be assured that we love HIM lreSi-
dent. Let us hold up his hands and say: We love
You and God will love you far as you continue in
ri hit and goodness The speaker spoke in broken
accents of the sorrow Of the peoples of the
little children he had met and he pointed to Gar
y fields noble life az something they should all
profit by.
4 The services at the other churches were impress
sve, the burial service being read by most of the
Protestant Episcopal clcrgymen, anu many of the
a church interiCr rs we're draped III mourning.