Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-10-01
Gen. G;.Yfield's Religion.

Vcus uihfHc1d ncE9tOEs
TIE REV. DR. sAMsON's RECOLLECTIONs OF THE
DEAD PRESIDENT.
From the N Y. Times.
The Rev. DIR. g. W. Samson, q native of the
city of Washington, and for several years a warm
personal friend Of Gen. Garfield, delivered brief
sermon Monday afternoon in the PEOPLES
church in SD street, near Seventh ayenfie Fol-
lowing the customs Of the church of which the
late President was a member DIR. Samson first
called upon one Of the Older members of the con-
gregation to lead in prayer In a homely. touch
ing manner an elderly gentleman complied. The
pastor then read some Of the Psalms of David
which. he said, Gen. Garfield liked SO well. The
CONGREGATION Joined in singing ''God moves in
mysterious way His wonders to perform" &c
After t.ils the clergyman announced that he
would speak OF personal recollectiOns of General
Garfield from religious point of view and re-
lated at length the earnest, honest manner in
which the general worshiped God Gen. Garfield.
like Alexander Campbell. the founder of the Chris
tian church, saw that there was disposition to
make religion purely emotional instead of intel
lecfual- He believed in meeting men i'm the
sanctuary, not to listen to cold, formal
address and artistic music. but to talk with
each other and help each other The
speaker was satisfied that if there ever was a
consistent man in matters of religion that man
was James A. Garfield. He enjoyed the social
meetings OF his church. and seemed to gain
strength andvigor from them. In referring to the
opinions expressed that Gen. Garfields life might
have been saved, DIR. Samson mentioned the fact
that an attendant at one Of the Fulton street
prayer meetings had declared that if President
Garfield had followed the teachings of James and
called i'm the elders of the church and they had
prayed over him he might have recovered. The
Clergyman emphaticaliy expressed his opinion
that General Garfield was doomed from the day
he was shot, and that nothing but the perform
ance OF miracle might have saved him. The
suiferings of General Garfield and his death were
needed. thought the pastor, for the salvation Of
the people. and no man believed more in the
atonement than the one for whom the nation
%as mourning. Dr. Samson believed that
Cen Garfield really the first President Of
the United States who was a professor OF the
religion OF Christ. In bis family and in the church
ne Was faithful. When he took the oath of Office
why did the mere politicians turn against him?
asked the clergyman. He had heard Of one
pohfician whose name is known everywhere
VINO said after Gen. Garfield was sworn in that
ne Would never again vote to put Christian in
lie presidential chair. Why were the politicians
aissid OF him9 Because he took the oath of
e vse %hhont reservation. and was determined
10 so'oe by the Constitution.
BRAVE LITTLE GIRL-At Hardino'a coal
m,he near West Beievilie. No.. last week the
nooPteo daughter Of John Holmes. aged IA and
OicAey hoiines, his son, aged s. went about to
$3.50 S"a,. lug eoS Went upon what is called
siaek PIE, which generally is i'm a sfafo ~
smonldering fire. He had reached ahont ,s S
middle OF the heap when the smoulderin1 msss
cAved In, enycloping the boy in its nery msss
Maggie. his foster sister, jumped in to save him,
She got him out, but not before his body was
burned almost to a crisp and her own cloth
ing caught IRE and she was frightfully burned.
Ser cries brought the miners TO her assistance
Tie boy died and it is believed the girl cannot