National Republican., 1881-07-11
THE MEMORIAL CHURCH.
Eloquent sermon by Rev. ,. q. n.tIer,
the Pastor.

Rev. ]. G. Butlerpreached TO more than
the usual summer congregation upon "Grave les
sons Of the Attempted Assassination; teNt--Psalm
XXX II, ~. "Since the last Lords Day God has
done for us what lie did for King David in his
wonderful deliverancc, by inspiring us with joy
Gus hope that our stricken President will be re-
covered. Standing under the shadow of this dark
cloud, whose fringcs oyerrcaoh tho whole
civilized world, we pause to ask what
we may learn from the great sorrow
Rcgiclde Is as old organized government
Enlightened and nominally Christian nations
Russia, Germany, France, and even England-have
made history by the assassination Of rulers. That
the oppressed of other lands with arbitrary mon
arches and their eiote religions should threaten
the life of the Chief Ruler does not greatly sur
prise us. Europe Is volcanic to-day. In this land
whose government is so mild and paternal
that as with our healthy physical or
gans we have been scarcely conscious
that we have Government where
the rights of all are guaranteed and the people are
sovereign, II smarvelous that any attempt should
be made upon the life of the President. True, our
civil war eliminated in the tragic death OF the
martyr President, our first great national sorrow
| Then the passions Of men were aroused by pro-
longed national strife and blood. II was the death
gasp Of slavery, which had pered the Nations life
But now we have peace. What means this ma
tonal calamity? Some lessons lie upon tho surface
| From the darkesthour, when the Presidents death
was expected hourly, we have hoped for much
from his healthy physical condition, from his
courage, fortitude and hope. These furnished tho
lone chance" upon which we have hung our
| hope. Tho atmosphere in which the President
| lies is an atmosphere of faith-household faith
He Is noble example Of flial honor, and the faith
of that noble mother and of that devoted wife but
reassure his own faith in God, as he puts his hand
in the hand of the Unseen Healer the great
| phvapinn ulod IN haya
| look upon such picture to-day
The secret of the strength Of our American insti-
tutions is seen in the history VIC are now making
| The eye Of volcanic Europe Is upon us, and no
doubt they think only of the weakness of our Gov
ernment In our own land people are talking of
| throwing safeguards around the person Of the
| President. TIE heart of the whole Nation, of all
creeds and parties and cOlors, Is gathered as a
mighty Gordon around the person Of the President.
There Is no evidence of conspiracy in this bloody
| deed. II appears to be the deliberate net Of an
erratic, lily balanced, but responsible chronic
tramp, and disappointed ofico-sceking vaga-
! bond. That Nihilism, and athcistic communism,
| and blatant inhdcllty, tramping upon the Word,
and Day, and House of God. may bear their legiu
mate fruit in anarchy and assassination in the fu-
ture. have no doubt our glory and our danger lie
| in the asylum which our Government furnishes to
the refuse well the good Of all lands. But this
act belongs to the man who but for our
| reverence for law would not now bo
| awaiting the forms of law, to be defended 1t may
bo by an attorney who would save the life of his
client ut the sacrifice of the law itself. The times
demand the impartial enforcement of law. The
sicsly sentmentalism which makes heroes of
criminals and gives men happy send of to glory
with the blood of their victims yet staining their
unrcpenant souls must bo rebukcd. Tho too COM
mon plea oflnsanlty, when men are simply frenziod
by passion or by liquor must not shield the guilty.
Stronger law is yet needed to protect especially
the leaders In tho battles for truth and righteous
ness, and an impartial enforcement of law. Ex-
ccutiyc clcmency must not interpose to save the
guilty" At five o'clock large and deeply earnest
union service of thanksgiving prayer for the re-
covery of the President was held in this church.
Quite n number of our city pastors were present,
and participated. The meeting was one of great
| interest and profit