Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-27
The Nation,s Mourning.

Yesterday-the day set apart by proclama- tion for humiliation and prayer on account of the national sorrow in the death of our loved President, James A. Garield-was day long to be remembered. In every State and Ter ritory, in every city, town, village and ham, let of this broad domain of ours, the people mourned. The mourning emblems every where about the city, on public and private buildings and residences, on shops and facto- ries, told of the nations grief. The sorrow was told in the draped churches, the half masted flags, the draped horse cars-the signs of mourning everywhere. In accord ance with proclamation and the spirit of the people, services were held in various of the churches.
 At Center church at II o'clock union ser- vice of the Center and North churches was held. The large edifce was filed to over flowing. Rev. Drs. Bacon and Hawes pre- sided. A deeply solemn feeling pervaded the great congregation. The exercises consisted of fine requiem music upon the organ and singing of grand old hymns by the choir, reading of selections of Scripture by Dr. Hawes very impressive prayer by Dr. Bacon, an address on the life and charac- ter of the dead President by Dr. Bacon and the closing prayer by Dr. Hawes. Dr. Bacon in his remarks spoke of the national bereave- ment and of the life of Garfield, his early struggles his force of character, his indomi- table spirit and his noble life. We see him advancing step by step, ready for every call of duty, for he had consecrated himself to God, had laid hold of the inspiration of the Gospel of Christ. He entered the army of l volunteers. We remember the brilliancy of his bravery and military experiences. How worthy was his career in the House of Repre- sentatives at Washington. How he struck l the common sentiment of the nation in the greatest and most perilous questions of the time, which have now been settled, may say over the country, settled forever, and due to his influence not less than to that of any other individual in the United States. But to-day how many assemblies are gathered throughout the United States in mourning from the far east to the golden slopes of the Pacific, from north to south. A whole na- tion-ffty million people-mourns without distinction, north, south, east and west; without distinction of party. There never was such mourning before; and we feel to- day the grandeur of the responsibility of the position which the American public occupy to-day. All these expressions of sentiment which have come from other lands are a new development in the world It shows we are living in new era. It shows new responsi-
 bilities upon us, new distinctions before us.
 On the same day on which the bells are toll
 ing here over all this wide extent of country,
 to announce the death of James A. Garfield,
 parish church bells and cathedral bells in England are tolling in honor and sympathy It is something to know that the august lady
 who sits upon the throne of that great em pire upon whose dominions the sun never sets has sent the expression of a woman's , sympathy for the widow of the deceased l President. It is something to know that this very hour, or the hour corresponding to thii f on the other side of the water, the Arch bishop of Canterbury has been preaching { funeral sermon to the memory of the latt 3 President of the United States. It shows ui ] to-day as was never felt before the civilized
 world brought together in feelings of sym
 pathy and sorrow. Throughout the civilized
 world grief and sympathy is felt for th'
 death of the Chief Magistrate of our nation Now what can we say about the lesson O. this great sorrow? It is a lesson for all
 There are the determinations and the resoIu 7 tions born of sorrow. What determinations what purposes, are we forming under thi dispensation Are we regardful of the les 3 son it teaches? Already we are 8 msiorit, of the English speaking, English thinking people of the world. Dr. Bacon impressed the lesson with solemn affecting words, deel stiffness prevailing to catch each word of thu speaker. He referred to all this sympath, from the mother country, all this sympathy all this pride of theirs in, their kindred, ant the tribute sent.
 q All this and not hundred years sine
 Yorktown. Not century since the mothe
 country was compelled in shame and indig
 nation to recognize the fact that this countr. was an independent nation. Let every on
 of us understand as citizens our share in thi responsibility, our share in this dignity ant
 in this responsibility for the future of thi
 land of ours. And with such aspirations
 hopes and purposes, let commit these sa 8 cred remains to their home.
 , l Rev. Dr. HaweS offered prayer, in whicl
 he expressed the hope in Christ that tht : l Christian religion affords. and that we as ! nation might profit by the sorrow which has ' come upon it. In it was expressed the lessor
 that the suffering brings men nearer to ths light that shines from the throne of God Oh God we are before thee, sinful and sui 3 fering. We are before thee stricken an6 ) sorrowing nation. Thou must lay thy hands A upon us. For we look beyond the present F We need to be able to say, Though thou slay est us, we will trust in thee. We come to 7 thee in our need. Oh, our Father, we bless a ! for fho fhofh vod
 us We thank thee for the earthly career o1
 thy servant, James A. Garfeld-for the way
 thou didst lead him from a child up so true : to the principles of virtue, so loyal to the Lord Jesus Christ, setting forth everywhere , in lowly condition and in the highest places of earth the example of one who has A found Jesus Christ. We bless thee for all the words of wisdom which will inspire men il
 time to come. We bless thee for the grand
 example of integrity and citizenship. We
 bless thee for all that has gone forth from hif l speech and life. Thanks be unto God they are not less effective now, but more than ever
 speak their lessons. Being dead he yei speaketh, for surely Moses lives and thy ser wants the martyrs and all those who have } endured unto the end are speaking to us still
 His was not an unfinished life. Oh. God,
 thou dids't complete thy work. We did not
 understand it. We thought his time had not yet come The speaker prayed that mer l might learn the lesson of the hour, and prayed for the bereaved and aged mother ant the stricken wife, commenting them to tht God of grace. Dids't thou not say to Abra
 ham of old. Take now thy son, thine only sor Isaac, whom thou lowest and offer him up Dids't not thou say to the aged mother, Give
 me thy son? God strengthen, Goo help the stricken ones. The speaker
 in conclusion prayed for a blessing upon our country. Bless, we pray thee, tho
 President of the United States. Oh, God
 this people have been learning to pray for
 weeks past for him now passed away. They
 are praying now for another. Even as they
 bowed before thee seeking the restoration o1
 the life of him whom thou hast taken, so may
 the people of God pray that thy spirit may
 lead the heart of thy servant, the President
 to take up the work so nobly begun and car
 ry it on even in @ larger measure to splen
 did conclusion to the honor and glory of oul
 God.
 After the prayer the 1,222nd hymn was sung, the first stanza being:
 Thou art gone to the grave longer behold thee
 Nor tread the rough paths of the world by thy side 1 But the wide arms of mercy are spread to enfold
 thee,
 And sinners may hope, for the sinless hath died | CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER.