Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-26

But One Subject for Pulpit and Pew.

Ihere was but one topic for sermons YES
terday. The peoples interest is conferred I'D
on the bier of the martyred President. and all
things else seem foreign and far away. The
churches were well filed with worshipers. and
In most of the ediices there we're emblems OF
sorrow exhibited. The South Congregational
church was finely draped, and the decorations
were In exquisite taste and in harmony with
the character of the occasion The pastor.
Rev. Henry Z. Mott, delivered a grand dis.
course from Psalms xvii l9-s'Thv path is
In the great waters, and thy footsteps are not
KNOWN" He dwelt upon the lessons which
the assassination and death of Garfield teach
US, and the dangers and hopes with which the
future Of the Republic is ght.-There was
large attendance at the Unitarian church,
which was appropriately decorated. la an
other place we present a synopsis of the able
sermon of Rev. Mr.. Thacher.-Around the
altar of the Free Baptist church there was a
display of flowers and vines, and before the
altar there was large portrait of the dead
President, trimmed " it'll mourning. Rev C..
+. Penney took his text from Hebrews ri 4
HE being dead yet speaketh." lie dwell
upon what Garfield's life says to each one OF
us, and what We should learn from his career
Loving hands and tender hearts embellished
the First Baptist church with flowers and
vines. Here, too, was portrait of the heroic
dead, draped in mourning. Rev. ii. w. Til
den spoke from I'd Samuel iii :12-''And they
buried Abner in Hebron; and the king lifted
up his voice and wept at the grave of Abner
and all the people wept." The speaker dwell
chiefly upon the character of our lamented
President as a man rather than as a ruler
considering his various characteristics in the
different positions he had honored, as Chris
tan, statesman, soldier, phianthropist and
scholar, his rise from the humber walks OF
life being an incentive to every young man.
He attributed his success and great euHnence
to his Christian character, and in the roll OF
heroes and statesmen placed him above the
martyred Lncoln.-Owing to arrangements
previously made and which could not be can.
celled, Rev. II. Sanderson of the Methodist
church exchanged pulpits with Rev. J. F
flutchins OF Gardiner. There was no special
sermon at this church, although the reverend
gentleman paid an eloquent tribute to the late
President.-Rev. A. &. White, pastor of the
L niversalst church, took for his text the 37tl
verse OF the 37th Psalm Mark the perfect
man, and behold the upright; for the end OF
that man is peace" He gave a brief sketch OF
the life of President Garfield, also fine
analysis OF his character, closing by giving
his views in regard to what he considers sue
cess in life and stating that Garfield attained
to it. A large portrait of Garfield stood in
front of the desk and the desk was draped il
monrning. Flowers also decked the desk and
platform. memorial decorations in st
Marks church were especially tasteful. They
consisted of hangings in black and white on
the reredas, the organ screen, and on the cor
responding south side of the choir. The ma
tional symbol. draped in Grape, was hung a
|half-mast from the organ. and a white eros:
appropriately filled tine space on the Other
side The commemorative features of the
morning service were the use of appropriat,
hymns and prayers, and the full Litany, the
service concluding with the chanting of the
Committal Sentences and the Il heard 8
Voice, from the Office of the Dead.