The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-05

Men see new beauty and power In The
churches, standing on the merits Of the truth
they hold.
Surely 1t would be most uugrateful, as
well as most c0wardly, TO abandon gov
ernment which has been so benefcent in its
influence.
To-day, as thousands Of hearts gather al
the mercy seat and pray for the life Of the
President, let Us determine 10 love our
country, to discharge our duty as citizens;
to scorD TO listen to the appeal OF the dema-
gogue or the fanatic, which seeks to keep
ever burning the fires which have so nearly
consumed us. May God spare our Presi-
dents life, and may bis restored life be the
type Of restored national existence.
REV. Mr.. PITT, AT vEYABLE-sTREET BAPTIST
CHURCH.
At Venable-street Baptist church the
pastor, Rev. r. fl. PITT, preachedmorning
and night. In the morning before the
regular services began he referred to the
attempted assassination CT the President,
aud said:
My audience will endorse the statement
that do not frequently refer to current
events from the pulpit, but the fearful
tragedy OF yestel day is OF such universal
Interest and has such unusual significance
that day depart from my rule. Three
things have In connection with the shooting
Of the President impressed me profoundly
First, the ability OF the American people
to rise above the rancor and bitterness OF
political strife and TO drown all party feel
ing in a flood OF righteous and indignant
condemnation OF the dastardIY act. The
universal denunciatiOn OF the crime and
sympathy for the President do credit TO the
heart OF the people and show that it was
truer than we thought.
Secondly, / was deeply impressed with
the sacred power Of domestic ties. 1t was
peculiarly touching that the Presidents
first thought, when shot, should be for his
absent and invalid wife, and the dignitied
tenderness of the telegram which he die
tated, in the midst OF great suffering, was
ine4pressibly moving.
And lastly, / was impressed with the
worthlessness OF public station, and wealth
and power, to comfort the stricken and
suffering. The angushed mother and
broken.hearted wife weep as sorely and
suffer as keenly by the bedside in the White
House as they would in the simplicity OF
their comparatively private life at Mentor
This fact enables us 10 give them our hearty
sympathy and sincere coincidence. We are
thankful that trust in God comforts our
wounded and suffering President and his
anguished wife and mother. And now join
me i'm earnest prayer for his restoration,
and for Gods blessing on his family.
sEvENTH-sTREEr CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
At the Seventh.Street Christian church
the pastor, Rev. J. 4. Tyler, read a telegram
lust received, and said: The peculiarly
"A of bo hos
suddenly fallen upon us, and the very spe-
cial interest which the members of this
church feel in the victim OF this dastardy
act, Justify ne in making such an an
nouncement from this place. Never, per-
haps, has such public affllctiOn seemed so
personal. Our homes are darkened by a
gloom as il some Of our own kindred had
been smitten by death. Without respect to
social condition, religious creed, or political
affiliation, tbie nation stands with its head
bowed in gric, and its heart lifted in prayer.
Respect for those who are in authority is
enioined upon us as Christians. Even
when Roman emperOrs were prosecuting
the humble followers OF Jesus, Paul taught
them by the Spirit to pray for kings and
for all that are in authority.
The Christian is a patriot because he is a
L =
that the powers that be are ordained Of
God. We have reason to feel grateful that
in the movements Of his providence God
has raised up one to rule over this great
nation who is believer in Christ and is
striving faithfully to follow him In the
midst OF many temptations. Now that he
has been smjtten by the hand Of an ASsassin,
let Us remember him and his family before
n - A., l;o, IL,
behalf OF this great people,. Let us humble
ourselves under the mighty hand OF God
that he may lift us up. Let us join our
prayers with the prayers that are going up
from the churches and the homes all over
this smitten and afflicted land, and per-
chance it may please the Almighty to spare
him that he may rule in righteousness and
Justice and In the fear OF God.
ATTHE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Rev. Il. l.. Preston, ID. D., pastor OF the
First PRESBYTERIAN church, in his morning
PRAYER pleaded earnestly and tenderly for
the blessing OF God upou our country in
view OF the terrible disaster which had be-
fallen il; that this stroke might be over
ruled for good, that our people might be
preserved from threatened evils, and seek
that righteousness which eXalteth nation !;
for the stricken President, that his life
NAV be spared il consistent with Gods
will; that skill might be given TO the ply.
sicians who mnistered to him, and, above
all, that the Christian faith he had so long
professed might prove TO him an unfailing
source Of comfort and peace in this his
bour of need. He also remembered in feel
inc words the venerable mother, the suffer
ing wife, and the sorrOwing children, COM
mending them all to the tender mercies OF
a coyenant.keeping God.
REV. DIR. nOGE's REMARKS.
At the Second Presbyterian church, OF
which Rev. Dr. HOge is pastor, appropriate
remarks were also made. DR.. HOge does
not speak from manuscript or notes and
therefore what we print is only the sub.
stance of what he said from the pulpit on
sunday.
The deplorable event, he said, which has
suddenly filled the whole country with ap-
prehension and sorrow, If caused by a sane
man startles US afresh with glimpse OF the
abvss into which human depraYity may de-
scend. Even among The crimes which out
rage society, and from which men instinct
iyely recOil, there are some which are more
appalling than Others-s0me which seem to
touch the lowest depths OF possible debase-
ment.
The assassination Of an unarmed and de-
fenceless man, unsuspecting danger, fills the
community with horror, even when the Vie
tim Is a private citizen; but when he repre-
sents the rights, the interests, and the au-
thority OF an entire people, then 1t is not
the sacrifice Of an individual life only or
the sudden change OF a dynasty, as in des..
potic countries-but it is the imperilling OF
public order and safety, and 1t may be OF
the stability Of Government itself.
This is especially true of country like
our own, where the Chief Magistrate repre-
sents the sovereignty Of the people; for the
rn,,rhnrnne hInru ~ hinh Il aimed AZ his life