The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-27

from the GfanQ OHcerS OF Inc OfucI LOT
The entire country.
At the grounds, the order in their i'm
pressive style, through the officers placed
upon the platform occupied by the speak
ers symbol of the order consisting of a
Maltese cross The Knights al
$50 performed the duty as a guard of HON
#or.
AT THE GROUNDS,
Long before the appointed hour large
crowd of people had assembled at the)
various points of entrance to that enclo-
sure. The multitude was prevented from
entering until after the procession had ar
rived and the various portions had BEEN
assigned their respective positions about
1.-The grand stand. After this had been &C
the crowd gathered and formed
Ia spectacle that viii long be remembered
lby the thousands who formed its constitu
lent parts. The scene was certainly AMI
Impressive one, the eager eyed children in
front formed pleasing spectacle; behind
them the Rifles at parade rest, a military
on either side the various
Civic societies in full regalia, from the rich
land handsome uniform of the Knights
|Templar to the less pretentious accourtre1
iments of the other organizations, the
IFiremen, the Masons of other degrees, the
|Odd Fellows and the Germans societies.
Behind and around were gathered the citiJ
3zens their wives and children, most sol
lemn and impressive scene.
The number of people present was
but the quietness and interest
led attentive was more so, it was typical OF
the cause which called them together, of
the depth to which that cause had sunk
into each and every heart. On the plat
form were seated the President of the day,
around him the speakers, members of the
!city council, and the various committees;
behind them the choir under the leadership
!of Mr.. E. w. Spencer; the reporters were
accommodated with a table on the left
Viewed from the platform the scene was
most impressive. The school children
held the central place in the picture,
around them were the citizens in their
various capacities. The blue sky above
land the green of the trees and grass gave
Ia pleasing variety to the scene; while the
gsoldiers monument in the background with
tits sombre drapery told in its sorrowfu
lsymbals why that large congregation was
there and why it was SO quiet. That quiet
mess was the feature which gave the crowd
Its distinctive tone. They had come to al
funeral
AN INCIDENT.
There were many badges of mourning
worn yesterday, badges of various makes
and styles but Mr.. Frank Hamilton worei
one which was more remarkable THANH
all. 1t was a little faded now, and its fresh
look had departed, but there was nothing:
strange in this, for Mr.. Hamilton wore tt 9.
same badge when he was an aide on sim
liar occasion at Halliday, Penn, the day
Zachery Taylor was buried.
The badge was of white silk, and in
scribed as follows:
ZACHERY TAYLOR,
Born 1884
Died July 9, 1880
On it was an eagle holding in its beak as
likeness of President Taylor with the mot i
toe 4 have endeavored to do my duty, Z
mourns patriot gone" and at the bottoms
is crossed sword and pen. The badge
was well printed and considering that it is.
over thirty years old, is extraordinarily well
THE EXERCISES.
When the vast assemblage had becomes
seated, the meeting was called to order by:
Hon. P. L. Gable, president of the day who5
the following brief address
The nation mourns at the loss of its trusted butt
fallen Chief. The President of our choice, the Hon
James A; Garfield; is dead; but his name ana goods
served Many have made more brilliant records Z
but none have SO touched the hearts and affections
Of the whole people. To-day, while his remains ares
being consigned to the tomb we, in common wIthE
millions of others, scattered throughout the land
nave assembled to show our high appreciation Of
he man both in his public and private life to sym
pathize with each other in orr common bereaye I
nent and to express our horror at the act OF the as
sassin in striking him down in the prime of life.
lust he had entered on his career as President OFF
this great nation Ihat career pi9 Lar 10 De one os
party feeling being hustled and even those Whos
had preferred another for his exalted positions
were more than content to submit the des
TIMES of the nation his guiding hand, being full
y convinced that he would administer its affairs withS
the same energy, integrity and ability which hads
characterized him in the various responsible posi-
tons which he had been called upon to fill.
While all were bright and Joyous. the bullet of thes
ASSASSIN struck him down, and sent thrill of hOr
ror through the hearts of fifty millions OF people ing
this country and in fact through the hearts OF thee
Coming as he did from the humber walks of life,
and having by his energy, industry and abiitys
reached the highest possible position among thee
American people without in any way seeking toy
aggrandize himself, the civilized world admired him
more than any other living man: and his untimelyE
and violent death caused more heartfelt sorrows
than would the death of any other human being.
On the death of such a man, who was our Presi-
dent ii is proper that We should pause in Ours
daily ayocatiOns long enough to mlngle our tears
Of sympathy with his bereaved family, and to holdE
him up to the rising generation example off
what energy, industry and integrity may accpmpshs
AS it has pleased the Almighty is his inserutables
wisdom thus to afict us, and all our destiniess
are in his hands it becomes to bow submisivelys
to his decrees and to imDlore him for his blessings
and his merces for the future.
The proceedings of this meeting Will now bes
opened by prayer by the Rev. MIR. Searles.
The Rev. Irving A. Searles, pastor of
of Christia chapel, offered fervent pray
er, after Which the choir rendered 'Jesuss
lover of my SOUL
The Rev A. B. Allen. pastor of thes
Trinity Episcopal church, read the follow !
ing resolutions, which were adopted unan
imously by the raising of the right hands,
of the members of the audience
James A. Garfield, our fellow citizen, whom wee
had chosen to I'LL the highest office, the most respon
sible position in land has been foully slain, "
the broad day, almost at the very steps of Il
tional capitol. lie true American, represents
tative citizen He was born with greatness and thee
grandure of pure life and noble mind clothed his