Nebraska advertiser., 1881-02-10

lcal study; he was never ncenSeu OF oT-
dained, or set apart in any way for the
ministry; he never acted as pastor OF a
church; never wrote sermon; and his
sermons delivered at various times
and places were simply religious lee
lures or addresses, such as any educa-
ted and devout layman might properly
deliver, Therefore it is correct to say
that he was never a minister in the or
dinary sense of the term.
The steady adherence of Gen. Gar
field to the religious faith of his child
hood is an illustration of his natural
conservatism. He has no sympathy
with that radical spirit of progress
which is ever seeking for something
new in politics, religion or philosophy.
If he had been reared by Roman Cath
Ole parents, he would have adhered to
the papal church as faithfully as he has
to the Disciples. If he had been reared
in the south under pro-slavery inf1uen-
ces, he would never have been known
as a republican After his college train
ing was finished, he had offers of prof
liable employment in the east, but his
natural conservatism, his love of old
associations and familiar scenes, impel-
led him 10 return TO the home of his boy
hood and accept unremunerative en-
ployment among his old friends and
neighbors. In later years the same
spirit hassled him to buy farm here
and establish thereon his home-his per-
manent home, in which he hopes IT,
spend his declining years, when tempo
rary official homes at Washington or
elsewhere shall have lost all their at,
| fractions.
1t is this Unborn conservatism of Gen.
| Garfield which, more than anything
else, assures those who know him that
he will be eminently successful in the
presidency He will have no new and
untried theories to bring forward. He
will have no peculiar and original "pol-
icy." He will make no hastv decisions
on important questions. In short, he is
absolutely level headed.
Every Sunday morning, at a few
minutes past 10 clock, Gen. Garfield's
! team of black colts is rought out, and
the general, taking the lines himself,
drives with his family to the little coun-
try church, where they worship. 1t is
about one mile east of the Garfield res
idence, and is plain wooden building,
neatly finished within and without. 1t
has seats for about 200 persons. Arriv-
ing at the church door, Gen. Garfield
alights, and tenderly lifts his mother
and his wife from the wagon or sleigh,
and then drives to friends place, near
by, where he unhitches his horses and
leaves them in the barn until after the
services. Returning to the church, he
walks up the aisle with bowed head, and
takes his accustomed seat near the
front, and only a few feet from the
preachers desk. He joins heartily and
unaffectedly in the service of praise,
and listens attentively to the sermon,
whether it be good, bad, or Indifferent.
After the sermon, according to the Gus
tom of the Disciples, the Lords supper
is observed in the simplest and most in !
formal manner. After the congrega-
ton is dismissed, Gen. Garfield warmly |
grasps the pastors hand, speaks kind |
and encouraging word in his ear, and, |
as he goes down the aisle toward the /
door, gives hearty greeting to such of |
the congregation as linger moment |
to be sociable" Then he bitches his |
team and, with his family, drives home |
ward to spend the afternoon and even
ing, it may be, in work thai is not |
strictly religious. For Gen. Garfield is
not Sabbatarian. He has no puritan
notions in regard to the observance of |
what the Disciples call the Lords
day" If he can quietly serve his par
ty, his country, or his personal friends,
no that day, he believes, no doubt, that
the service will be accepted ''as done
unto the Lord" He pays little atten-
ton to religious forms and ceremonies
beyond the few and simple rites of his
church. He encourages the largest
freedom of opinion in his household,
and never obtrudes his own religious
views on his guests.
With friends of his own faith who
choose to Talk on religious subjects he
cOnverses on such themes with great
zest, and is delightful talker His
mind is a vast reservoir of universal
knowledge on which he draws at will for
facts, arguments and illustrations
any subject, and he seems to
feel perfectly al home in any realm of
thought
His pastor said to me, "Oh. you o 1ght
TO hear Gen. Garfield converse on relig-
ious subjects. He is a man ofprofound
faith. He believes that he is guided by
Providence in every step of life, and
rests secure in the sense of Gods abso-
lutte sovereignty. His religious CONVEX
sation is purifying and uplifting to all
who hear tit is an Inspiration
Although Gen. Garfield is an attend
ant and principal supporter of the Dis
ciple church in Mentor, he is not enroll
ed as a member of this church. With
aversion to change he re-
tains his local membership in the church
at Hiram. President Hinsdale, of Hi
ram college, often spends Sunday at
Gen. Garfield's and attends church with
him. The invariable refusal of both on
such occasions to deliver any sort of
public address, is a matter of deep re-
gret to he pastor and people of Men
tor. VS..