Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-09-26

hand so firm to guide Is pariyze0 anu IN
any wish our heart cries out, "Why. ]
stroke?" ln humble sorrow we have
sought an ansSer. Not to dogmatizs We
suggest the proposition made by the
High Priest to the Jews concerning the
irreproachable Nazarim John IL: 6O),
at Is expedient for rs that one man
should die for the people and that the
whole nation perish not"
Was not our President offered q Q
sacrifice to atone for . great evil grow
ing in our land? He did not die for ms
own faults, nor because OF personal en-
nifty of the foul assassin.
The thoughtful have been watching
with painful anxiety q coming crisis IN
our history. There have been unmis-
taxable traces OF poison in our body pol
itic. Men have arisen who were lovers
of place more than lovers OF country,
conventions have been packed" and
the sanctity of the ballot box has
been violated in the interest OF unscru-
pulous politicians. Guiteau was the in
carnation of that evil spirit which
has been debasing our political LIE,
and has been ~insiduously at work in
both parties where either have been in
power. But what of the victim?
He was the best product OF boasted
Institutions, one without blemish."
He never sought an Office, and set him
self s~quarely against making the emolu-
ments OF Office the prize or reward for
political wire pulling. He planted him.
self ON the principle OF purity OF admin.
;stration. and for that he died. Not
only was his blood poured out, but be
was lifted upon the altar Of his
country, and for eighty days
wrapped in the flame OF physical pain
until the nation was drawn to him and
upon their knees humbled before God.
Then was the weary spirit released. but
not till every root Of bitterness and sec
tional animosity had been consumed In
the hears OF his countrymen, and the
true sentimentsand~ principles for which
he died fixed in every mind by
that crucial suffering as the
l.nes of the picture on
the potter's clay are indellibly fastened
in the fiery furnace. The assassln's
ballet took President Garfield from the
Presidential chair, but his heroic, pa
tent suffering has enthroned him in the
hearts of fifty millions, where he will
rule without opposition or criticism. His
noble spirit thus cherished will turn back
the tide OF evil and we will be q purer
nobler people because OF his death and
because Of our revolt at the deformity
which has destroyed him and which
threatened ruin to our whole nation.
Then followed some lessons from his
fidelity to principle as the secret OF his
greatness. Wisdom to find the
right and courage to do the
right, both in politics and religion.
ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH.
For several weeks past the announce
ment OF the annual Harvest eervices at
the above named church has been pub
lished, but the Presidents death requir.
ed quite a change in the programme. In
connection with the harvest emblems OF
grains, fruits and flowers, the chapel and
Sunday school rooms were tastefully
draped with black alpaca, and bunting
flags OF all nations trimmed in mourn.
ing. The Sunday school blackboard had
a beautiful acrostic as follows:
IN MEMORY OF A.
Garfield,
Active,
Righteous,
Faithful.
Innocent,
Elevated,
Loved and loving,
Dead, but yet speaking BY his noble life.
On the reverse was q sheaf OF wheat
resdy for the garner. This was the work
OF the assistant superintendent OF the
school.
Rev. S. B. Barnitz made reference to
the death OF President Garfield in SUBJ
stances as follows:
"Who being dead yet spesketh." The
gradual approach OF death, terrible as
death is, was In this case beautiful, be-
getting and bringing into bloom some Of
the most precious OF virtues. The grad.
ual unclothing Of the mortal body was
in the case of this great, good man the
visible putting on OF the garments OF
immortal beauty and life. Truly, "The
fading cheek, the placid brow, the sweet
serenity spread over the c~ountenance,
the eye lit up as with light OF another
world, the noble and touching disinter-
estedness Of spirit which uttered no
complaint, breathed no sigh, spoke no
word of fear, and which was calm,
cheerful, natural and self.sustained
amidst daily declining strength and the
lure approach Of desth-these showed q
soul maturing for its celestial home, and
furnished hallowed memories to soothe
and purify surviving love. Real jewels
shook night out OF the wings OF death
itself. And when the fatal hour came
it put the seal Of imperishablene.s upon
the virtues which it found this side OF
the grave, there ia no goodness which
may not be lost; but when death once
impressed it's signet on it, it must abide
This makes the anchor fast. This gives
the crown OF life. 1t enspheres a hu-
man virtue, as it were in heaven. 1t
sets it up on high for eternal admiration.
1t fixes Its place never more to be
changed-as q star to shine onward and
onward, through the deIth Of the ever
listins ages"
After making most tender illusions to
the mother OF Washi ngton and the
mother OF Garfield and the work OF a
true mother in moulding the future OF
her children, the speaker said: II We
would honor the memory OF the great
good man whose death We mourn, we
can best do it by practicing the viz
ues which made him noble. Each in.
vidnal citizen practicing such virtues as
glowed in the life just ended, would
make a nation OF virtuous citizens such
q nation as the word Of God calls
Blessed"
At the close OF the address the newly
elected officers OF the church we're in.
stalled, the holy communion adminis-
tered. and brief parting words spoken
by the pastor, who announced that his
sermon would be preached,
"the Lord wiling" in the month OF No
vember. The hymn,
when shall we meet a2ainP
Meet ne'er TO sever"
was sung, and the services closed with
the benediction.
The church and school expressed
their thanks to Messrs. Grant, FARES
and Rodgers for beautiful programmes;
to James Ceresson for 500 copies OF
DAYS" and to everybody who