New-York tribune., 1881-09-09

me day of fasting and prayer proclaimed bv
the Governor in behalf of President Garfield
was observed In this city yesterday by a gene
isl suspension of business, and by services
III many OF the churches. Heartfelt wishes
,or tne PRESIDENTS recovery were entertained
ny az ana while formal petitions were uttered
LII the churches the universal expressions of
sympathy and hope spoken by all men were
peutions none the less sincere. The people
prayed with great longing that the President
may be restored TO health and saved to them.
OBSERVANCE OF THE DAY.
GRATIFYING ATTENDANCE IN THE CHURCHES DE-
SPITE THE SHORT NoTIcE-THE STREETS AND
BUSINESS PLACES FOR A WHILE DEsER1ED--
DETAILS OF VARIOUS SERVICES
That the wish that the President may be restored
10 health is universal in New-York was indicated
yesterday If in otherway by the almost absolute
suspension OF ordinary occupations. Not only were
the Government and city offices closed the hanks
ana the exchanges, the schools and the courts but
IN all branches of mercantile business private oai
cheertully surrendered the day in the President's
pelalf. In the lower part of the city the streets
were almost deserted. Except for the stages and
express-wagons Broadway maintained a Sunday
stiffness Occasionally loaded dray was seen. but
'he rarity OF the sight was great To be remark
able. The vast tide of traffic that flows daily
through the downtown streets was at an ebb.
Further mp town most of the large retail stores vera
closed The extreme heat of the previous day and
the early prospectsyesterday that itwoud continue
sent many persons TO the beaches and the country
Tor relief All the transportation lines were crowded
by throngs eager to escape from the city, The Gus
tomary entertainments were givenby the theatres
which were not closed
SILENT EXCHANGES AND pSrRrrc orprcpe
The Stock Exchange was closed I'm accordance
with the decision of the Governing Committee The
brokers' Offices consequently were deserted and
"ali-st. missed the pushing, eager crowd that
usually fills it, The Sub Treasury and the banks
also were closed.
Not onlv were the Produce. Cotton. Petroleum
and Maritime Exchanges deserted but the stores and
offices of merchants were shut up For two or tbnea
hours in the early morning the clerks and their
principals were at their desks recording the rapsae
ions of the previons day, but after this work was
inished they took boats, cars and went TO Conev
Island, Brighton or Manhattan Beaches. OF to Long
Branch to spend the remainder of the day. Many of
them went TO church first. About the only thing
dliferent from an ordinary Sunday was the haurer-
ing heard about the new buildings going up The
plie-duyers were az work making new and more
substantial foundations, and the mortar or brick
carriers with their hOds climbing up or de-
scending ladders. - -
But there entire absence of the din of
Offering and bidding" on grain provisions
cotton and petroleum. and the messenger bows who
are always during business hours running
hlther aud thither were making the day ole or
partial rest.
Castle Garden however had the apnearance %
anyone of the three hundred and sixty-ive davs in
the year, and as is usually the HOLIDAYS and
sundays more Ilnmi igrants arrived than an ordi-
nary weekday. There were four steamships which
landed more than fifteen hund ed passengers who
had TO be received and their individual records
taken. AT pm. they were sent forward TO their
destination. The Custom House heats and in
spectors were also busy looking out for the Interests
for ships TO port on holiday the same ss snS
other day. The Custom House was open from 10
only.
The large iron gates which mark the entrance to
the City Ha were closed and barred aud not clerk
could be fonnd In any of the rooms in the build
ing. The Aldcrmen's room WAS COMPLETELY de-
serted-an unusual thing on the day after the meet
ing OF the Democratic State Committee. Polti-
clans were not 20 express their views Of the
political situation The Controllers Office was closed
as on sundays, aud the doors lding to the Offices
o. the Department of Public Works were locked aud
barred The Sheriff and his deputies remained away
from the Office and business of auv kind was
transacted IN the Registers office.
SOLEMN SCENES IN THE CHURCHES
Inc day OF prayer was very generally observed in
the churches when the shortness of the notice ana
the fact that many people. including church pas
tors are absent from the city considered There
were enough churches open in most parts of the
city 10 accommodate those who wished 70 attend
the service. The hold which the President has ON
the hearts of the people was shown by the good at
tendance in nearly every church that was opened
The weather was excessively hot and had the ser
vices been held for any other purpose doubtless the
majority OF persons would have preferred % spend
the holiday behind closed blinds in their houses
Among the churches that open in this city
were Trinity, st Pauis Grace ST. Marks ST.
Georges, Church Of the Holy Trinity Calvary
Chapel and the Church of the Incarnation "a TIE
Protestant Episcopai denomination; the Thirteenth
ST., sprng-st Fourth Goodwill Mission aud Central
Presbyterian Churches; ST. Paul's Methodist Epis-
copal Church and the John Street Methodist Episco
pal Church and the Gospel Tent AT Serond-ave and
Iwentiet h-StS, where the Union Baptist services
were held
A number Of churches were open I'm BROOKLYN.
though they were hardly numerous enough 10 ac.
comihouale us large area Services were also held
IN churches IN jersey City, HobOkcn aud others OF
the citys suburbs. In the Protestant Fuis-
copal churches the usual form of service was In
most cases observed and the prayer or the recovery
OF sick and the collect Tor those In extrlnit IS vera
read: short addresses were generally added 10 the
regular service. In churches of the Other denorni-
nations the services mcluded PRAYERS addresses
scripture reading and the singing of hvmns Per-
sons of all ages and conditions attended the largo
number OF business men being remarkable in many
instances.
At Trinity a large congregation was present The
service was coDduC ed by of the assistants the
Rev. Charles ". Douglass Dr. Dix nct having re-
turned 10 he city. lhc usual prayers Of the church
for the recovery Of the sick read also the COL
lect for those an extreme distress and the litanv
There was no singing. Mr.. Douglass luade a short
address, IN which he said that hs hearers did not
expect hlm TO deliver a political haraneue
ana sun less eulogy of General Garfield, be-
cause they had gathered together pray ask God
70 spare tins life 10 Che Nation. because ali men be-
heved that the Nation needed the lie Of President
Garfield. There was a crisis Ia the cOuntrv sncb az
had never happened before. Peace and pros erity
were coming 10 the Nation from everv hand and al
men We're clasping hands as brothers. and praying
that one lIe might be spared 10 the Nation. because
general Iartold was man htted for hS position.
If the President could stand in the ers place
ana direct the service. he was that the Pres-
dent would ask Them TO pray for spiritual life for
him rather than for mere bodily heath. The pray
ers OF tine Nat ON were ascending, and perhaps God
would take pity the Nation ana he the sickness
ID