Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-09-26

| nue, WHICH PRESIDENT GarnelQ attended, was the
| scene, this morning, of a most impressive SER
| vice. Many persons in the city. not regular wor-
| shippers at other churches. found their way to
this unpretentious building. and Joined with the
| members in prayer and humiliation. So the
church was well filled. Over the doors and front
wlndOwSof the church are simple festoons of black
cloth. Within, theeye was attracted at once to q
pew, madeconspicuous both because no one sought
to intrude within its sacred limits, and by the
sombre folds of black. which covered it COM
pletely. The pew is in the corner, near the pull
pit In front Of it was placed an easel
| framed with a deep border of black. Some
| loving hands had hung wreath of evergreens
and roses over the picture. and the light, which
came in from the window just over the sable
draped pew, seemed TO play about the picture
and the flowers, and to give to all an unwonted
glory. This was all that could be seen unusual
in the church, save basket of roses that rested
on the preachers desk. He used to lean
his head against that window" said member
who sat next to The STAR reporter. ut was
there Guiteau came to shoot him, but changed
his mind for fear he would hurt some one else ;,
The services were simple in the extreme. but
none the less impressive When the honest
prayer-the words of homely praise and genuine
sorrow-were uttered there were few in the
house who could sit with fearless eye
Mr.. VIM. H. Schell opened the services with
an Invocation and then gave out the hymn
There is q land of pure delight" Such sing
ing as that is not often heard. 1t was sung by
the congregation, who took the key from a
melOdeOn, and as the hundred voices swelled
and died away it seemed as though every heart
strove to speak its love and grief, its trnstful
hope in the music. To members of some
weather. congregation blessed with fine
organ and artistic choir who might
have strolled into the little church this morning.
that little hymn gave revelation of what con-
gregatiOnal singing really means, and his fellow
worshippers say that in former days the voice of
Garheld,-clear, sOnOrOus, grand and musical. -
could be heard in every hymn. imparting to the
The song over, Elder H. Russell. of Missouri.
an elderly man, with hOary beard and trembling
step, offered a prayer.
The 9th Psalm was then read. in responses.
between Mr.. Schell and the members of the con-
gregation. "Come We disconsolaten was sung
and Mr.. j. 7. Hall, alto, the congregation joining
in the chorus
Elder Russell then spoke His style was plain
and unadorned, except now and then, catching
an inspiration from his theme, his words rang
with thrilling eloquence. He said that he had
been preaching over IS years, but had never
written sermon. He addressed his hearers
as ''fellOw-citizens." The time had never been,
he said, when our people felt that they
wanted a strong man for President
more than they did nova man who knew the
right and dared do it-who by the sweet waters
of love and benevolence could quench the fires
burning in our body polite. We want Pres
ident that has all the characteristics of chris
tian-courage, temperance brotherly kindness
and such man, we were sure we had in James
A. Garfield. He is not dead, the speaker said. He
lives. He has simply been called to brighter
mansion in the courts celestial. He prayed TO
God to help us to be resigned .'As the mantle of
Elijah fell upon Elisha" said the
Garfield fall upon Chester A. Arthur.
and as Elisha had double portion of the spirit
of Elijah, so, in wisdom and goodness may our
present President have double portion of the
spirit of Garfield Let us remember this injunc-
tion: Speak not evil OF the ruler
prayers of loyal people be thrown around Arthur
as they had been about Garfield Let him feel
our sympathies. Let him be assured that we
love him as our President Let US hold up his
you, SO far as you continue in right and goodness
The speaker spoke in broken accents Of the sor-
row OF the people, even of the little children he
had met-and pointed to Garfield's noble life as
something they should all profit by.
Mr.. Schell then spoke. After speaking of the
brighter home to which Garfield had gone. he
said: "We have draped the seat where he sat
so often. There he leaned his head against the
easement; there he bowed in prayer, and his
voice united with ours in hymning the praises of
the lamb" Whatever vile pens have written
about him, said the speaker. they could never
shake the confidence OF this church in the integ-
ity and christianity of James A. Garfield and
1t 1s because we feel as we do that
we can so willingly surrender him into the arms
of Jesus The speaker said he believed that
there would come some good to the world from
the sacrifice that had been made; that we shall
be blessed for it. They had seen it already in
the knitting together of the fragments of our
country. They knew that but for the life of their
brother they should have had little hope of this
humble building passing away and grander
one arising from its asheS-nOt that they would
pray any better or feel any better. but they
could accommodate all who came to worship
with them. "Oh! how we prayed for his life.''
sald the speaker. II believe no such prayers
ever assembled to Heaven as were uttered-and
the Father said US nay. Did it shake your
faiths believe this little church has as firm a
faith as ever How did we know what was
best! When the speaker concluded the beau
tl1ui hymn Safe in the Arms of Jesus was
sung by Miss Lillian Herschey. A fervent
prayer having been offered by Mr. Schel. the
congregation dispersed, though many a one
stopped peIore the picture and the flowers sadly
ana silently as if gazing for the last time upon
the features Of their loved brother.
The METROPOLITAN PRESBYTERIAN CONGREGA-
TION
mad with them in memorial services this after
noon that of the Church of the Reformation
Lutheran.) The interior of the church was
handsomely festoOned in black, and after ser
vice OF prayer for our country and for the be-
reaved family and for the new President. adj
dresses appropriate to the occasion were made
by Rev. DR.. Chester, of the Metropolitan. Rev.
Mr.. Parsons, Of the Lutheran church. and
others.
THE MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHURCH
The congregations Of the Memorial Lutheran
church, the North Baptist and the North Presbv-
terlan churches united in a meeting at the Me-
moria! Lutheran church, beginning at O'Clock
this afternoon. DR.. Butler presided. The echureh
was tastefully draped, both outside and inside
the altar and galleries being festooned After
prayer singing and reading of scriptures. brief
addresses were made. Rev. Dr. Ramsdell. of the
North Presbyterian church spoke of the
natlons faith in prayer. Rev. Mr. James
OF the North Baptist church, spoke Of submis-
sion to the will OF God, and DR.. Butler dis
coursed upon our duties to the new executive
urging that he be given hearty support and
prayerfnl sympathy.
EPIPHANY CHURCH.
Funeral services were held at the Epiphanv
church this afternoon at o'clock. The church
was crowded. There were no decorations inside
the church. The black hung on the outside.
The services were very short They opened with
the . Burial Anthem" sung by the choir. The
regular funeral services of the Episcopal Church
emitting that portion which is observed at the
grave, were read by DR.. Paret DIR. Paret spoke
Tor about five minutes. His remarks only hore
upon the funeral services. Nothing was said as
to the life and character of the dead President
sermon of that character was preached bv Dr
farCau