The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1882-05-10
wn gloriously, as uttered from on

| wi SHO10 10 WV uuCu OJuuSIOU III
large city edifices-whefe every one
is known to every one, and all are
neighbors, and listen when the cler.
gyman, without previous notice, ut
tiers the solemn words: 20 Father of
all mercies and God of all comfort,
our only help in time of need, look
down, pity, and relieve thy sick ser
want for whom our prayers are de
sired;" and every thought turns at
once to the vacant seat, and the indi
vidual sufferer is known, and the 81.
euce, as it we're, speaks in earnest
hope that the priestly prayer may be
listened to; and when, at last, the
dread alternative is spoken, "or else
give her Il choose to fancy it dy.
ing wife or MOTHER grace so to take
Thy visitation that, after this painful
life ended, she may dwell with thee
in life everlasting" and every heart
throbs in sympathy for a desolated
home, and the work of prayer is
done. Words, though formal, often
unlock the heart. 1t was once the
writer's lot, at the end of the cruel
war, which desolated so many homes
and frustrated so many hopes and
crushed SO many hearts in this our
land, TO attend church according to
the Episcopal form, in Richmond,
then in ruins. The Federal author.
ity was restored, the "rebellion" at
an end, the graves at Hollywood COW
cred with fresh flowers, the tears for
Stewart and the gallant l'egrams
(Richmond's children not dry, the
Confederate President a prisoner,
charged with viracious crime. The
Chief Magistrate ofthe United States
was prayed for, decorously, accord.
ing to the Ritual; but, when, in the
Litany, the supplication was utter
ed: "That it may please Thee to pre-
serve all sick persons and young
children, and to show Thy mercy
upon all prisoners and captives, !"
common as the words seem, there
was a thrill in every heart, a thought
of the manacled captive at Fortress
Monroe, their old friend aud neigh
Dor, whose courage in the darkest
hour had never failed-which show
ed how d familiar Storm Of prayer
can stir the heart.
1t is an old story, the sailors bu.
rial at sea, but one that never is
without its pathos, and as 'Dust to
dust, ashes to ashes," has its echo,
never heard without a shudder, from
the earth the sections spade scatters
on the coffin, so, from the solemn
cry of the master-at arms "All
hands to bury the dead" to the
words, owe commend bis body to
the Deep" and the shotted hammock
slips with splash into
"The vast and wandering grave"
no one hears it unmoved, or fails to
think the eloquence of the liturgy
unequaled.
The Burial Service" for its pray
ers are few and short, was read over
poor Moore's uncoffined remains on
that dark January night, sixty years
ago, at Corunna. 1t was uttered
over the proto-martyr Of the middle
colonies in the Revolution-the ia
cobite, Hugh Mercer-in the classic
ground of old Christ Church; and on
the lawn at Mount Vernon, when, on
the 10Th Of December, 1899, a little
schooner anchored in the Potomac,
firing it's simple salute the while
Washington sank to rest. But new
er was it more picturesque than at
an ensmy's grave during that same
revolution. When, in the autumn Of
l777, Bargoyne's army entangled it.
self in the Businesses of the upper
Hudson, and disaster lowered heavi.
ly around him and his gallant army
for such, batting his Hespians and
kindred Indians it was-Gen. Fraser
fell MORALLY wounded by an Ameri.
can rifle shot. He fingered, as We all
know, in Madame de Riedessers but,
where she and her children had ia.
ken refuge, and died, and was buried
on a hill near by. The collection OF
officers at the funeral attracted the
attention Of the hostile artillerists,
and a sharp fire was concentrated on
the spot. Then was it that the ex.
hortation of the Liturgy, "Be ye|
steady, unmovable," had q new Gig.
niicance.
One other historical illustration of
my text occurs to me-the familiar
anecdote Of Lord Chen Mr. Den.
man, when acting as counsel for
Queen Caroline. Her name being
excluded from the Ritual in the req.