The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-03-02

prelonQ ana whose G6n6LS lu0y udDlbudliy
it is equally true that men by the thousand will
cling to church organizations with instructive and
undying fidelity when their belief in maturer years
is radically different from that which inspired them
as neophytos.
But after this range of speculation and this lati
tude of doubt, Garfield came back always with a
freshness and delight to the simpler instincts of
,eligtous faith which earliest implanted longest
survive Not many weeks before his assassination,
walking on the banks of the Potomac with a friend
and converSing those topics or personal feglon,
concerning which noble natures have an uncon-
ouerable reserve, he said that he found the Lord
PRAYER and the simple petitions learned in infancy
restful to him. merely in their stated repetition,
but in their casual and freauent recall as ne went
scriptures had a very strong hold on his memory
and his heart. He heard while in Edinburgh some
years ago an eminent Scotch preacher, who prefaced
his sermon with reading the eighth chapter OF the
Epistle to the Romans, which book had been the
subject of careful study with Garfield during all of
elocution Of the preacher and declared that 1t had
impaired new and deeper meaning to the majestic
utterances of st. Paul. He referred often In after
wears to that memorable SERVICE and dwelt with ex-
ultaton feeling upon the radiant promise ana the
| assured hope with which the great apostle OF tne
Gentiles was epersuaded that neither death, nor
life nor angels, principa1ties, nor powers ner
things present, nor things to come nor helgnt nor
Depth any other creature, shall be able TO sepa
rate us from the love of God, which Is In Christ
Jesus our Lord"
The browning characteristic Of Gen. Garfield g
religious opinions as indeed of all opinions, was
his 1beral1ty. In all things he had charity. TOl-
erance of his opinions, was of his nature. He
PooHcSooee
himsalf-sincerity Of conviction and frankness OF
expression. With him the inquiry was not so much
what man believes, but does he believe 1t =? me
lines Of his friendship and his confidence enclrcled
men of every creed and men OF no creed, and to
the end Of his life his ever engthen1ng list Oh
friends were to be found the names OF pious
Catholic priest and of an honestm1nded and gener-
ous-hearted free thinker.
On the morning of Saturday, July I'd, the Presf-
dent was a contentec and happy man-not In an
ordinary degree, but joyfully. almost boyshly hap
DIV On his way to the railroad station to which he
drove slowly in conscious enjoyment 81 the beautl-
full morning. with unwonted sense OF leisure and
keen anticipation Of pleasure, his talk was all In
the grateful and gratulatory vein. He felt that
after four months Of trial his administration was
strong In its grasp Of AFFAIRS strong In popular IA
yor and destined grow stronger; that grave diff
entities confronting him at his inauguration had
been safely passed; that trouble lay behind him
and not before him; that he was soon to meet the
wife whom he loved, now recovering from an ILL
ness which had but lately disquieted and at times
almost unnerved him; that he was going to his
Alma Mater to renew the most cherished asSocfa
tions Of his young manhood, and to exchange greet
tngs with those whose deepening interest had fol
lowed every step OF his upward progress from the
day he entered upon hts college course until he
had attained loftiest elevation In the gift OF his
countrymen.
Surely If happiness can ever come from the hon
ors or trIumphs of this world, on that quiet July
morning James A. Garfield may we'll have been
happy man. No foreboding Of evil haunted him;
no slightest premonition Of danger clouded his sky