The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-16
IN MEMORY OF LINCOLN.
Anniversary Exercises at springfield-Orig-
inai Poem by John II. Bryant.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April 15.-Memorial ser
vices were held this afternoon, at the tomb
of Abraham Lincoln. The services were
under the auspices of the Lincoln
Guard of Honor. An invitation was
extended to all citizens to be present
and participate in the exercises and the at
tendance was very large. 1t was desired to
make the occasion, in part. a children's day,
and all the Sunday-schools were in
vited to attend. The exercises began
at 2:3o with prayer by Rev. B. F.
Grouse, of the English Lutheran Church,
followed by vocal music under the direction
of George A. Sanders. The address of the
day was delivered by Hon. James A Con-
nelly, and was an eloquent tribute to the
memory of the martyr-President. Mr..
Connelly's address was followed by the read
ing of the following original poem, from the
pen of John H. Bryant, of Princeton, a
brother of the late William Cullen Bryant:
AT THE TOMB OF LINCOLN.
None, of all earth's wise and great,
Hath earned purer gratitude
Than the great soul whose hallowed dust
This structure holds in sacred trust
How fierce the strife that rent the land
When he was summoned to command,
With what wise care he led us through
The fearful storms that round us blew.
Calm, patient, hopeful, undismayed,
He met the angry hosts arrayed
For bloody war, aud Oyercame
Their naughty power in freedoms name.
mid tannts and doubts, the bondman's chain
With gentle force he cleft in twain,
And raised four million slaves to be
The chartered sons of liberty.
No debt he owed TO wealth or birth:
By force of solid, honest worth
He climbed the topmost height of fame,
And wrote thereon a spotless name.
Oh! when the felon hand laid low
That sacred head, what sudden woe
Shot to the nations farthest bound,
And every bosom felt the wound.
Well might the nation bow in grief,
And weep above the fallen chief
VINO ever strore by word and pen
For peace ON earth, good Will TO men,"
The people loved him for they knew
Each pulse OF his large heart was true
TO them, to freedom and the right,
Unswayed by gain, unawed by might.
This tomb, by loving hands up-piled
To him, the merciful and mild,
From age to age shall carry down
The glory of his great renown.
As the long centuries onward flow,
As generations come and CO.
Wide and more wide his fame shall spread,
And greener laurels crown his head
And when this pile ia falrn TO dust,
It's brouzes cramOled into rust,
Thy name, o I4incoln sfih shall be
Revered and loved from sea to sea.
midas swart millions meath their palms
Shall sing thy praise La grateful psalms,
And crowds by Congo's uurbid wave
Bless the good hand that freed the slave.
Shine on. o Star of Freedom, shine,
Till all the realms of earth are thine;
And all the tribes, through countless days,
Shall bask Ill thy eenigDant rays.
Lord Of the nationsl grant us still
Another patriot sage to fill
The seat of power and save the State
From selfish greed. For this we wait.
APRIL Is, 1888.
An address to the children was then de-
livered by the Rev. r. @. Post, of the Con
gregational Church, followed by the read
ing of Mr. Lincoln's Sunday order to the
army and navy, by Clinton L. Conkling
The exercises terminated with singing
prayer and the benediction,
After the benediction the catacomb was
opened and the children passed in and
placed flowers and eyergreens on the sar'
coDhapue