The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-27
AT CHRISTIAN CHAPEL.
The Special Memorial Services Conducted 10y
Rev. u j. GantZ.

IeV. Il. -. GantZ, or ONO, delivered IHeiAo-
rial address, his subject being Lessons Drawn
from the Life of U. s. Grant" Rev. David
Walk, former pastor, now in charge OF pastor
ate at New Orleans, read the opening lesson,
which was anpropriate to the subsequent services.
The pulpit was swathed Ill the national flag,
which was draped, and large portrait of the
Nations greatest soldier. also heavily drapeG,
occupied a prominent place upon the platform.
Mr. Gantzs address, which was highly inter
estinc cannot be given in full He spoke sub
stantaly as follows:
For single man to win, in our times, under
the many depressing influences incident to our
customs the undisguised admiration of millions.
not only from those of his own complexion Of
belief, cast Of thought and policy Of action but
as fully from that large class who came into direct
opposition to every point Of his nature is
complishment that occurs few times in the his
tory OF a century. In no small degree has this
been done by the illustrious man to whose honor
We hold this service. The memory Of the
nations chieftain like the fragrance of a passing
flower, settles down upon our hearts. refreshes
our souls and by its genial exhalatlons awakens
within a deeper respect for this frall, finite
humanity. Costly marble and enduring granite
will be used TO mark his resting place, but it
need never be used to perpetuate his memory,
for he lives in the hearts Of an imperishable
people. His form before the ages and genera
tons to come will not be mere shadowy
specter, too indistinct to awaken more than
passing thought In the reflections of men, but
like Washington's monument, that lifts it's top
above every structure on earth, shall the life
and deeds of Grant tower among men,
the leading object of an uniagging interest,
while his acts will become standard of com
parlson by which future leaders shall be Judged.
In the heat of mems passions, both while he
was leading army and our government he
has been fearfully criticized Let US not forget
that his whole public life was as open to Observa
tion as the sun. and that the forces he generated
and dffused like the ra VS. of the sun, brought to
some greater rspicuity, to others disaster,
sometimes death. With such effects naturally
following after the power he possessed, it is not
strange that envy found voice. the unfortunate
iamented and death raised loud cries in protest.
Grants quiet, modest, unassuming bear
ing, even while young man at
West Point, was the fruitage of his
humble beginning and early training
He no doubt appeared to many of his classmates
rs IA very ordinary fellow. He was ordinary in
the higher sense, as homely, common qualities are
the best stores after all to lay deep in the soil of
our natures, upon which to build a massive
character He appeared to be commonplace
because his nature was in harmony with itself,
n type by far too unusual. His early life dis
closes no eccentricltles, which as life advances
often become elements Of wretched weakness;
neither are there signs of an erratic genius,
which too often destroys faster than it can pos
ganzatiOn our great general met the duties of
life as they presented themselves with the calm
reflection that duty must be metanG its demands
satisfied.
After his return from the Indian wars he titled
his little farm near st. Louis, and stood in the
markets with his loads of wood that, by these
means, he mis- ht discharge the trusts devo!vlng
upon him as husband and father. After he
had gone to Galena that he might add to his
income by embracing the business opportunity
offered him by his father and the
call was first made for volunteers,
he promptly and Enthusiastically offered his
services again TO his country, believing himself
capable, as an ordinary man, to be fit for nothing
more than a major and possibly a lieutenant-
colonel. After some delay, unpromising reg
iment for which the officials could find no man
willing to undertake its leadership, was offered
him, and its colorelcy promptly accepted.
Work which to others was highly unacceptable,
he assumed simply that the cause of human
liberty might he advanced. From this time to
the close of his life We knew him best and honor
him most as a soldier. In this field his qualities
and his education. blended with his overwhelm
ing patriotism, found their proper sphere OF
action
When, on one occasion he was superseded in
command by General Halleck, he stepped down
to his subordinate position without sign of the
sense of injustice, which his whole being must
have keenly felt. The world has seen but few
examples of such devotion TO even so great
cause as ours, together with such a complete
''snking out of self into a common effort. His
respect for recognized authority must have been
great indeed.
Grant was magnanimous foe. 1t is true that
every obstacle had to be surmounted by the very
nature OF his nvncible will and his mode of war
fare, ever boldly aggressive matter what the
cost to his own ranks or those of his enemy-and
his magnetic motto III fight it out on this line
if it takes all summer" meant all that language
dropping from the lips of such a man implied
but when the sword of the conquered was ten
dered him, though the terms of surrender were
nearly always unconditional, he met the over
thrown leader with the gravest respect, and did
all he could TO make wise conditions afterward
to save the honor and self respect of his honor
able opponent
His great goodness and business of heart
caused him, just the other day. to lift
a name, highly honored in this State as both
general and author from some unjust structures
placed upon 1t, most likely, at the instigation Of
another in his article in the Century by adding
foot-note at the bottom of the page Of his
history, even while tho damp dews of death glis-
tened on his forehead He was wise independ-
ent ruler ever seeking the highest good of the
Nation for which he had rendered so much in
valuable service. He ruled over fifty millions
and n wide-reaching general government,
formed and conducted for the greatest
good TO the larger number, must ever visit
special hardshlps upon the few, He made
mistakes in judgment, a matter of course, but
he q reliable friend to his friends, and sought
to briug into his immediate circle the tested and
tried of his political associates He was at times
deceived by crafty men, VINO skilfully concealed
their lack of integrity, only to be startled by his
bold, manly verdict when traces of treachery
were discovered IN these strong words: Let
10 guilty man escape"
Grant had to select hundreds from the midst of
millions to aid him in conducting this government.
but for the honor of this State and this citv
/ am glad to say, the President never had occa.
sion to pass even slight criticism on the intee-
rty Of your honored citizen, to whom was com
mitted the greatest trust of this immense gov
eminent, its Treasury. General Grants tour
around the world was simply succession of
oyations, led and participated in by the crowned
heads of nearly every nation the
globe. Teaching this lesson to the
thoughtful mind that among civil
lized, semi-civilized, and even barbarous
nations there is an instructive desire to pay
tribute TO manly courage, patriotic spirit, noble
integrity and mora. character. These, like gold,
are nLher. c11rrert hecal1Sa M rin ally