Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-08-07
GRANT MEMORIAL SERVICES
At the Methodist Church Sunday Night
Address by Rev. Merritt Hulburd.


Grant were attended by nearly ten
hundred people, the aisles being lined
with temporary seats, and many persons
being obliged to stand at the entrances.
The church was appropriately trimmed
for the occasion. Over the pulpit there
was large arch formed of national colors,
and Just below it and to the rear with a
national flag for back ground, was large
portrait of General Grant, heavily draped
in mourning. The front of the pulpit was
handsomely trimmed with wreaths and
other floral designs, and was heavily fes-
on either side of the auditorium were
gracefully entwined with black. On the
centre of the rear wall hung another por-
trait of the dead hero with the colors of
Stannard Post arched above and tianked
on either side by large national flags:
by members of the G.. A r.,
who had formed at the hall of Stannard
Post and marched to the church, about $50
strong. The platform was occupied by
Revs Merritt Hurlburd, f. p. Gould, A.
c. Sargent of New Haven and l.. A. Dib-
BILE of Shelburn and a number of veterans.
The opening services included the reading
of Scripture singing by the congregation,
prayer by Rev Il. p. Gould and solo,
'Flee as Bird" by Miss Mary Simpson.
Mr.. Hulburd's Address.
The speaker took for his text, or rather
as he said; his motto, the words of
David with regard to Abner: "a prince
and a great man is fallen in Israel" This
was never truer in the history of our time
than to-day. Does any one ask what the
meaning is of the tokens of mourning
throughout the land A great man,
prince among men has fallen. Yes, Gen
iS 6aa1 and ha iS hy-t ha
whole people without regard to national
ity, party or belief. | will not attempt
the role of critic in dealing with the story
of his military deeds. There are others
present who helped to win the battles upon
which his fame as a general rests who
could do that far better than |, and his
history is written in the hearts and mem
DRY of the nation. | wish to speak of
Grant as man, leaving to the soldier the
recital of his deeds of valor and to the
political student the study of his states
manshp. 1t was said of old that what
Sparta needed was wall, not of brick,
but of men. In these times the cry is
give us man" And what is needed is
man who regardless of consequences
will do something General Grant was
that sort of man.
From a study of General Grants life, |
should say that he was not fighter, in
the sense of having been born with that
propensity uppermost--a butcher, as some
called him; but when he saw that it was
necessary he pushed things. He thought
it better that men should fall in winrOws
than that they should die of lingering
disease in southern swamps until the des
pondent north should say Let us have
peace at whatever sacrifice" But he
was greater than his victories; when he
had won them he could turn to the van
pushed with amagnanimity that has never
been equalled.
Some will say he was lucky, and this will
come from those persons who never, APP
parently have what they call luck. There
was no such word as luck in General
Grants vocabulary. From the time hat
he asked the Congressman if he might
have the appointment to West Point
if the successful applicant fail
ed in in, his examinations 9'sa il alto. to the
ance that constituted the potent factor
of success. When he graduated he stood
twenty-third in his class, but he had Il
practical knowledge of the subjects he
had studied rather than smart way of
telling what he knew about them. He
was gradually promoted during the MeXi
can war; but when that was done he re-
signed and went to work at the first thing
that came to hand, and he did it well, too.
He had healthy contentment. 1t was
my fortune to meet him in the office of
Gen Arthur in November 1880, when the
election returns were being received. A
dapper young man who had just gradual
ed from West Point, approached him and
said: General, | graduated third in my
General, did yo Sli' I graduated twenty
third in my class. l do not remember
who stood third in my class"
That was all he said but it showed what he
thought of mere position. At the
same time when l was introduced to him,
l said ! was from the State that he did not
visit they needed him. more across the
lake. Some one present from New York
remarked that they owed the State to
his visit. "Oh, no." replied he, mot at
all: If your cause is all right. you have
right viii win every time.f He was mo-
dest and manly in character, and these
qualities were prominent in every posi-
ton that he occupied. He had a peculiar
power of discerning character. 1t was
once remarked to him that a certain gen
tleman did not believe in the Bible II
am not surprised at that" said he, "he did
not write it"
The courage of his convictions appeared
on every occasion. When he went around
the world, starting from Philadelphia and
returning to Philadelphia, and was re-
ceived with royal honors, it required no
small degree of moral courage to keep his
wine glass turned down at his plate
throughout the voyage; but he did IL.
Such victories as these are more than vic
tories of blood. They are victories that
young men of to-day who above all else
need TO know how to say no and stick to
it.
Gen. Grants purity of life was exhibited
in his language. Foreigners say they can
always tell an American because he
swears in the drawing room. Gen. Grant
has left son who can say he never heard
his father use word that might not be
spoken in the presence of ladies. He was
always most affectionate as Il hus
band and father and who can
wonder at the affection of his family ?
He was greater in storm and tempest than
in quiet The people almost execrated
him at one time because the war went 50
slow, but he was unmoved although Lin
coin and stanton alone stood between
him and the people. AT AppomattoX his
thoughts dwelt not alone upon victory, but
his memory went back to the brave ranks
who had poured out their blood that vic
tory might be possible Without guile
himself he finally became the prey of the
hypocrite. But his work is done and he
who helped to make history has helped
to write 1T. His religious belief had a