The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1885-10-30
BEECHER ON GRANT.
Memorial Services at fremont
Temple, Boston.
che Plymouth Pastor Delivers a Warm
Eulogium On tho Life, Virtues and
Heroic Deeds of the Depart-
ed Warrior-Statesman.

BOSTON, MASS, October 22.-Beneath
kindly tempered rays of mellow sun
thousands of Bostonians thronged this af-
ternoon to the Grant memorial exercises
at fremont Temple, under the auspices
of the city Government.
At two O'Clock prayer was offered by
Rev. B. L. Hamlin, and an ode by Julia
Ward Howe was sung by the choir,
POEM written by Louise /. Quincy was
read by Prof. Moses L. Brown of TUFTS
College. "Gone Through the Shadows"
was rendered by choir of women's
voices.
Mayor O'Brien at this point, in brief
speech presented Rev. Henry Ward
Beccher as euloglst of the day. Mr..
Beccher was received with generous APP
plause, and spoke as follows:
"Another name is added to the roll of
those whom the world will not willingly
let die. few years since storm laden
clouds filled his heaven and obloquy;
SANDER and bitter lies raincd down upon
him. The clouds are all blown
away; under serene sky he laid
down his lie and the Nation wept
Tho path to his tomb is worn
by the feet of innumerable pilgrims; the
mildewed lips OF SANDER are silent, and
even criticism hesitates lest some incau-
tious word should mar The history of
the modest, gentle, magnanimous war;
rior. The whole Nation watched his pas
sage through humiliation and misfor-
tunes with 'unfeigned sympathy; the
whole world sighed when his life
ended. At his burial the unsworded
hands of those whom he had fought
lifted his bier and bore him to his
tomb with love and reverence.
Grant fmades no claim 10 saintship; he
was man Of like passions, and with as
marked limitations as other men. Moth
ing could be more distasteful to his hon
est, modest soul while living, and moth
ing more unbecoming to his memory
than lying exaggerations and fulsome
batteries. Men without faults are apt to
be men without force.
A rough diamond has no brilliaucy.
Sights and shadows, hills and valleys,
| give beauty 10 landscape; the faults
of great and generous natures are often
over-Iipe goodness or shadows which
their virtues cast. Three clemens enter
into the career OF great citizen. That
which his aiicestry gives; that which OPP
| portunity gives, and that which his will
develops. Grant came from sturdy New
| England stock; New England derived it
| from Scotland Scotland bred it at d
| time when the Covenanters and Puritans
were made-men of iron conscicnces;
! hammered out upon the anvil of adver-
| siiy. From New England the stream
| flowed to Ohio, where it
| enriched the soil till 1t
brought forth abundant harvests of great
| men. When it was Grants time Ito be
born, he came forth without celestial
portents, and his youth had in it no
prophecy of his manhood. Ills boyhood
was wholesome, robust, with vigorous
| frame, with a heart susceptible of tender
love, he yet was not social. He
was patient and persistent. He loved
horses and could master them. That is
good sign. Grant had no art
of creating, and circumstances, oppor-
tunity must seek him or else he would
| plod through life without disclosing the
gifts which God hid in him. The gold in
the hills can not disclose itself, it must
be sought and dug. A sharp and
wiry politician for some reasons
of Providence performed generous
deed In sending young Grant to West
Point" !"
Mr.. Bcccher reviewed Grants life at
West Point, his service in Mexico anc
California, and, alluding to his private
life, said: "lle was Il poor farmer, q
worse tanner, worthless trallfcker,
without civil experience, without litera ~
gifts; too diflldent to be ambitious; toe
modest to put himself forward; toe
honest to be a politician, he was OF al
men least likely to attain emincnce, ane
was absolutely untitled apparently fol
pre-cminence. Yet Gods providence
selected him, ordained was Grant with
the ointment OF war, black and sulphur
ous."
His opportunity was coming. Alread,
clouds afar off were gathering He say
them not. No figures were seen upon tn
dim horizon of the already near future
The insulted fiig; the garments rolled Il
blood; million, men in arms; the sui
phurous smoke of battle; CORY heaps up
on desperate battle-flelds; an army Q
slow moving crippled heroes; grave
yards populous cities. They were all i
the clouded horizon though he sa,
them not Let us look upon tn
scene. This continent lay waiting TO
ages for the.seed of civilization; at lengt
sower came forth to soy. While h
sowed good seed of liberty and Christia
civilization, an enemy, lurking, sowe,
tares. They sprang up and grew to
gether. The Constitution Graded bot
slavery and liberty. While yet ungrowi
they dwelt together in peace. The
snarled in youth, quatreled when hal
grown and fought when OF full age. Th
final catastrophe was inevitable. Tn
South, like a quecnly beauty, grew i'm
perious and exactng; the North
like an obsequious suitor, knel
at her feet, only TO receiv
contempt and mockery. Both parties
Whig and Democrat, drank of the cup G
her sorcery. 1t killed the Wing party
The Democratic party was tougher, an
was only besotled. If wise moderatio
had possessed the South; if they ha
conciliated the North; If they had me
Just scruples of honest men, who, hatin
slavery, dreaded the Jsshonor of break
ing the compacts of the Constitution, th
South might have held control for al
other hundred years. 1t was no. to b,
God sent d strong dclusion upon then
They were seeking to moo
: crate volcanoes aud stop eartl
) quakes by administering politics
, quinine. The wise, the statesmen wei
bewildcred, and politicians were jugglin
fools. The South had buildee herse
> upon the rock of slavery. 1t lay in IL
very channels of civilization like son
- eI, l.-.xx re N ~