The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-27
REV. N. A. HYDE.
The Value of General Grants Services and
the Lessons Taught by His Life.

the Lessons Taught by His Life.
At Mayfower Congregational Church. Rev. N.
A. Hyde discoursed on The Lesson OF the Great
Captains Life" He said
The Nation is in mourning for its greatest sol
der and its most distinguished citizen. General
Grant is dead The victoron many hard fought
battle field has at last succumbed to the ravages
of deadly disease. His death is the end OF
remarkable career. From the humblest condi
ton our departed hero rose to the greatest re-
sponsibilities that could be laid upon man, and
reached the highest honOrs his country could
confer. 1t is hardly possible for worldly am
bition TO go higher than he went. His unique
character and his great services to his country
have insured him lasting fame His name
must ever hold large place in our national
history.
The manner of his death has moved the deep
est sympathies of the Nation. All political
differences have been forgotten, as the people
have looked upon this spectacle of the Nations
heio In this last long struggle with remorseess
disease. His courage, his calmness in hopeless
suffering have been pathetic sight, and have
excited the worlds admiration. 1t was some
thing of a relief to the anxious watching OF the
Nation when the tidings flashed over the land
that the contest over and the brave sufferer
rested in peace There is an alienation of pub
lie grief, in view of this death. which did not
moderate the Nations sense of loss when Lin
coin and Garfield were stricken down.
They fell in the harness of office, in
greatest responsibilities were upon them Their
lives ened necessary to the Nations welfare.
General Grant, Oh the other hand, had been per
mitted to live till he had finished his work. He
had laid down all his high Offices he had re
tired to the quiet walks of private life. His work
done even to the writing, with his own
hand, the history or his remarkable career. In
one of his last conversations with his physician,
he said: My life is precious, of course, to my
ia mily, and would be to me if l could recover
entirely; but there never was one more willing
to go than |; there is nothing more to do" He
was graciousy dealt with in the time appointed
for his departure
| cannot, in this brief DISCOURSE review the
eventful career of our great captain. This is
not necessary. The public rreSs is teemng
with the incidents of his thrilling history. No
man is so we'll known TO this generation as Gen.
Grant. Even little children who could not read
have been in the habit of daily asking their
parents, How is General Grant, Such a
career of achievement and success must be fruit
full IN suggestion: its lessons must be profitable
for the youth of the Nation.
One of these lessons, fear, will be misread
Many will say this great success is the accident
of circumstances 1t was Grants good fortune
to live in the time of great war: star Of good
omen guided in his campaigns and led him in
battle 10 victory; these lofty circumstances
brought his promotion, and lifted him to the high
emineuce TO which he attained Those
who thus interpre, mis- life utterly misread its
teachings; they fall into grave error in their eX-
PLANTATION of providence. There are always two
factors in every mans lfe-his personal quail
ties and his external surroundings. These fac
tors together determine what does and what
he achieves. True, if there had been no civil
war when Grant was in the prime of his man
hood he would never have become a general nor
President of his country. 1t is just as certain,
the external conditions being the same that he
would not have been the chosen leader of armies
had he not possessed the con .bination of quail
ties which marked him as the one of all others
fitted for supreme command in the days of the
Nation peril. lie was evidently the man for
the place. 1t was not a mistake that he was
chosen and others were not. And this, l believe,
is the verdict cheerfully rendered by his com
rades in arms.
1t doubtless seemed strange when a man was
wanted TO succeed the great King Saul, that the
chieftains of Israel were passed by and the
STRIPPING shepherd in Bethlehem was chosen to
be the king. David was literally taken from the
sheepfold and led up to the duties and honors of
the throne Certainly his life does not teach the
lesson that anything comes of luck or chance.
The prophet who annointed David before his
proud. dsdainful brothers spoke for that provi-
dence which is over all our lives when he said,
The Lord looketh on the heart and not on the
outward appearance There must be something
IN the man himself which accounts for the for
tunes of providence.
The youth of the nation should not read the
history of such men Lincoln and Grant to
find illustrations of what extraordinary circum-
stances can do for them. Rather let them study
the rare qualities and forces in these men, which
enabled them TO act a noble part in the oppor
tunties of their day.
A distinguishing trait of General Grant.
which had much TO do with his life, was a
charming simplicity of character He was al
ways plain, unpretendng man without cum
ming or deceit. He never did things for effect.
never sought public attention nor demanded
favors. His uniform modesty Was a marked
quality of the man to the end. When he had
reached the highest pinnacle of fame, when he
was receiving the homage of the courts and
princes of the old world he was the same hum
BILE, self-respecting American citizen still. Such