Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-13
The Sermon.

Below Is a brief abstract of Cardinal Glib
bons' sermon:
,sAnd Jonathan and Simon took Judah,
their brother, and buried him in the sepul-
chre Of their fathers in the city of Modin.
And all the people of Israel bewailed him
with great lamentation, and they mourned
for him many days, and said How is the
mighty fallen that saved the people of
Israeli [. Mace, il 1921. Well might
the children Of Israel bewail their great cap
tain who led them so often TO battle and to
victory And well may this nation grieve
for the loss of the mighty chieftain whose
mortal remains now lie before us. In every
city and town and village of the country
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, his name is
uttered with sorrow and his great deeds re-
corded with admiration. There is one con-
soling feature that distinguishes the obse-
quies of our illustrous hero from those of
the great Hebrew leader. He was buried in
the midst of war, amid the clashing of arms
and surrounded by the armed hosts of the
! enemy. Our captain, thank God, is buried
amid profound peace, while we are enjoying
the blessings of domestic tranquility, and are
in friendship with all the world. The death
of Gen. Sheridan will be lamented not only
by the north but also by the south. know
the southern people know their chivalry ;
know their magnanimiiy. their warm and
affectionate nature and am sure that the
sons of the southland, especially those who
fought in the late war, will join in the ma
tional Iamentation, and will lay garland of
mourning on the bier of the great general.
They recognize the fact that the nations
general lie dead and that bis death is the ma
tons loss.
In surveying the life of Gen. Sheridan it
seems to me that these were his prominent
fea, ures, and the salient points in his charac-
ter-undaunted heroism combined with gen.
tleness of disposition; his courage rising
with the danger, ever fertile in resources,
ever prompt in execution, his rapid move
ments never impelled by a blind impulse,
but ever prompted by calculating mind.
Above all Gen. Sheridan was Christian.
He died. fortified by the consultations of re-
ligion, having bis trust in the saving mercies
of our redeemer. and humble hope in a
blessed Immortality. II is the hope of eter-
nal life that constitutes at once our dignity
and our respectablity. God has planted in
the human breast a desire for immortality
II is born with US. and lives and moves with
US II inspires our best and holiest actions.
Now. God would not have given US this de-
sire If he did not intend that this dc sire
should be fully satisfied. He would not have
given us this thirst for infinite happiness if
if he had not intended to assusge it. He
never created anything in vain. And the
apostle writes these comforting words to the
Thessaloniaus II would not have you igno-
rant. brethren, concerning those who are
asleep. that We be not sorrowful like those
who have not hope, for if we believe that
Jesus died and rose again, even so those who
have died in Jesus God will raise unto him
self Therefore comfort yourself with these
words" These are the words | would ad-
dress to you, madam. faithful consort of the
illustrious dead. This is the olive branch
of peace and hope would bring you. Com
rades and companions of the illustrious dead,
take hence your great leader, bear him to
his last resting place, carry him gently, low
ingly and though you may not hope to gain
his exalted rank, you viii strive at least 10
emulate him bv the integrity Of your private
life by your devotion to your country, and by
upholding the honor of your military profess
sion.