The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-08-15
SHERIDAN LAID TO REST.
Impressive Services at the Church
and CRAVE.

a.
chosen for his resting piece is some distance
from the cemetery and just at the summit of
the steep hillside, which siupes down from
the yellow old mansion toward the Potomac.
A few trees stand near the head of the grave
and there is a forest at some distance. Over
the tree tops down below, however, the view
is unrestricted, and the river, the city and
the Capitol all are in plain sight. From the
city the spot looks like q green oasis in the
wooded hills.
The funeral procession had a long and
dusty march to the cemetery. and q long
wait near the church before the frs. services
were concluded. As early as as 9 o'clock the
artiilerymen were on the march. and then
the first of the visitors arrived at the church.
They found the streets filed with soldiers.
Down Fifteenth street lay the Marine Band
and tue regular artillery out IL street were
the two companies of cavalry rom Fort
Myer, and ranged along the block in from
of The church were the dismounted artillery
m n who were serving as infantry. Dir ely
in 'front.' of the door was the Grape draped
~c,isson. and beside il the generals horse
with funeral saddle, trappings and the boots
of its late rider, spurred. with the toes turn
ed.
Inside the church there was congregation
which filled every seat. The President and
Mrs. Cleveland sat in the front pew, though
not in the chairs provided for them, and
opposite them were Colonel NJ. V. Sheri-
dan and Mrs. Sheridan, General Rucker
and his wife and daughters, and JOIN Sheri-
dan, the generals civilian brother, who
might easily have been taken for President
Cleveland.
In the side pews extending just beyond
the family were the pallbearers, the rugged
face OF General Sherman prominent among
them, and in the corresponding pews on the
other side the Congressional Committee,
Senators first and Representa-, es in the rear.
All of them wore sashes, but rs to other
funeral garment there was a difference of
style among them which showed n painful
variety of hot weather clothing.
The attendance was the most distinguished
ever gathered in the church. In nearly
every pew was some one prominent in war
or navy circles or politics. Nearly every
member was there, and the War Department
from Secretary Endicott down, was thorough
ly represented.
With the President sat Secretary Villas and
Secretary Fairchild, while behind were Ms.
Folsom and Colonel Lamont. Don Dickin-
son was near by, as was also Secretary
Whitney, Secretary Bayard and Acting At
torney General jerks. Many of the foreign
ministers were out of town, SO that the d.
~plomatic corps was not so brilliant as usual
but the legations were well represented by
the attaches. The Chinese Legation sent
handsome flowers, and the Coreans, with
their curiosity 10 study the ways ofthe coun-
try. were there personally and extremely in
~terestei. They followed the funeral all the
way to Arlington, and, with their interpre-
tiers, had prominent places near the grave.
Through the congregation were many uni
forms of army and navy officers. and other
officers of lower grade in full uniform acted
as ushers.
The services began impressively by the
slow procession of the clergy chanting the
" Miseree.' Cardinal Gibbons, with his red
hat and purple cape, followed, and, kneeling
a moment in prayer before the altar ascend
ed the throne which had been erected for
him to the left of the celebrants. \ solemn
requiem high mass was then begun by Rev.
Father Mackin, with Rev. T. j. Kervic as
deacon and Rev. 5. F. Ryan as sub-deacon.
Father Mackin's voice could be heard all
over the crowded church as he chanted the
liturgy, and there was a solemn stiffness rs
the choir sang - O Christie. Salvador Mundi."
When the mass was concluded the cardinal
descended from his throne, and after again
bowling a moment before the alter in prayer
turned to the pulpit. He had no notes with
him, but after reading his text in a low voice
closed the book laid his hand on the marble
all of the pulpit, and began solemnly TO
pay his last tribute TO the dead. His text
was from the Apocrypha And Jonothan
and Simon took Judas, their brother, and
buried him in the sepuIcher of their fathers
in the city of Modin. And all the people of
Isreal bewailed him with great lamentation
and then mourned for him many days,
and said How is the mighty fallen that
saved the people of Israel"
Speaking of Sheridan rs a warrior, he COM
pared the results of his battles with those of
great generals Of other lands, by showing
that this country wa united, while the wars
of other countries had driven antagonists
further apart or else into slavery. Old an
tagonists were now among General Sheri-
dams truest mourners, and the Shole coun-
try was united in sorrow over his grave.
Directly of the general he said " In sur
veying the life Of General Sheridan it seems
TO me that these were his prominent features
and the salient points in his character-un
daunted heroism, combined with gentle
ness Of disposition, strong as a lion in war,
gentle as a child in peace, bold, daring, fear
less, undaunted; unhesitating, his courage
rising with the danger, ever fertile in re-
sources, ever prompt in execution, his rapid
movements never impelled by a blind i'm
pulse, but were prompted by a calculating
mind
And of his religious belief: above all.
General Sheridan was n Christian. lie died
fortified by the consultations of religion,
having his trust in the saving mercies of our
Redeemcr, andan humble hope in blessed
Immortality.
What is life without the hope of immor-
tality? What is life that is bound by the
horizon of the tornb? Surely it is not worth
living. What is the lif. even of the anteli-
luvian patriarchs but like the mist which is
dispelled by the morning sun? What would
it profit this illustrious hero TO go down TO
his honored grave covered with earthly
glory if he had no hope in the eternal glory
to come? 1t is the hope of eternal life that
constitutes at once our dignity and our moral
responsibility"
To his wife and surviving friends he offer
ed consolation and then closed with this APP
peal 20 his comrades
Comrades and companions of the Illus
trious dead, take hence your great leader,
bear him to his last resting ~place-carry him
gently, lovingly-and though you may not
hope to attain his exalted rank you will
strive at least to initiate him by the integri-
ty of your private life by your devotion 10
your country, and by u%pholding the honor
of your military profession"
After the address, the cardinal, arrayed in
a black cape decorated with gold, preceded
by the clergy and the altar boys, carrying
lighted candles, left the sanctuary and took
his position at the head of the casket. The