The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-23
In MEMORIAM.
San FranciscO's Tribute to the
Dead Soldier.
Commemorative Exercises at the First
Congregational Church = Splendid
Eulogy of the Hero

,
leading citizens.
For full hour before the time announced
for the services TO begin people began to
flock to the church from all directions, but
as only those provided with tickets could
pass the civic and military guards posted at
the doors, the general ropulace directed their
steps home again under compulsion of the
frequent penetrating showers.
Thus it happened that when this restric-
ton to free entrance was removed but few
OF the general public were at hand to avail
themselves OF their privileges, and a great
portion of the church remained unoccupied
CAREFUL ARRANGEMENTS.
The arrangements for the occasion, in
view Of the large attendance expected, were
most complete. A strong force of police
acted as an outer guard, and within the
sacred edifce thirty-two men Of the Second
Brigade, Signal Corps, n. q. c.. maintained
order and did service as usherS. These
were under command of Lieutenants W. E.
Brown and c. j. Evans, and made quite an
imposing appearance in their gayly trimmed
and handsome uniforms. AS each guest
came in he was taken in charge by one of
the CORPS, WHO escorted him to the seats
previously assigned to those of his cloth.
Two-thirds Of the main floor were as
signed to the officially invited guests. These
included the Veteran Guard, Past Depart
ment Commanders members of the Produce
Exchange and Clearing house, General
Dickinson and staff, Members of the Cali
fornia Department, q. A. R.. members OF
the United States, State and county Judici-
AIRY, California Pioneers. General Gibbons
and staff, Rear Admiral Benham and staff,
| Board Of Supervisors, Board of Trade, Com
manders of q. a. K. posts, the Diplomatic
Corps. Loyal Legion, Chamber of Commerce
and Mexican Veterans. Places were also
! reserved for Collector Phelps, Sub-IreaS-
urer Jackson, Postmaster Backus, Chief of
Police Crowley and Chief ScannelI of the
| Fire Department.
THE EXERCISES.
1t was getting up to o'clock before the
| exercises began, the delay being occasioned
by the desire OF the Citizens Committee, to
afford opportunity for tardy arrivals to take
their seats. When this was at length ac-
cOmplished Colonel ). d. Mayer filled the
church with the exquisite melody of
Chopin's Funeral March," to the first
strains of which General Dickinson escorted
the speakers Of the Occi sion 20 the platform.
These took seats with General Gibbons in
the center, having Mayor SaDderSOn, Rev.
Mr.. Freeland and General Dickinson on his
right anu George a. knight, Rev. Horatio
StebbnS and Rev. DR.. Mackenzie on his
| left
At the conclusion of the dirge Mayor San
derson arose, and with many eulogiuns of
| General Gibbons, introduced him as Chair
man of the day.
General Gibbons in the full uniform of
his ran6, then arose and addressed the fol-
lowing teIse and soldier-iike remarks to the
aSSemOlage:
A SOLDIERS TRIBUTE.
Yesterday, at the cemetery in st. Louis,
were laid to rest tine mortal remains of
Americas great soldier, William 7. Sher-
man. To-day we are assembled to do honor
/ - Ha -,f
| vades not only this country, but is recOg-
nized throughout the world. In war he was
! reSiStless tornado, though his sword was
| directed against his own cOuntrymen. In
| peace he forgot he was a soldier in his great
| love Tor his whole country and its free in
| situations. For these, md not for glory or
| fame. be fought. For these he strove from
| the time when war WAS ceased till he drew
| his last breath, and he had the supreme
satisfaction of looking with his dying eyes
upon united and prosperous people, whose
prosperity and unity he did so much TO
bring about. His wars are over! May he
rest in peace!
Following the Generals remarks, Rev. DIR.
Mackenzie made an eloquent prayer in
which he asked blessing on the family of
| the departed hero, and called upon the
! divine power to ordain men equally as
| brave, good and unselfish to direct the
! affairs of this nation and Of the whole
world.
| THE EULoGY.
Thy viii Be Done" was then rendered
! by the male quartet, without accomrani-
ment, and was followed by the eulogy, in
which George A. Knight paid glowing
| tribute to the great soldier.
~ Ut many days ago., said the speaker in
| his opening remarks, our drooping banners
| Sorrnwfully reminded us that the King was
| dead. Within a few hundred feet OF this
| very spot royalty was stricken by the hand
| OF death. 1t WAS something uncommon in a
| country like ours, founded upon principles
| that hardly knew what royalty meant. And
| yet we saw that the spirit of comfy pre-
! Yailed-that fealty to the law of nations
which told us intuitiveIy that we should
| deal with the dead monarch as became a
| great people"
After brief reference to the honOrs this
| Republic, paid the royal remains, the
| speaker declared that here the sovereign
! never dies, for the reason that the people
! themselves are sovereigns members of
| government for the people of the people and
by the people. From this train of thought
| the speaker moved along to consideration
of the services performed for the country by
the soldier whose virtues they were there
| dwelling upon, as well as the noble efforts
OF Grant, Sheridan. Hooker and other de-
parted heroes, the contemplation of whose
! valiant deeds enables us to comprehend the
| broadness and purity of the principles of
| this Government. These great men have
! passed away he said, and yet have not been
classed AS s0vereisns of the people, because
| llle SOhtItISDS mere never ultQ.
sHERN1AN's CAREER.
"Of General Sherman" he added, much
| can be said. No man WAS ever more
written about and no General more before
| the people than the soldier whose achieve
| ments, successes and prominence we to-day
| remember and admire" The herU'S resi-
dence in California during the early DAYS of
| Statehood was recalled to the memory of
| the assembled pioneers, and his business
| characteristics brought out in bold compari-
| son with the strict discipline under which
| he was educated at West Point His career
as civilian was clearly depicted and fol-
| lowing that came a historic review Of his
| army services notably that of his famous
march from Atlanta to the sea.
| The Speakers closing remarks were full
Of euIosy: Sherman. he said, was never
jealous of intelligence, never quarreled with
his equals, and was always extremely
modest. The world never presented a
picture SURPRISING that of the three great
captains, Grant, Sherman and Sheridan,
| eacn oil whom constantly endeayored TO
place lauTels on the heads of the others.
May their memory grow greener with years
and blossom with the light of ages
DIR. sTEBBINs' ADDRESS.
After the quartet had rendered the hymn,
" Lead Kindly Light" composed by the late
| Cardinal Newman, and sung for the first
time at his own funeral, Rev. Horatio Steb-
| bins was introduced TO the audience. The
| reverend gentleman expressed his gratiica-
| ton at seeing so large gathering before
him at such an unusual hour, despite the in
clemency of the outer weather which, he
said, illustrated the working of some great
sentiment that moved the hearts Of men as
trees are moved by the-wind
| We are here, continued the speaker,
Ito pay tribute to the great captain who
gave peace to the country under the protect
ing egs of the Constitution. At first sight
there is a strange paradox Of practice in this
scene-meeting in this place, consecratcd to
the God Of humanity and peace, to celebrate
the deeds of this man of war; To the tech
meal mind il is an unsolvabe enigma. But"
he asked, What is Christianity and what
is WARP" This query he answered by show
! ing the relationship between them, coupled
| with the explanatory statement that Chris
tianity accepts mans nature. recognizes his
| condition and educatcs him toward an ideal.
1t mitigates his severity. his barbarity, his