The Washington times., 1901-09-15
SORROW THE SOLE THEME.
Sermons in the Churches VIII be
Devoted to One Sad Topic.
From All the City's fulpits the Same
Sentiments VIII Find Utterance-
The metropolitan Methodist Edi-
Zee Heavily Draped i'm Black.

From pulpits of all denominations in
Washington the same sentiment VIII ma
utterance today. In the Christian world
sorrow for the bereavement of a great
nation will overshadow all else. By the
harsh turn of fate many of the sermons
which were prepared the middle of the
past week ringing with thankfulness for
what seemed the assured recovery of the
Ghief Magistrate. have been altered now
to sadness for his tragic death.
The Presidents church. the hetropoli-
tan Methodist, is drapei in mourning
cloths Folds of black surmount the
main entrance. Within hargings of black
droop from the pillars, from the organ
pipes; the altar cloths and table covers
are symbolical of the grief of the con-
gregation. The pew marked with the sim
pie silver plate, President" is hung
heavily in .the sonbre cloth.
The sermon at the Metropolitan today
will be delivered by the Rev. w. II. Chap
man Were the pastor of the church in
this country 1t would doubtless be he who
would be chosen to deliver the address at
the services in the Capitol on "Wednesday.
At present he is In London At the con-
cIusion of the service this morning the
hoard of trustees will hold an Informal
meeting and decide upon what action VIII
be taken when the remains OF the Pfesi-
dent are brought to Washington Some
plau will be formulated, too. looking to-
ward an elaborate memorial service when
the nas,or. DIR. Frank Bristol, returns to
this country about October In the
Catholic churches without exception ref
erence will be made to the death OF the
President
when the Rev ]. G. Butler, pastor Of
the Luther Place Memorial Church, con-
e,udes his discourse this morning ne
will have preached three sermons dealing
with the assassination OF Presidents.
When Abraham Lincoln was stricken py
the hand of John Wilkes Booth, Mr.. But
Ter. then pastor of St. Paufs Lutheran
Church. at Eleventh and II Streets north
west. preached one of the most eloquent
sermons delivered on that subject. Years
I,ter after he had esta blished the Luther
Place Memorial Church. he preached a
memorable sermon on the Sunday after
lingering death had come to President
Garfield at Eiberon. At the Garfield fun
erai services in the Capitol. DIR. Butler.
together with the Rev. j. f. Rankin, OF
this city, and the Rev. Isaacs Erett. OF
Cincinnati, assisted DIR. +. ID. Powers
.,Ouietness Before God in This Ca
lam;ty'' viii be the subject to-
morrow. while the text will be Psalm
xiyi.1G. BE stiu and know that / am
God. / would be exalted among nations,
/ would be exalted in the earth
At the funeral service conducted in tho
Capitol, where lay in state the remains
of President Garfield. tho sermon was
delivered by the Rev. DR.. +. ID. Power.
now pastor of the Garfield Memorial
Church, on Vermont Avenue. and OF
whose congreg cation the martyred Presi-
dent was a member. For his subject at
the morning service today DIR. Power
has chosen the theme. The Nations Sor-
row.
A large number of the prominent cler-
yyrnen of Washington are absent from
the city for their summer vacations. and
many of the churches have not yet re-
onened for the fail. In the absence of the
nastor Rev A. =. Anderson will preach
AT Calvary Baptist Church this
morning He has chosen for his subject
the death of the President. The las,
words of the President. Thy Will be
done" will form the theme of the dis
course of Rev. John Van Schaick, at the
fIniyersalist Church of Our Father
this morning. MIR. Van Schaick will
deal with the subject is illustrative of tn,
life and character of the President.
Rev Donald Mcleod will preach AT Tho
morning service OF the First Presbyterian
Church, the former pastor of which. DIR
Byron Sunderland, was a close friend OF