The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-09
HARPER & BROTHERS,
Franklin So, New York City.
A FORMER PASTORS TRIBUTE
The Rev Dr. Hugh Johnston on the
Shooting of the President.

johnston, ID. ID. who came 10 the flTSL
Methodist Episcopal Church Of Baltimore
from a pastorate at the Metropolitan
Church. Washington. which the Presi-
cent attends, dweIt upon the national
tragedy in his morning sermon yesterday.
Taking as his text How unsearchable
are His judgments and His ways past
finding out Romans. xi. 81, DIT. John
sJon's subject was Mysteries Of Divine
Providence As the PsaImist said.
When 1 thought upon these things, the
'perpleXities of Providence, they were
too painful for me until I went into the
sanctuary" So the preacher strOve TO
bring the minds of his congregation to a
religious view Of the ineNphcable dispen-
sation OF Providence.
a bolt has fallen upon us from a per
fectly clear sky. The American nation
has been filed with horror and plunged
into sorrow and grief by the awful crime
Of the attempted assassination Of the ma
tons Chief Magistrate. At a reception
given him. in which ne stretches out his
hight hand to his assassin, he IS shot
down by a wretch who. for no cause
whatever. seeks his life This is the third
time in the history Of our nation that we
have had 10 contemplate sucn a horror
Thirty-siX years ago the hngly Lincoln,
VINO was BQllllS the snip OF SltLf Dl t-fh
through the waves and tempests OF civil
war. was called 10 give up his life by the
assassiu's bullet; but 1t was a time Of
great political excitement and his infatu-
ated murderer could tragically cry out
Sic semper tyrannis,'
Twenty years ago President Garfield
was shot down. but the assassination was
the result Of a political conflict GuIteau,
the murderer. was seeking revenge for
the supposed loss Of a chance Of office,
and when ne fired his revolver ne eN-
claimed Now we will have Arthur for
President But here it is difficult 10 find
q motive for this unsp aakable horror, this
cruel and cowardly deed. 1t seems Ike
the act of a mailman. But, To-, he calls
himself an Anarchist and he strikes q
blow at our Government, makes das-
tardIy attack upon the life. not of a car
OF despot. OF hereditary monarch. but the
President Of a Republic elected by the
choice Of a free people. If Providence
rules all things you enquire. Did God
have anything to do with the action OF
the wretch who sought the death Of the
President Does He not care for the SUI
fering Of that great and good man, the
anguish Of his invalid Wife-the awe
stricken dread and grief Of whole ma
ton and the suffering sympathy OF the
civilized world But IL is one thing 10
hermit suffering and another and totally
different thing TO intict suffering. and
Gods primary providence IL alwAss a
blessing but il does not intercept efforts
which Ignorance. imprudcnce. and the ter
rible alterations OF the human will pro-
duce.
Gods ways are past finding out. IN
the church we fiTd her friends afflicted,
her enemies triumphant In private HE
the good suffer and thu wicked pT"Sl'.T
Among nations one Is set up and another
rises. prOspcTs. ard then goes 10 decay
vet all has been for the general advance
rueut Of society. 50 while the nation
watches with grief and hope around the
bed Of sufferinE Gods providence Is look
ing 20 the moral benefits, the discipline
adminiSt, red. the lessons taught
What IL these wounds should prove ia
taIg As David surrOwed over Abner,
Know ye not that there is a prince ana
great man fallen this day, so the ma
ti0u over its splendid President fallen IN
the midst Of his brilliant career The
blow was struck az republican freedom
and national life. Anarchy is the doctrine
Of the abolition Of government and sup
noses "a social state in which there shall
be no king or president, no parliament
or congress- no head of law state OF
religion. Everything shall be- LETT TO in
diyidual caprice, and those VINO believe
in use Of force. resort 10 mountaineering,
the pistol the dagger, and murder OF eF-
@SbaU the State harbor such brood
of yiUers as those who in chicago APP
pIaudeJ this assault or in New Jersey
Matched the plot against King Humbert2
81 am constrained 70 acknowledge that
when I first heard of the atrOciOus crime
/ could not believe 10 possible J said how
could anyone wish 10 harm such a MANI
+ know how this blow To the President
has come 10 millions with the sense Of
personal afHictiou. But only those who
have been brought into close contact with
him on whose shoulders rested a Govern
meut dearer 20 him than life know fully
his patience and EentleuesS. his blame
less and beautiful walk, his Christian
character and personal charm
Il had the privilege Of a happy pastor
ate Of nvc years in the National Metro
p0utan Church Of Washington, during the
latter part Of which the head Of the ma
ton occupied the Presidents pew in that
church The pastor was always received
with hearty welcome NJ the White House
and treated as friend. / have beecn in
coming To this church / have received
again and again the tokens Of his per
sOnal regard.
What an exalted and inspiring exam
PIE Of domestic virtue and happiness the
Executive Mansion has presented 10 the
nation and 20 the world What wonder that
in the first moment of this tragedy he
thought of his invalid Wife rather Than ~
himself and gaSped TO his secretary. NV
wife-be careful about her. Don't let her
know / never saw ucVcrread-Of great
ct gentleness and devotion on the part Of q
husband. so tender. 50 thoughtful so low
Meut and in every word and action. No
President has ever had heavier burdens
10 bear or more difficult problems TO solve
And with what fOrtitude and trust he has
ed ability and success ne has solved those
problems.