Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-05
DR.. Mitcheii's Sermon.


Rev. DR.. 8. 8. Mitchell. who officiated as
pastor of the congregation Of the New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church when
Gov. Shepherd attended services there and
took a deep interest In the church work.
preached the funeral sermon. His words
were those Of one who Intimately knew the
man over whose remains he spoke and to
whose life work he referred.
After a brief scriptural reading the min
lister referred to the dead as a fellow citi-
zen who had served faithfully the people
among whom he lived. The capital city was
often called upon to mourn the death of
eminent public men. but they were men
Who dwelt here as sojournerS and strangers.
But DEATH" he continued. has given
him into our possession. and in the city in
which he was born. This gift belongs In a
peculiar sense to the citizens Of the ma
tional capital. although every state has
good reason gratefully to remember the
name and service of Alexander r. Shep-
herd. But he does not belong to them as
he does to US. They do not know him as
we know him. He was our first citizen, our
most devoted servant our most fllustrious
son. In the future as the names of the IL
lustrious sons Of the nation are counted we
shall lift our voices to add one more to the
list Of names Of which we proud, not
from any of the states. but from the Dis
trict of Columbia. We will add the name
of Alexander r. Shepherd-our Shepherd of
the District of Columbia.
Il come not simply to bury Caesar, but
also to praise him. Mr.. Shepherd was a
man of large and generous heart"
After speaking in praise Of the virtues of
the dead the venerable minister told Of in
cidents illustrating his character that had
come within his personal knowledge. The
first time he had heard his name was in
connection with an occasion when Mr..
Shepherd had protested in a church meet
ing against what he regarded as an injus-
tice that had been done to some one. Upon
expressing his views on that occasion he
started out of the room. declaring he would
never come back again.
and he came back" he added, "only
upon the solicitation of the new pastor
Mr.. Shepherd could not tolerate anything
that seemed to be mean and small. and, of
course. it was impossible for him to do such
an act himself"
He referred to the dead man as possess
Ing great intellectual vigor. Jeremiah Black.
ects Of Governor Shepherd. was spoken to
about his visits to the Capitol
Il see," some one said to Mr.. Black, you
are up on the Hill helping Shepherd
through
"Oh," he replied promptly. she has no
need of me- He is able to take care of his
own case. He is head and shoulders above
any one who opposes him.
And added Dr. Mitchell. he was right.
The build of his body was a faithful ex-
preston of the character of his mind
The Reclamation Of Washington.
DR.. Mitchell described the condition of
this city when he first came here. Penn
sylvania avenue was a mire 1t took half
day to go to the Georgetown cemetery
and return. the roads being worse than IL
made Of corduroy MI
washington wasI simply a southern
town." he said land hero some hundred
thousand well-to-do Scitizens lived They
made their large or little gain and the con-
diuon served their purpose. This continued
until Alexander r. SEeDl0FO
claim the nations capita1-~All his match
less energy was given to the creation of
new Washington. And how well he sue
ceeded your eyes arermy Witnesses today"
At the conclusion of his work Mr.. Shop
herd was not the possessor Of a fortune
missed. nc IT
eff we remain dumb in this hour then it
seems that the very ,stones of our streets
might cry out and protest against our base
ingratitude. -
Public men are so softene denounced be-
cause of Interior motives of enmity or
politics that frequently no attention is paid
to the warnings given when the wolf is at
the door. "Goy. Shepherd he said, was
made target for criticism of Gen. Grant.
man cannot amass fortune without
giving evidence Of 1t. and In his career In
the District of Columbia Gov. Shepherd
gave no such evidence"
He did great work, he continued;
che expended millions of dollars and at
last went out of public life with dimin-
ished private estate
AS an evidence of the justice of Gen.
Grant and of his confidence in Gov. Shep-
herd. he cited the fact that as an outcome
OF the congressional investigation he re-
nominated Gov. Shepherd to succeed him
SELF
Economy is well. but there are conditions
under which economy Is not all important
and under which money must be freely
spent to secure desired results. President
lincoln could not order the equipment of
q of txooo fl1o Now