Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
JUDGE HAGNER'S HISTORY OF
ST. JOHNS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

satisfaction, and whose mental powers
seemed never to have been ecllpsed by age
His journal shows he occasionally exer-
cised his mind in discussing Mr.. Hawley's
sermons. which afforded pretty good proof
he had heard them 1t also shows the
rector relied a great deal on Mr.. Adams
advice on important occasions; for example,
when a question arose as to the propriety
OF Offering the prayer for the President
after the death of President William Henry
Harrison and before his successor had as
srmed the office. 1t cannot be doubted he
was one of the most picturesque and re-
markable public men our country has pro-
duced, and that General Washington was
justified in advising John Adams, when
President, to appoint his son to a first
class foreign mission, as the ablest person
In the American diplomatic service He
was, wthal, at times actually
shrinking from personal publicity. II he
had yielded to the desire of the members
of Congress the country would have rung
with the particulars of assault made
upon him. when seventy-sevcn years Old
while a member of the House of Repre-
out of Washington. While in his seat one
day he received a message that a person
whose card was sent In desired to see MN
in the lobby. AS Mr.. Adams presented
stranger, who. after violent abuse Of his
political course. threatened to kick him. At
that time Mr.. Adams, because of tremu.
lCusness, could write only with the aid OF
a brass continuance fitted to his fingers,
into which the pen was inserted, but he ola
not hesitate instantly to seize the assallant,
and was able to hold him until the by
ISLANDERS interfered. Before the grand Jury.
as well as in the Criminal Court of the
District, he asked for lenfty for his assall-
ant, who had convinced him his act was
the result of intoxicaton; and he repressed
all movements to give publicity to the oc-
currence.
General Jackson was. I believe. a Meth
odst but on his arrival in Washington as
hn o
four large pews at st. John S. during part
of his second term | observed him to be a
familiar figure in st. Johns Church, ana
the young gentlemen of my age at the Tune
were greatly pleased to look at the nero OF
New Orleans. I had special reasons to ike
him because of his kindness TO my parents,
toward whom he uniformly compH-
nentary and gracious, and l remember
with pleasure his kind manner and speech
toward myself as a child. AS ] recall him
that time, dressed at proper seasons II.
rich black silk. with snow-white hair ana
gertle dignity of manner, he appeared very
different from the swearing half-savage
that ignorant or prejudiced people seemed
pleased TO represent hlrl.
"a startling incident connected with Cen
eral jackson that occurred In March, 1885,
was recalled by the recent infamy at Buff
falo While at the Capitol attending the
funeral of a member of Congress, man
twice snapped pistol at the President.
The offender was placed In JAIL and while
there his case was twice called to the at
tention of the old Circuit Court; first by an
application by the grand jury to be al
lowed to examine witnesses as to the men
tai capacity of the prisoner; and afterward
by a petition filed by Ids counsel for
habeas corpus, under which they proposed
to establish his insanity, and thus procure
his discharge without trial by jury Both
applications were refused by Judge Cranch,
and the grand jury found a bill against
him for assault with intent to murder. 1t
was established clearly at the trial that the
who imagined himself the King of England
kept out of his rights by the President;
and the jury, under the suggestion of the
district attorney at once found verdict
of mot guilty upon that ground. The case
will be found reported in 4th Cranch's Cir
cult Court Reports, at pages Ola and GlS.
l have referred to the matter In this way
because the facts have been recently mis-
stated In the newspapers. The incident
made the greater impression upon me be-
cause valuable upper servant in our fam
fly was a cousin of the accused, and as
soon as the shooting occurred she stated he
had been irresponsible for years
mr.. Van Buren, occupied one of the
large pews while Vice President and also
during his presidency, accompanied by
| members of his family
General Harrison on his arrival in
Washington, was assigned one of the large
pews but after brief service of little
more than one month from his Inaugural
ton day, that seemed like a fatal ides of
March to him. he laid down the wearsome
burden which had helped to wear out his
life While he attended st. Johns on each
of the Sundays between his inauguration
and his illness, great throngs of the people,
who greatly loved him, focked to see him
enter and depart from the church.
ION one chilly day / saw him at the
church door, without an overcoat. CALAMITY
assisting ladies into his carriage; his hands
covered with strengthening white SILK
gloves, which, IN conformity with his uni
form kindness Of nature, he had worn at
the request of the makers and because
they were of American manufaeture-the
bs elk of each bearing, In brown and gayest
green, a representation OF the famous log
cabin which had played so important part
in the canvass. His decease was great
shock to the country, especially as 1t was
! the first death that had ever occurred in
| the Presidents mansion. Willis alludes to
| this In a feeling poem written at the time.
commencing:
| what! Scared the old eagle to die at the SUM-
Lies be stf with spread wings at the goal be has
:. Death. Death in the White House? All. never
Trod his skeleton foot on the Presidents Hoor.'
.Ths funeral services at the Congress