Evening star., 1909-04-27

hope of recovery. As / have stated. I
am thankful for the providential extern
sion Of my time, because II has enabled
me to see for myself the happy harmony
that has so suddenly sprung up between
those engaged a few short years ago in
deadly conflict. 1t has been an inestima-
BILE blessing to me to hear the kind ex-
pressions toward me in person from all
parts of our country. from people of all
nationalities, of all religions and of no
religion, of Confederate and National
troops alike. Of soldiers organizations.
of mechanical scientific. religious and
other societies, embracing almost every
citizen in the land. They have brought
joy to my heart. if they have not effected
cure.
so to you and your colleagues I ac-
knowledge my Indebtedness for having
brought me through the valley of the
shadow of death to enable me to witness
these things. u. s. GRANT.
Mount McGreggor, N. Y, July 2, 1885,"
Gen. Grants Death.
Gen. Grant died peacefully and serenely
after o'clock the morning Of July %,
1886. AS soon as rest came to him the
bells of Saratoga began to toll. On that
evening a great memorial meeting was
held at town hall. The friend of the
illustrious soldier William H. Wander
bilt. presided. BY previously arranged
program, Rev. DR.. John r. Paxton, DID,,
of New York and the writer Of this paper
delivered the addresses. On Sunday morn
ing the writer preached to a vast audience
on ''The Elements OF Greatness In the
Character and Career Of Gen. Ulysses
Simpson Grant"
The Mount McGreggor funeral was held
the morning Of Tuesday the fourth day
of August. Batteries of artillery doomed
amidst the military honors. Great bodies
of soldiers were on the mountain. Large
numbers of men of national renown were
on the porches and lawns. Among the
federal officers were Gems. William Te-
cumseh Sherman and Philip Sheridan.
Numerous Confederate officers and states
men were In attendance. among whom
were Gems. Joseph e. Johnston and Simon
Buckner: Bishop William L. Harris,
LID. of the Methodist Episcopal Church
offered the invocation. Rev. Or. Agnew
Of the Presbyterian Church, read the
Scriptures. DIR. John p. Newman delivered
an eloquent and impressive address.
the casket was placed on q catafalque in
the city hall.
When 1t was afterward drawn by twen-
ty-four horses to a temporary tomb at
Riverside Park, on the highlands of the
Hudson, President Grover Cleveland. ex--
President Chester Allan Arthur. and ex-
President Rutherford B. Hayes were
among the hundreds of eminent men who
stood before the sepulcher. The funeral
arrangements were in charge of Gen.
Winfield Scott Hancock. The present
magnificent tomb was completed by pop
ular subscription twelve years afterWard.
With the exception of the Tai Mahal OF
India, it is the most costly and beautiful
mausoleum on earth.
Great From Many Viewpoints.
Gen. Grant was great from many stand
points. No soldier Of history excelled him
in military ability. No more patriotic
President ever occupied the White House.
He saved the Union from dismemberment.
No warrior of renown ever met death
with sublimer heroism. His lion heart
and martyr courage sustained him. as
like Bayard, he said. Let me die with
my face to the foe He rounded out a
noble life with a glorious exit from earth.
His name Is immortal. His grandest
monument Is not at Riverside Park. but
Is the republic itself. His best epitaph
Is flag with every truant star back on
Its field Of blue, floating over a country
where no man. woman or child Is a slave.
placed on his cold brow the celebrated
iron crown, the symbol OF political pow
er. The diadem the American people
have laid on the temples of Gen. Grant
will be forever engfrt with gratitude for
his national services. and its jewels will
be the tears Of the millions who loved
him. Congress has wisely appropriated
a quarter Of million OF dollars for the
Grant statue, to be erected west of the
Capitol.
Gen. Grant was not a communicant
member, as some people think, Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. When he
was supposed to be dying once in New
York city DR.. John p. Newman admins
tered to him the rite of Christian bap-
tism. Exultant expressions on the death
bed are not essential to eternal salvation.
DIR. Few Of Geogia beautifully said at the
last hour, Il do not want to die shouting,
but l want to die calmly as the sun goes
down." During my own pastorates. COW
ering the sweep of a half century. have
known murderers who went to the scat
fold with rapturous religious expressions.
The highest type of evidence of fitness
for death is the moral purity and emf
nent usefulness of a Christian life. Per-
sOnally I have no more doubt that Gen.
Grant died in Christ, than | have of the
truthfulness of the accuracy of the AK
IONS of geometry. OF his splendid de-
parture one may well say:
How well he fell asleep!
Like a proud river widening toward the sea,
Calmly and grandly. silently and Deep
Life joined eternity.
oh. dauntless soul.
Patient, serene, unmoved by wasting sears
OF dread disease, as when thou listed wars
Fierce thunder roll.
Pride will supplant
The Nations grief and write aloft thy name,
And future ages call thee with acclaim
Unconquered Grant.