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'nA: I* !¥*?> Vi-.^ i ■^The Death of President Karfield>i< — -I'REACMFTi) IN— _ ON SABBATH EVKNING. SEPT. 23 th, iSSi,' REV. \A/ILLIA.M WILLIAMS. r/ PUBIJSHKD liV RKOl'KSr. % "/ TCvV/ w . . . ■ : ■ . ■ I - " ■ ■' REV. WILLIAM WILLIAMS. ■ " ' - ^ ' . ■* "• ." _ • " —^ ,r— » • ' • * 1^ / PUBLISHED BY REQUEfST. 5Vi ^^Iwill make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.—hai xiiiy 12. S GUELPH : Herald Steam Printiug House. 1881. ;. 1 > ^ '■'.■-.... ■■■' ' ■ ■' ■'■ , , ■ ' ■' ■" ' ' ' f - ■ • ' ' . • . ■' ' ' ■ " ' , ' - ■ I ^ --■.,-.. " t •'-'■' -.f '• •'••.. . ■ . . . ' . ' ■ t '' / • PREFACE. The following Sermon has been published in compliance with the request of a number of the citizens of Guelph, belonging to my own and other congregations. As it was preached from a mere outline, it is impossible to reproduce, with verbal accuracy every sentence as it was uttered. The writer has, however, followed the same line of thought and illustration, and as far as possible used the same language in the written, as in the spoken discourse, adding two or thtee brief quotations in ordgMo give a more full and detailed sketch of the life mm character of the late lamented President. It has been hurriedly prepared under the pressure of numerous engagements, but the writer trusts that it will be received by his readers as a slight memorial of his ministry in this Gity, and as an additional incentive to high and holy endeavor. W. W. GuELPH, Sept. 27th, 1 881. "■^■..- ^ '; ■■ ' ■■ ■. ;" ', ' '^■ § . • ' • .■■■'■ • ■■'■.■■ .. ." ■• ( •■■^^-■■' ■-■'.• .'^ 'V^ ;■-(:■■ " ^-' •., ; .. ■ J-.- .^^. -" - . "*''^ ■* "■■'■:/ ■■;-"_ " ■■ ^ ■ ../■-.. ■ ■ /' ■ ,i. ■ ■■■'■ ",'.♦; ■■■■'■■ . /..^ .. :.■•-.-■ -■■.■■■. -'-■■I ■■■ TO THE HONORABLE FRANK LELAND', UNITED STATES CONSUL, -AT- HAMILTON, ONTARIO, THIS DISCOURSE IS RESl^ECTFULLY -AND- AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. % , ^ ■. I ^&:Ei:Eils/L02iT:^ -^ON TBB- Death of tte late President Earfield "I wlU uiuJio a mail moro toroclou^ Uian fluo gold ; ovou a mau thau the gold«Q wodgo of Opbir."— lalah xiti, 13. Ie sec from the context that these words occur in a ^. prophecy concerning ancient IJabylon. Though that city was at one time the most magnificent in the world, she was doomed to destruction. ^ If wc ask the rciison, we might be told that she had sinned and awakened against herself the righteous indignation of the Most High. But this answer is not specific enough. In order to he fully instructed, we need to know what the particular form of her sin was, and of this we arc not long left in doubt. She failed to appreciate the value of man as man. Rank, wealth and power were re- spected ; but the elements of true manhood were lost sight of altogether. A man belonging to the masses was of value only as a beast of burden, or a piece of machmery, to 6e used until worn out and then thrown aside as worthless ; or, as so much force to huild a wall or defend a city. The fact that he was a responsible and immortal creature, with boundless capabilities, connected by intimate*^and far-reathing relationships with divine and eternal things, was seldom if ever thoiight of. Hencetyrantsofall grades were reckless of the lives of those whom they controlled, and wore them oui in weary fM hope- 11 -■; '' '-M- :;■ ' ■■ . -■ SEi^MON. . '" .^ "^'- . .'':'.■■■; IMS bondage, or s^ept them from their path as mere trifl«. ' when they interfered with their purpose. Upon ainrchf^ ^ .nd upon all such communiUes, reTribution must L nr^ the prophet sftys, "I wiJI cause the arrbgancv of th. n T CF-> ^nd wni ,ay low the haughtinr^lt^ritm make a man„moreprec^us than fine [^ the golden wedge of Qphir."* ' ' '''^" ^/^*"' *han This prophecy pointed to an ace in whirK ♦!.- capabilities of „,an sftpHld be :«c6gTj »d h^'jT*"- ».a.ed a. its proper value. How nS^weTrf ^oZf "'" --ot sa,, b„t i»„e„se strides^ i„ thL re °:^Lr ^^^ ^^ made smce these words were uttereH it, « jngaiife-time of nearly a thousand years If *;«,« • ; ^ ^««s^ by, achievements, rafber m^ by I'^ing o^ thi .Pfendulum, w^ live longer than iu patriarchs and Mfe I to us than it iould be to th™ TfcV^ " ' '* " ""»« to engage oul J^«n!l T" J^*" " """* '" '™ f»'. »<»« '^ «»s«»gc pur^ttention and affectione onvi *^ -■. faculties upori,1U,he« ever v^U^'V-^^K*? "''''" •tronirer boml. <.^a .;■ "*** '*'<"«• tife bmds ns with «hin.n.r3 ' ** ™'"' ""^ attractiveness of U,e things arou^ us .ncrea«, we find jt more difficult to 1 Je SERMOM^ sre trifles, such men, K Hence proud to >le. I will rian, than immense -life esti- time we ave been nd other ts work, f provid- west, as* h know lich the exalted^ ion and hey are IS of art our re- mits of yment, b dur- to be of the more more f our 5 with F the leave them. Who will say that death is not an act pi greater self- denial to day,"than it was two thousand years ago, when there was humanly spcaking;\so much less to live for, and when earth wasnot so keen a rival ^f heaven. On the other hand wk see, in strange and startling con- trast with the progress of civilization, the perpetuation, among a large class of people, of th^ old barbarism, in which all that is material In our manhood iS\recognizc@rtd appreciated, while„ the intellectual and spiritual i^ ignored. Hidden beneath the surface of respectable and self-Wspecting Society, where there is apparently so much of serertity, Satislaction and security, there are dark depths of stagnatmg ignorance, and sluggish currents of fermenting vice. ' The Winds of the masses are not at rest, and great upheavals may stir\the nations in the near future. Agitating forces are surely, tbdiugh perhaps slowly, ac- cumulating, and it is for the leaders of ^pular governments to say whether they shall blindly break forth\o the destruction of the best interests of the people, or wisely conducted to harmless, or even useful issues. Lookingatitinthisway we see twb sides to\Ae terrible tragedy which culminated in the death of PresidenK^rfield. On one side we see the old barbarism which regards a life, no matter how precious it may be to its possessor and his friends, as a mere trifle to be swept aside, when it interferes ^ith the in- terests of a party, or a person. The representative of the ignor- ance, envy, and unrest of the seething socialism that hurls defi- ance against law and order, appears in the person of the murderer. Impatient, impracticable and visionary, it would reach its dreadful destination through seas of the noblest blood and beneath the rain of a nation's tears. On the other hand a ^efstricken and outraged people, the source and support of all constituted authority, mourn over the death of their most 8 S^MON. distinguished statesman, with a depth and intensity of sorrow, which might well extenuate, though it could not justify, some terrible outbreak of national indigna^on. But with a marvel- lous self-control the agitated people, with one or two individiial exceptions, have kept themselves within the limits of law and order, and the Government has passed from the hands of the dying man to his successors as quietly as any crown was ever transferred from a royal father to his son. We attribute this result largely to the eloquent and earnest utterances of the departed President. He stood among his fellow legislators, long before he was invested With supreme authority, as the undeviating opponent of all agitation that would in any way interfere with the security and strength of the commonwealth. Calm, commanding, and self-controlied himself, he produced similar results in others. No rock ever resisted more grandly the wash of the waves, and the sweep of the storm, than did he the tempests of popular feeling. He illustrated the statement of the inspired writer, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty ; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." He was a tower of strength to his associates in official life, and in his calm and undisturbed judgment they reposed the litmoSt (^nfidence. We will refer to two occasions, out of /niiany thaf might be spoken of, in which his wondrous power of ^luieting excitement manifested itself. The following incident is given as related by an American newspaper :— ' " Lincoln was shot on April 14th, 1865. On the morning after the assassination New York was excited to the' highest tension and ready for some revolutionary act. Uncontrollable crowds were about the newspaper oflaces. At eleven o'clock' General Butler arrived /rom Washington and entered the Exchange building, a^limnd which fifty thousand people were assembled. ' Gentlemiln,' said he, * he died in the fullness of his fame.' Then struggling out to the balcony, and hanging overt andb dying have shout starU stepi thee In t towa disti abot ■ •. ■■' of tl 1 . thrc citiJ Uve ■ to thii the elo -■ ma Th •b T tl as th of i^\ ut ?"*/ ■ SC 1 n ^ -iifV 1.- * ^ •"*/ E - ■\. .,'■•:■■•.■■, SERMON. .-■.:,■ ^ ■.-..■. .■■\\ ^.^- '\ dying, lay on the street. They haa » ^^ ^.^_j ^^ Mcppedforwardwith a small flag mh^^^^^ a» crowd. The people stood still, "I*^"? . ^^ y^^ ,„ the awful stiUness that '""""'''.''Vll^.^y loud and awards the heavens, and in a vo.ce -^ J^^^'^°. „,,d distinct, said: ' ^eUo* ci.i^«"^.f f ""''^f^^^^^k ,loUds aboutHin.1 »'» P^^"^" '^ '•"^Tfr h^bi^ion of Hi. S^-^^^andthe C^^;^^'-:^^^:^^^/ Uves,' . ■ The effect was ««»-/°f " J^ i^,„ „„»* and , to the ground in awe B*""!.*V "^e Government and tokingofGodandHrsprovdenceovertheO ^ ^^ , ..• - TV.P tumult was stuled. it was d, n r man, and then only when a grea^J;"" The speaker was James A. Garfield. / ^ , sentiments of aU good m^n and ^^^ ^^^^^,e, but in ^uUitudethatitwasnot in ^^f ^^^ !^^ t^*^t the the cahn dedsionsof unbiassed and thoughtful nven u^ nations stiwgth lay. He said: ^ ' Ain^ -I have witnessed the eictraordinary .tMR. PMSIDENT.-I have Witney w. ~^- 3«„^^4^^oSon with deep soUdt«<». i*o ■>■..-■ ■/, ' ■.■■■■■■■■:••■' emotibr- io SERMON. touches my Heart more quickly than a sentiment in honor of a ^eat and noble character. But as I sat on these seats and witnessed these demonstrations, it seemed to me youVwere a liuman ocean in a tempest I have seen the sea lashedinto fury ^nd tossed into spray, and its grandeur moves the soul of the dullest man. But I remember that it is not the billoWs, but the calm level of the sea from which all heights and depths are measured. When the storm has passed and the hour of calm settles on the ocean, when sunshine bathes its smooth surface, then the astronomer and surveyor takes the level from which he measures all terrestrial heights and depths. Gentlemen of the ^convention, your present temper may not n^ark the healthful pulse of the people. " When our enthusiasm has passed, when the emotions of this hour have subsided, we shalffind the calm level of public opinion, below 'the storhiwiiprt^^ the thoughts of a mighty people are to be measuredT^nd by ^hich their final action will be determined. Not here, in this brilliant circle, where fifteen thousand men and women are assembled, is the destiny of the Republic to be decreed ; not here, where I see the enthusiastic faces cf seven hundred and fifty-six delegates waiting to cast their vote into the urn and determine the choice of their party ; T3ut by five million firesides, where the thoughtful fathers, with wives and children about them, with the calm thougfhts inspired by love of liome and love ot country^ with the history 6i the past, the hopes of the future,. and the knowledge of the great men who have adorned and blessed our nation in days gone by, —then God prepares the verdict that shall determine the wisdom of our work to-nij^ Not in Chicago, in the heat of June, but in the sober quiet that comes between now and November, in the silence of deliberate judgment, will this great question be ^ttled. Let us aid them to-night." 7 %. ' Many men, through nieglect of their opportunities, waste of Acir r e sourc e s, and'pe r haps by the destruction of their powers tyy dissipation and vice, render themselves useless and unhappy, ■■/■:''^.- SERMON. if and become burdens to society. Others with few or no early advantages, by intense application, incessant industry, and careful self-culture, become valuable and useful members ofthe ^ community to which they belong. Though all ^goodness and ereatness are from God; though he must stand- behind, and rive success to all endeavor, much lies in our own hands. God rives the rich harvest to the man who skilfully and faithfully prepares the soil and scatters, the seed. He gives a. blessmg, not to idleness, not to carelessness,but to patient and persevere ine toil He gives success to the student and the statesman, . but only where heart and mind are carefully cultivated and brought into active sympathy with the ol)ject sought. ^fo^\^ says ^* I will make a man more precious than fine gold. He means to do it only through that man's own efTort. Some splendid minds have gone to waste, other very ^nary men have by dint of unwearied application, reached emi^nce. Sa far as it can be said of any one, James A. Garfield w^ a self- made man ; with scarcely any circumstances in his favor ; with no social influence, no wealth, no patronage, he worked h.s way JX6 i>lace and power. Let us glance at his record, as gathered from the sources within our rfeach. m was born in Ohio, Nov. 19th, iSsiy the youngest of four children, and left without a father at the age of two years. The littie household, thus deprived of its bead, was held together by the firm and kindly hand, of A wiseand thoughtful mother, who resisted all suggestion to divide and scatter her family. Atthe deatKof his father the eldest boy was but nine years old. The backwbods farm required stronger hands than his, but they - toiled onxsharing many hardships, and wringing success slowly from the wbrld in which'they wei eplaped at such a disadvantage. . The resolute mother determined to^provide food for the minds .- - - as well as the bodies of her child r en, and when James wa s but nhappy, I fi^g years of age she offered the corner of her lot as a site for a r: 'O ■ A 13 SERMON. schoolhouse, induced the neighbors to build it, and th«n boarded the teacher. At home, and in the school, the young^est boy sought information with great avidity, and it was not long till he had mastered the elemeftts of an English education. For a time working as a carpenter, then as a clerk in a small business establishment, then chopping cordwood upon a piece of ground that lies within the present limits of Cleveland, he worked on, till seized with sea lever, a complaint which few boys escape, and began to dr^am of " life on the ocean wave." His ambition led him no further in this direction than to the deck of a canal boati where he studied navigation under unfavorable circum- stances for about eighteen months. But his thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and he and his brother and two cousins attended the Academy at Chester, where they rented a room and lived in the most economical manner. Through the summer fie worked on the farm, and we find Jiim shortly afterwards applying for admission to Hiram Institute, and offering to ring the bell, sweep the floors, and light the fires, in payment for tuition. Soon he was made a tutor, and from that time he looked forward to a college course as a certainty. In June, 1856, he graduated with honors, then became teacher of Greek and Latin in Hiram Academy, and two years after, having paid all his debts, he began the study of law; He became distin- guished as a teacher, students flocked to him ; he was appointed President of the Institute, and his fame as a public speaker was widely spread. In 1859 he was elected to a seat in the Legislature of his native State, then, when the war between the Northern and Southern States broke out he raised a company from among his own students, was appointed to a regiment, and shortly after reporting to General Buell, he was placed in command of a brigade. In his first action he secured a victory which virtually saved Kentucky. This was followed by the " Pound Gap " expedition, in which • he succeeded in ! SERMON. 13 ! •^^""'^^sTocupW^hePr.sMimia. chair. Thus, this «.»- ::^^Sy"om«h..o.es, .the highest round of*. , U^^Cnd became " more precious than fin. gold. ofgehius, did James A. ^^'" „ ^nd aihsWrving ^4. ;-«f^ii<;trv inexnaustame energy, **"", cm^if theKreatnessonemaybeborntoisnoiu^b _ r:l;rand.ife.b«tthatofe.e™aUircum^-^^^^ ":S:r^a^en^i^ ^rreorh^»ativeStat. Tdt^e confess of his -"try. ^e dea..».th -uch a „„„ner as to'sho* Y^ .'^"'l^^^.^^l^^J of •oldier he rapidly became atquamted with the reqmre loiaiernc. y , .j ,1,. ^ffiriencv Of hU command, laid his his position, maintained the cHiciency oi _ Err isin- r^-^-r;— »^ » >ss of his lame, anu mc »^.".-. — r-- _^ - nr~j" ,g the noblest of the race. He has fallen, an uncrowned himamc ' f^g^•^^^ S ^.'^^g^ T?^?'^^^''^^^^^t^*^^^^^^'^y '^^y B*?^*?^r^"•'^^^^^ 14 SERMON. king, from the seat to which he was lifted by the voice of the people, but he will remain forever enthroned in the hearts of the good and true. ' • ■*.. The moral rank of the late President of the United States was higher than that of many good and greg:t men. His integrity was unimpeachable. He could not allow himself to pcjcarried to Jplace and power by the sluggish current ot corruption. He was respected by the nation because he ijespectied h'niself, and .kept himself free from stain. He was a stern and uncompromis- ing opponent of fraud in all its forms. He strenuously opposed every measure which tended in any way to impair the credit of the Government, or weaken the faith of thie people. Neither depreciation', nor repudiation, found any countenance from him. He believed it to be the duty of the nation, as well as the individual, to pay one hundred cents in the dollar. He was a warm friend of the slave, and an unswerving enemy of the system that held him m bondage. At the risk of being tried, for disobedience to Orders, by court-martial, he refused to permit the soldiers under his command to search for and return fugitive slaves. At home and abroad^ in the army and in Congress, he . spoke and acted in opposition to every measure which tended to perpetuate that "sum of all villainies." While yet a youth he refused to seek his education in the College presided over by the founder of the community, in which he was -both a member and a preacher, because he thought it leaned to slavery. Some of his most thrilling utterances were directed against this terrible evil, which he had the satisfaction of seeing swept away. He was an edrnest, active, and consistent advocate of the temperance cause ; abstaining himself from the use of intoxicat- ing liquors, and working ably for the abolition of personal intemperance, and the adoption of prohibitory meastfres ol the mgst stringent character. On one occasion when a brewery could not be closed in any other Way, he purchased it, destroyed ■S'M.. . *_■.".■ '_,J.*i. SERMON. H ^ ■ A n*v.^ machinery exclusively used for that purpose, and turnea ine „jellenci« was d«p U underlying and P""'-'"* ='^*;^,:;U CbristianUy a, and abiding Christian prmc^p^. He «' P^^^^^^^ .^ ^^^ ^^^^^ , aivinely revealed^^ys-;' «^^^^^^^^ ^^^,^, ,„a Jesus Christ as the ?*"°^j,dand controlled his conver- ^„ght the doctnnes "^^^ 7;^^^;„<.t ,„ept .Uthe article, sation and conduct. Thou^twem V ^ .,^,„„.„fhi, of his creed, and may not be m perfect ^ „spect the interpretations °^ ^cnptur. - -not^,^ ^ ,„ ^„,, and testimony of a noble l.fe.H«^=^^» g„„a» epiritual grandeur, ■' a man ■"<>«?'«"» „( ,„h a life ? We go not for an answer q that^v ^ ^, ^^^, „„„« and tender ''ff""""-;^!^^!'^^^ his countrymen, in the character till it """^^^'.'^""^^^lual Chair. We ask no vote, which placed h.m.n the Presdent-a ^^^ ^^^ testimony from ^^' ^' from view the angu,sh^of her own . "^ ^^^ ^^„^iy t„i,htwi.hwi.elydevot,^a«e^.te^*e su^ J^ ^^^^ ^^ sent him down to death. We seeK ^^ loving lips of his now o^^e^ ^^^«;J^-::,,„V«-^^ to speak of the departed o„e=«theem^^^ ^ ^ excellencies. These m.ght all be colore y ^ ^^ ^ partiality of kindred affection Buv^ehM^^ ^^^ ^^ suffering peop^-- a— n-n^^^^ orappmgs of woe, we »«" '"^ ^ Union,.we note the tears and the lofty from every part o*! V"^; an*te echo the - that bedew the cheeks of uncouTO mill ans.^««^ — , - ., . xkTr\t "Know ye not that mere is «* y ^ words of Holy Wra, 'V^w y^ '"^Ty,, ^^ listen again, and a great man fallen this day in Israel? w ■V ; ■y0f l6 SERMON. and hear messages of affectionate condolence borne on the lightning's wing from throned monarchs in the Old World, to the widowed wife, and widowed nation in the New World. A woman's gentle sympathy is flashed across the ocean, in words of deepest pathos, from the lips and heart of our noble Queen, and on the bier of the' illustrious dead rests the sad token of the sorrow that stains imperial robes with tears. The civilized world seems to be shaken with convulsive grief, and pays its tribute to the greatness of one of nature's noblemen, the maii whom God has made " more preciotis than fine gold." As a New York paper has well saiil, *« bitter as is the grieT "knd disappointment, the signs are not wanting that in death he is as strong for good as in his life. His aims, his plans, his ideal, have become sacred to the American people. That which he attempted t|iey will carr> out. There i^ no one who dare change the administrative lines which he indicated. Dying because of his effort to relieve political li^e of its worst and most corrupting features, the people will see that he has not died in vain. Those who opposed his plans, and who hampered, with the^ntensity of self-preservation, his efforts to destroy corrupt poyticat action at its fountain h6a<}r will ^nd that their only hope of power is in adhesion to the jirinciples he has laid down. Of the spirit and methods which developed a Guiteau, the nation has had enough.'' Aniong the many instructive lessons taught by this event we learn how much one portion of the community is at themercy of another. We act upon others, and others re-act upon us. No matter what our wishes may be, we cannot fail to influence* and be influenced by, the community in which we ihdve. Na ' man liveth to himself ; he is doinggoi^ or eVU to the people by wh o m h e i s surround e d. All m e n ar e b r ought under this IslW of interdependel^ce. The strongest forces of national life ai« SKRMUN. ir frtquenlly paralysed by the w.akn«.. or wlck«dne.. of . party. J political purity i. wmetlme. .ullied. if not .wept away, by a.e.^ritof.poliation. A.«littlevir«.iotroduced.mto hemo.t S b.dy'^ay produce di«a« and death ; s6 c«n.pt..„ tottoduced Into the .lronge.t commonwealth may r*'-^" '"'y paik of it,and if not eliminated by some powerful proce...de.troy n The .hip of State may be magnificently proportioned, .Jngly built, well provided, and manned with an efficient crCVnder th; order, of a mo.t .kiUful captain , but 'f down Z% hold there be a body of men boring hole, through the ,.d. of *e ve..el to let in the water, .he will surely smk, unless these melare stopped. To-day there is no want of skillful statesmen, Ti^ councillor, may be found to surround the tl«one ard th. PreLential Chair. There may be no want of polmcal sagacity Ue leader, of so-called public opinion. The mach.n«y °' ■ Tut. may move with great .moothness. and wealth "«y «'"•• tre«.ury. But there is a cla.s of people whose a.m « i. to «t tie the ship if she be not sailed by a captam and crew of 4^r own appointment; who are at war with morabty and , Uical integrity. You find them far down beneath the surface taL lane, and alleys, the low saloons and slums, the mfidel anlcommunist'clubs. of our large cities. There you firj the ml who work in darkness and silence, who are^he v.C. js of thiir own vice*, but who manipulate murder and strike a he h^hest and belt men in the land. In vain do we talk of the march of civifoation, while such wastes of barbarism remain uncultivated and unfruitful in everything but ignorance and evil. These men are seldom reached by our schools, our colleges and churche. In vain do we talk of ^^> ^i^P ^"^ purify them. Turning to ^ Inorl pleasant phase of the subject, we learn from the life of the late President, the value of a good mother. No sooner were the inaugural ceremonies at Washington concluded than he turned to his vfcnerable mother and reverently touched her brow with his lips. It was an act of respectful homage of which she was eminently worthy. Well might he G wl a! bi fi S V 1 "n,. '% ■■t: i f ■ 'T StRMOIl. thus pu| Fronnlt* ■'*.$ hfiaT^c was two years old she ^"^ ' , ^J „„.„imou. in declaring Jha. « « ft"" "^ ,„j ^^,.,. inherited hi. caP»-'>' "" "w'^' ""^ *„' f Uher «« l.« f „^ which chMacl«n«d hnn. When ^^^ ^ITow. and hir V"-*"' '-^''^^rd Z. and provide by determined to keep her children arouna • ^.1 .„d mental «»"• J^'* '^ and undaunted courage, .ho Ulent., •"»"«/'"*'" „'n, time advanced, .he .aw with .ucceeded in her aim, and "'."■"..„.; the growing ^^aonahle ^^ ^^t^T^^^^^^^ "^ ^1 Wcellencies and hopor. oy ^^ ;„ ,he loving and Sstinguished. Richly was »>« ««"^* ^^„d„„, „d by ^..r„Uegardin.h,cbsHe«as^^^^^^^^^^^^ the place which .he now "^^"V favored m p^pk .HOW many great ='"<' ^""ofam^b.ynatioland 5r,Wi}* MO,e...heWera„^.a^^^^^^^ the early historian of sacred tning , ^ ^^^^^. G.dofhi.father. by t.«P««^a^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^ ^„ ..„., whowa.butanur« intf^h «« a^d judge of Ur«l, who a, a prince. Samuel, »>"=?? ^ ^ „o„hip of Jehovih, brought a nation back from Idolatry otn ^^ from immorality .nd qim. «° <^~^ "^dependence and pto.p«rity, cfwed hi. g"*'"*" »;° * M„„i<.a, the mother of '-r Te « :« a'l'la" mo" elevLted, tender and St Augustine, *"»*''" „raverfulness for her son wa. drvoted piety, whose P^"'°' ^^^J^ ,.;, „n,ecrati«n to the „^ed by hi. conversion to Ood,a...inucu....y.- ^ r" "■*\-',. «0 SERMON. work of the ministry, and whose affectionate and beautiful enthusiasm have passed into a touching type of womanly saintliness for all ages." The mother of the Wesley's, with her richly furnished mind, her sound and discriminating judgment, htr strict conscientiousness^ her firm and unyielding will, her deep and fervent piety, and the ability with which she rijled her household and trained her children, did much to form tfie mmd of the man who led thousands to Christ, and organized them iSo a compact and enduring "body of believers." |To the mother of the illustrious Washington may be largely attributed the unswerving integrity, the unfailing tourtesy, the sel^ Inspecting dignity, exalted sense of duty, and unfaltering trust in Providence, which made him « first in war, ^rst in peace;and first in the hearts of his countrymen." Nor will the future historian of the United States fulfil his task if he fa|s to celebrate the virtues of the mother of James A. Garfidd. ; We are taught by the life ot this distinguished man th$t goodness inessential to greatness. There can be no complete- ness of character, no fully rounded manhood,, in which moral excellence docs not appear. It is not in the possession of immense wealth ; not in exalted rank and empty titles ; not in theassertion of authority, or the command of ::rmie^ iw)r yet in a Jong li5t of victories won by bravery and skill, ^hat true greatness lies. "There are men who have dazzled th^^ges by the splendor of their genius, or by the brilliancy of their military deeds, whose names are on the roll of history, but not on the roll of honor, of moral worth and greatness ; but there are others who have never lifted sword, or spear^or shield i who have never waved a banner, nor rushed to the canon's mouth, iftr worn a jewelled crown ; but their brave and unselfish lives are written in the records of heaven. They were men who dared, and suffered ^nd died for truth and righteousnes- They were uncrowned kings, leaders of the world's thought, noble s finesses over chai than pop an Alexa compret ■ whomw a conq , conquei i adrun\ hisasb campa in sub an ea himse andt recor tbe t own K . ««T1 f iaUj but ; an ■'(.■ ■ \ tn< up SKRMOH. n • ^. . v^v tiu»t and triomP" * r .»,« truth; and in tJieif *'*''. '™, ^„d saintUer ^tnessesfor *« "^'"^^e, «««?»•«»«'. 'f«''^? Theresas - over chain. M.dd.aA.^Wy^„iae„thme5.Jh^, „ Alexander, called T''eiool.fono^^;„„, comprehensive g^«-^--g^^, , master »i*e»^^^^^^^ wk-««''''*y':l^reservedreno«n.b«t>e«as^^^^ ■ . • '"""Tl Ws o"n be«tment., and d>ed {«»* ^^„ conquered by bis P* f^,v,„g into fra(^ „„ducting - .. drunken debau*vb-^P.,,h.aWrnsd^^^^ ■ """Sng countries whose -'"'""^'tl^^g attachment to - - » »»'^""^„ in inspiring men wUh a st^ B ^.^.^^ . ^^J-^''^'''':^a:^ feas to res.^ f"";;':::^ ,ed at by VoUaire, -d «bo butthatofwar.«ho««V ^^^^ fought of G»d;^,.,3,„f a mind too narro« «» *r\ followers as one of he ^ _ ^^^Tth^i^--^'^''^'' ''t'"m1a:;ro:sTa.c p^ce o. Europe. ";d_comP^^ ^ ^^ S«**"*^. ^rtfter, ^Von which he drei S«* ^ ^^^^^ f " ««» ^ >« *»«*P'*.0Newton.theheroicself-den^''^^^^^ soaring genius of we ^ ?w,; they were 33 SERMON. * of selfish ambition. They are throil^ on truth ; their fortress is wisdom, and their dominion the world. We have seen that the greatness of thip man whose death we lament this evening was founded upon goodness. Amid the storm of human passion and the fierceness of party strife, he remained calm in demeanor, yet resolute in purpose, presenting a front which no violence could daunt, and a moral ascendancy which no corruption could withstand. He rose eagle-like above the rage of men, and soared to undying lame ; a man, who dared to be a man, dared to speak the truth, assert the majesty ,of consicience, and write his name on the imperishable tablets of eternity . .- '. - ■ - " . ■ • • ""' Young men have you an ambition to be great ; is it 'your purpose to take a place amid the activities of professional or political life ? Remember that a good cause needs no vicious, or even doubtful aid. Live so as to be able to look every man in the eye ; do nothing you dare not defend before God and man. Keep your conscience clear, and your conduct right, and see to it that no motive that you would be ashamed to men- tion is introduced into your proceedings. Be not ashamed of thWeligiqn of your fathers and mothers. Shun all places of evil resort, all forms of dissipation, keep a sound mind in a . sound body if you can. Do not do evil that gQod may come. Use no doubtful language in dealing with wickedness. Culti- vate goodness, not because it is profitable, but because it is right. Then, though your advance may be slow, it will be sure, ■ and will be folloWed by no fall, and you will be able to look upon the past with grateful complacency, and upon the future with courage and hopCi ' . In the life of James A. Garfieid we see the dignity and value of honest labor. He had genius, bu|^ it consisted in an immense capacity for work, His was a life of unwearied ap- plication ; labof of the hands, and heart and head. He did not belong t< upon bonesi afford to de i^g«8ptun{ cidentofbi and re^Vn who ,; . , - K sermow- n • ■ "■■' , ^. who look dow" ..motiWe class of peoP»«*". ^^^w «cU „p„n hones. to.l">f^„,,V,ose«hochar^^_^^^ afford to ""f **;;,„U." , H= ^■'l^MVo.^^^^"' 1»8'''P'""' ;ZwsposUVon,butach..ved^ V^^^ as the man eidentof''"*^ ^Jneissov-earv^dv^r ^^^^^^^^ .-^^..^ong It 15 wr ^j^^^^,nd. 1^ wetgW upon the 51^3^' ., u wrecked on ^»- ^^ consumer, . ^.^ Jl^^ong It ^s;^V ot mankind, ^it ^etgW upon the ""* -f of tjrogre^s. There is ^^ thaii «^ ^ ^^^^^y. wheels otptog ^omamsmu and succebt^ iA r^Arocted labot. \.,,. purposes wiseiy ^^e onms '''tis working out ^^^ ^^'''^.oud who can inscr ,^^^ that he IS wo ^^on to be PJ" , ^^ ^g the g^ That man hap reas ^ ^^^^ deeds. ' ^uoaddssoinethmg ^^cheon the ^ec^^- ^^^^^^f ^teds the hungry thathei^* '- to oc v- . r^^^^ ;s i"- ^- -V the merchant. . -^^-^ Vjis plea, it VV n^e vear of v-^^^ici ^ -telawye' '<> "=""'^" h on the throne. 0« ? .^,„,e, the uv, the comtori, 11^^ ;«» conscience, «^ «^ vnu possess wealth, the «- Tfoving con ^ ^wers you V ^„, Would you have an ^ vi ^^gn use the P_ g^doWed, make your mark in the^.^ A. .^..curce of ^ shall beyours. ,. ,u;,ttaigtonisohly;^^ ,ducat- Weare so-^-^^^n^'rcultlv^:^^:^^^^ nicnts are i , . y4i . 4 5^ assumed by many modern writers that scientific accuracy ^aM scepticism must go together. Such an assttmption.may serve the interests of unbelief, bflt it certainly is not verified by facts. , It is strange that men who profess to have no other object than to find truth should have wandered so far from the path that leads to the tfemple in which she presides. , It is surprising that men who pride themselves upon the accuracy of their state- ments, should be so inaceurate in this respect. Who shaU say that the claim of scepticism is correct* when such a man a» James A. Garfield, the classical scholar, the polished orator,^ the logical debater, and the far-seeing and subtle statesman, is found at the feet of Jesus, Nor is he alone. Milton sung of ^. ' sacred mysteries, and worshipped while he sung. Newton stepped in stately majesty from star to star till he stood in adoring wonder befor:e the God of the universe. It is but yesv terday that Hugh Miller tookyus by a rocky pathway to the* throne of the Creator, and traced in adamantine lines the purposes of His providence and grace. On our own continent, Dana, and in our (pwn country', Dawson, take us down the steps of historic strata anjil show ^us where the Divine Arctiitect "in the beginning laid th4 foundation of the earth "j while Joseph Cook drags unbelief from its dark and dreary hiding place, arid holds it up, a loathsome and hideous thing, to;the derision of every enlightened mind, and the pity of every compassioaate heart. By the testimony of some of the greatest meii who have shed the lustre of genius upon the philosophy of nature, Newton and ■ Herschelly Guizot and Pritchard, Brewster and Chalmers, the Bible has been shown to be in full harmohy with the facts of ' Science. The greatest minds do not hesitate to go fur.ther than - this, to recognize the inferiority of material to spiritual things, and to admit that wheire science utterly fails to satisfy our wants and aspirations, where philosophy sheds but a faint and flicker- ing ray, revelation .'shines with more than noonday splendor; that while tjie former disappoints ourmost momentous enquiries. jwj^^^/r-- 25 • heart the latter^"^^^ / U in the human heart, ■ A leaves at^achmgvoMir^^^^^pes, , ^., -fishes, and sat^aes.^^^^ ^, ^s^ teaches. J^«^^%^'^e to the nation, the mag^ ^^ .„,„ . ""• i,f e amidst the tears ^^^^^. j,^, saio _^ testing-pl»« / covonatwn ■■ tW ^„aeavor, f« , h.s ascended »-ts.^^ of h.gVand^" Y ^^„ ^,„fc." ,,ety one "^'^'^h, and 1 «« 8'« *"' , m ■X "^ / 'n'. '.0' *; ,fe-'-- ^■: