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THE FUNERAL OF LINCOLN

Ceremonies in the East Room of the White House, April 19, 1865

T ten minutes after twelve o'clock Rev. Charles

A trch of the Epiphany, opened

the service by reading from the Episcopal Burial Service for the Dead. Bishop Matthew Simpson of the Methodist Church then offered prayer, and the Rev. Dr. Phineas D. Gurley, pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, at which Mr. Lincoln and his family attended, delivered a sermon. The Rev. E. H. Gray, D.D., of the E Street Baptist Church, closed the solemn service with prayer.

PHINE

HINEAS DENSMORE GURLEY, born at Hamilton, New York, 1816. Educated at Union College, Schenectady, New York. Taught during vacation, graduated 1837. Studied theology at the Theological Seminary, Princeton, New Jersey. Was licensed to preach in 1840. In 1840 he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and took charge of a church. In 1849 he removed to Dayton, Ohio, taking charge of a church, and in 1853 moved to Washington, D. C., and took charge of a Presbyterian Church on F Street, afterwards Willard Hall. In 1858 was elected Chaplain of the United States Senate. In July, 1859, the Second Presbyterian Church and the F Street Church united, and were known as the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, Dr. Gurley becoming its pastor from March, 1861, until his death. President Lincoln was a pew holder and a regular attendant, but was not a member. On one occasion the President remarked, “I like Dr. Gurley, he doesn't preach politics. I get enough of that during the week, and when I go to church I like to hear gospel."

When the President was assassinated Dr. Gurley was sent for and remained with the President until he breathed his last.

As soon as the spirit took its flight, Secretary Stanton turned to Dr. Gurley and said, "Doctor, will you say something?" After a brief pause, Dr. Gurley said, "Let us talk with God," and offered a touching prayer. Dr. Gurley died September 30, 1868.

THE FUNERAL HYMN OF LINCOLN

R

EST, noble martyr! rest in peace;

Rest with the true and brave,

Who, like thee, fell in freedom's cause,

The nation's life to save.

Thy name shall live while time endures,
And men shall say of thee,

"He saved his country from its foes,
And bade the slave be free."

These deeds shall be thy monument,
Better than brass or stone;

They leave thy fame in glory's light,
Unrival'd and alone.

This consecrated spot shall be
To freedom ever dear;

And freedom's sons of every race
Shall weep and worship here.

O God! before whom we, in tears,
Our fallen chief deplore,

Grant that the cause for which he died
May live forevermore.

ARRIET MCEWEN KIMBALL, born at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, November, 1834. Educated there; specially known as a religious poet, although she has written much secular verse; chief founder of the Portsmouth Cottage Hospital. Author hymns, Swallow Flights; Blessed Company of All Faithful People; Poems (complete edition), 1889.

R

REST, REST FOR HIM

EST, rest for him whose noble work is done;
For him who led us gently, unaware,

Till we were readier to do and dare

For Freedom, and her hundred fields were won.

His march is ended where his march began;
More sweet his sleep for toil and sacrifice,
And that rare wisdom whose beginning lies
In fear of God, and charity for man;

And sweetest for the tender faith that grew
More strong in trial, and through doubt more clear,
Seeing in clouds and darkness One appear

In whose dread name the Nation's sword he drew.

Rest, rest for him; and rest for us today
Whose sorrow shook the land from east to west
When slain by treason on the Nation's breast
Her martyr breathed his steadfast soul away.

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TH

to his home in Springfield, Illinois, where they were laid to rest. The funeral train left Washington, D. C., on the 21st of April, 1865, proceeded from that city to Baltimore, Maryland; Harrisburg and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York City, Albany and Buffalo, New York; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; Chicago, Illinois; and finally to Springfield, reaching the latter place May 3, where the last sad rites were performed on the succeeding day. The body lay in state in all the above cities, brief stops being also made in many smaller places.

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