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V.

OBSERVANCES IN OTHER CITIES.

THE veil that hides from our dull eyes
A hero's worth, Death only lifts:
While he is with us, all his gifts
Find hosts to question, few to prize.

But, done the battle-won the strife,
When torches light his vaulted tomb,
Broad gems flash out and crowns illume
The clay-cold brows undecked in life.

And men of whom the world will talk
For ages hence, may noteless move;
And only, as they quit us, prove
That giant souls have shared our walk.

For heaven-aware what follies lurk

In our weak hearts-their mission done,
Snatches her loved ones from the sun
In the same hour that crowns their work.

O, loved and lost! thy patient toil

Had robed our cause in Victory's light; Our Country stood redeemed and bright, With not a slave on all her soil.

Again o'er Southern towns and towers
The eagles of our nation flew;
And as the weeks to Summer grew,
Each day a new success was ours.

Mid peals of bells, and cannon bark,—

And shouting streets with flags abloom.
Sped the shrill arrow of thy doom,
And in an instant all was dark!

Charles G. Halpine.

V.

FUNERAL SERVICES IN OTHER CITIES.

THE FAST DAY.

On the death of the President, and in the condition to which the Secretary of State was reduced, Mr. Hunter, the Acting Secretary, issued the following official document.

To the People of the United States:

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WASHINGTON, April 17, 1865.

The undersigned is directed to announce that the funeral ceremonies of the lamented Chief Magistrate will take place at the Executive Mansion in this city at twelve o'clock, noon, on Wednesday, the 19th instant. The various religious denominations throughout the country are invited to meet in their respective places of worship at that hour for the purpose of solemnizing the occasion with appropriate ceremonies.

W. HUNTER, Acting Secretary of State.

The invitation which it contained was cordially responded to; as the following, from those denominations whose organizations made the pastoral direction of a Bishop necessary, testify.

To the Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of New York:

DEAR BRETHREN-The authorities at Washington have announced that the funeral solemnities of the late President of the United States will take place in that city at twelve o'clock on Wednesday of this week; and they have expressed the hope that each Christian congregation in the country will assemble at that hour in its place of

worship and unite in services of an appropriate character. In this suggestion I most heartily concur, as I am sure you will. I do therefore most affectionately recommend to the clergy and congregations of this diocese to appear before God in their holy places, on Wednesday, the 19th, at noon, and while the last offices are being performed over the mortal remains of their late venetrated Chief Magistrate, to bow down in humble recognition of the Almighty hand, to adore His Majesty, to revere His justice, to magnify His mercies, to implore Him to sanctify to us His dealings with us as a people, and at the same time to testify respect for the memory of the wise, upright, and benignant ruler who has been so mysteriously removed from this mortal scene. The following order of services is hereby appointed for the occasion :

1. The Lesser Litany-" O Christ, hear us," &c., and including the Prayer― "We humbly beseech thee," &c.

2. The Anthem, in the Burial Office-" Lord, let me know my end," &c. 3. The Lesson-1st Corinthians, xv. 20.

4. A Hymn.

5. The Prayer for the Nation in Affliction, as recently set forth.

6. The prayer, " In time of war and tumult."

7. The two prayers at the end of the burial service.

8. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &c.

Again commending you, very dear brethren, to the divine protection and blessing, I remain, most affectionately, your brother in Christ,

HORATIO POTTER, Bishop of New York.

New York, Easter Monday, April 17, 1865.

To the Reverend Clergy of the Diocese of Western New York:

REVEREND BRETHREN-The death of the President of the United States, by the hand of an assassin, is a calamity which it needs no words to impress on the heart of the nation.

The crime is not regicide, but it is parricide.

That such an unnatural sin should have been committed against the Divine Majesty and against the ruler of a free people, is cause for profound humiliation not less than unfeigned sorrow.

In obedience to the new order of his Excellency the Governor, the service for the 20th instant is changed as follows :

Instead of the Venite, shall be used (Psalm 51st), the Miserere. The first lesson, followed by the Benedicite, shall be Deuteronomy xxxii., to verse 42; and the second lesson, St. Matthew xi., from verse 15th. The Litany shall be said entire.

Other appropriate devotions from the prayer-book may be used at

the discretion of the minister, and also those for the nation and rulers, as set forth by my Reverend predecessor.

On Wednesday, the day of the President's funeral, the burial service may be said at twelve o'clock, omitting the committal. The Lord be with you, and with all our afflicted countrymen. Your affectionate Bishop,

Easter Monday, New York, April 17, 1865.

A. CLEVELAND COXE.

FELLOW-CITIZENS-A deed of blood has been perpetrated which has caused every heart to shudder, and which calls for the execration of every citizen. On Good Friday, the hallowed anniversary of our blessed Lord's crucifixion, when all Christendom was bowed down in penitence and sorrow at His tomb, the President of these United States was foully assassinated, and a wicked attempt was made on the life of the Secretary of State ! Words fail us in expressing detestation for a deed so atrocious-hitherto, happily, unparalleled in our history. Silence is, perhaps, the best and most appropriate expression for a sorrow too great for utterance.

We are quite sure that we need not remind our Catholic brethren in the Archdiocese of the duty-which we are confident they will willingly perform-of uniting with their fellow-citizens in whatever may be deemed most suitable for indicating their horror of the crime, and their feeling of sympathy for the bereaved. We also invite them to join together in humble and earnest supplication to God for our beloved but afflicted country; and we enjoin that the bells of all our churches be solemnly tolled on the occasion of the President's funeral.

Given from our residence in Baltimore on Holy Saturday, the 15th day of April, 1865.

MARTIN JOHN SPALDING,
Archbishop of Baltimore.

REV. DEAR SIR-We hereby request that to-morrow you will announce to your people in words expressive of your common sorrow the melancholy tidings which have come so suddenly amid the first rejoicings of the Easter festival to shock the heart of the nation, and plunge it into deepest distress and mourning. A life most precious to all, the life of the honored President of these United States, has been brought to a sad and startling close by the violent hand of an assassin; the life of the Secretary of State and that of his son have been assailed by a similar act of wickedness, and both are now lying in a critical condition. While bowing down in humble fear and in

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