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aCTIvITy 1.14
continued
Historical Heroes: examples
About the Author
Dr. Phineas D. Gurley (1816–1868) was the pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church (in Washington, D.C.), which Abraham Lincoln attended during his presidency. Gurley was also Chaplain of the United States Senate. Gurley preached this funeral sermon in the White House East Room on
April 19, 1865, four days after Lincoln’s assassination.
article
ardently: passionately providences: guardianship exercised by a deity immortal: living forever quench: to put an end to consecrated: blessed repair: to go often incentives: reasons to do something
my Notes
White House Funeral
Sermon
for Abraham Lincoln
by Dr. Phineas D. Gurley
He is dead; but the God in whom he trusted lives, and He can guide and strengthen
his successor, as He guided and strengthened him. He is dead; but the memory of his virtues, of his wise and patriotic counsels and labors, of his calm and steady faith in God lives, is precious, and will be a power for good in the country quite down to the end of time. He is dead; but the cause he so ardently loved, so ably, patiently, faithfully represented and defended—not for himself only, not for us only, but for all people in all their coming generations, till time shall be no more—that cause survives his fall, and will survive it. The light of its brightening prospects flashes cheeringly to-day athwart1 the gloom occasioned by his death, and the language of God’s united providences is telling us that, though the friends of Liberty die, Liberty itself is immortal. There is no assassin strong enough and no weapon deadly enough to quench its inextinguishable life, or arrest its onward march to the conquest and empire of the world. This is our confidence, and this is our consolation, as we weep and mourn to-day. Though our beloved President is slain, our beloved country is saved. And so we sing of mercy as well as of judgment. Tears of gratitude mingle with those of sorrow. While there is darkness, there is also the dawning of a brighter, happier day upon our stricken and weary land. God be praised that our fallen Chief lived long enough to see the day dawn and the daystar of joy and peace arise upon the nation. He saw it, and he was glad. Alas! alas! He only saw the dawn. When the sun has risen, full-orbed and glorious, and a happy reunited people are rejoicing in its light—alas! alas! it will shine upon his grave. But that grave will be a precious and a consecrated spot. The friends of Liberty and of the Union will repair to it in years and ages to come, to pronounce the memory of its occupant blessed, and, gathering from his very ashes, and from the rehearsal of his deeds and virtues, fresh incentives to patriotism, they will there renew their vows of fidelity2 to their country and their God.
1 athwart: across or against
2 fidelity: loyalty, faithfulness to a person, cause, or belief
76 SpringBoard® English Language Arts Grade 8
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