generations. These and all other necessaries, for them, for us, and Thy whole Church, we humbly beg in the Name and mediation of JESUS CHRIST, our most blessed LORD and Saviour. Amen.

O merciful GOD and heavenly Father, who hast taught us in Thy Word that Thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men; we humbly beseech Thee of Thy goodness to comfort and succor all those who are at this time suffering in the miserable calamities brought upon this Nation and City by violence and civil war. Mercifully vouchsafe supplies of spiritual strength and consolation to the wounded, sick, and dying, and raise up friends for them in their need. Be a Father to the fatherless and a Husband to the widow. Furnish shelter to the homeless, sustenance to the impoverished, support to the bereaved and destitute. Lighten the bonds of those who are captives or in prison. Give all, in their ́several visitations, a right understanding of themselves and of Thy threats and promises, that they may neither cast away their confidence in Thee, nor place it anywhere but in Thee, Relieve the distressed, protect the innocent, and awaken the guilty; and forasmuch as Thou alone bringest light out of darkness, and good out of evil, make the manifold forms of human suffering now darkening our land effectual for the conversion of many souls to Thee, that among us fruits meet for repentance may be abundantly brought forth, and that the glory of thy grace may be made known among all nations, now and forever

DISCOURSE.

"I am the Resurrection and the Life."-St. John xi. 25.

The words of the Burial service are the appropriate words of this troubled Easter morning. We had prepared to leave behind us the gloomier thoughts of the tomb, and decking it, as it were, with flowers and palm branches, to gaze with serene eye steadfastly on the glorious morning of the Resurrection; to forget for a while the instinctive repugnance of the human heart at the short interval of the grave; to look beyond it to the abodes of our expected reward, where tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and the disquieting fears which beset us here in the world of chances and changes would give way to eternal repose and joy. But we are called in the providence of God to look more at the sorrows than the joys that surround the Christian's hope; to weep with those who weep rather than dwell upon the topics of our exulting hope. On the night of that first Good Friday, the narrow tomb of the rich man of Arimathea, which he had hewn out in his little rocky garden spot, wherein he hoped himself, after a quiet departure from the troubles of earth, to sleep with his fathers, held the hastily buried remains of his Master. Violence and crime had done their work, and the One who came to bless our race had been slain by wicked hands; and a few trembling disciples, shocked by the overthrow of all their hopes, outraged by the horrible passions of their unbelieving countrymen, were hiding in retired places, and telling with scared faces, That this

A MOURNFUL EASTER.

A DISCOURSE

DELIVERED IN THE

CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY,

WASHINGTON, D. C.,

On EASTER DAY, APRIL 19, 1865,

BY THE RECTOR, REV. CHARLES H. HALL, D. D.

BEING THE SECOND DAY AFTER THE ASSASSINATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED STATES, AND A SIMILAR ATTEMPT UPON THE SECRETARY OF
STATE, ON THE NIGHT OF GOOD FRIDAY.

WASHINGTON:
GIDEON & PEARSON, PRINTERS.

U.S.6302.76 1866, Jann 17.

By Exchance of Dup izales

with

Boston Public Library,

CORRESPONDENCE

REV. CHARLES H. HALL, D. D.

359 H STREET,

WASHINGTON CITY, April 17, 1865.

DEAR SIR:-At a meeting of the Congregation of Epiphany Church, this evening, the undersigned were appointed a committee to express to you the gratification with which they listened to the sermon which you delivered on Easter morning, and to request a copy thereof for publication.

We, therefore, respectfully request that you furnish us a copy at your earliest convenience.

WASHINGTON, EPIPHANY RECTORY, April 19, 1865.

TO MESSRS. CHARLES KNAP, ST. JOHN B. L. SKINNER, THOS. R. WILSON. GENTLEMEN :-The wish of the Congregation of Epiphany Church in a matter of this kind is, of course, law with us; and I herewith send you the manuscript of the Sermon of Easter Sunday morning. It is a simple word of feeling from all our hearts, and may possibly be interesting and useful to others. We who have known the private history of the distinguished subject of the Discourse as a neighbor, as well as his official actions as the Chief Magistrate of the nation, I doubt not all, without exception, will feel disposed with me to complete the passage of the poet to which I have alluded:

"Besides this Duncan

Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been
So clear in his great office, that his virtues

Will plead like angels, trumpet-tongued, against

The deep damnation of his taking off."

As my own small tribute to his memory, who has given me reasons of my own for lamenting him, I commit the Discourse to you and the Congregation of the Epiphany, with assurances of my esteem.