The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-15
LOVINGLY LAID TO REST
CHILDREN AND GRAND-CHIL
DREN FOLLOW REMAINS.
A DAY OF lNcESsANT RAIN AND GLOOM
Floral Offerings from Everywhere Services al
Church Distinguished Men Present, In
GLIDING Whitelaw Reid, Cabinet and
Others President Returns.


Canton, Ohio, Dec. 14.-AIthough it
rained almost necessarily all day, the
crowd attending the funeral of Mrs.
Nancy Allison Mckinley was numbered
by thousands. The First Methodist
Episcopal church, doubled in capacity
by throwing open the Sunday school
rooms and gallery, was filled to over
flowing long before the beginning of
the services. The great rostrum of the
church was bank of flowers. After
the simple ceremony thousands passed
through the church, each stopping an
instant at the altar to take a last look
at the remains. This procession was
composed of 5000 people who had gain
ed admission to the church and thou
sands of others who stood outside in the
rain waiting the time when they could
get in one door, pass the altar and go
out at the other side. When this had
continued an hour it was found neces-
sary to close the side doors and remove
the casket to the funeral car as it was
feared that the interment would be de-
layed until after dark.
During the services and until after
the remains had been viewed, the family
and close friends occupied the front
pews of the central section of the
church. With the President in the first
pew was his sister, Miss Helen, and his
brother, Abner, with their sister, Mrs.
Duncan, of Cleveland. Immediately
back of them was the aged sister of the
departed, Mrs. Osborne, of Youngstown,
surrounded by grandchildren and other
near relatives. Back of these were
members of the cabinet and the Wash
ington visitors, Congressman Taylor,
representing this district Hon. White
law Reid. of New York; Fl. II. Kohl
saat of Chicago, and many other inti-
mate friends of thief amily from various
points.
AS the casket containing the remains
was tenderly placed in front of the
chancel rail the Aeloian Quartet Of
male voices, composed of Messrs. VIM.
r. Reed, Thomas J. Malloy, Alfred
Baehrens and Harry Lawson, chanted,
"Still, Still With Thee" Rev. e. 2.
Herbruck, of Trinity Reformed church,
whose pastorate in Canton is of the
longest in the local clergy, offered a fer
vent prayer. This was followed by the
reading of the hymn, Jesus, Lover of
My Soul" by Rev. Milligan, of the First
Presbyterian church, and the singing Of
the same by the quartet.
Rev. DR.. Hall, of Trinity Lutheran
church, read a scriptural lesson from
first Corinthians, part of the 18th chap
ter. Former Mayor II. A. Cassidy then
read the memorial adopted by the board
of officers of the church, of which Mrs.
Mckinley had so long been member
and the quartet sang, Lead, Kindly
Light"
Rev. DIR. Manchester, who was a
comrade in arms of the President dur
ing the war as a member of the IA
nous 23rd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and
who has been the pastor of the First
NJ. e. church for several years, deliver
ed a short Grafton, in which he dwelt
upon the character of the beloved de-
parted, and spoke of her as she was
knows by the neighbors and friends in
Canton.
After the singing Nearer, My God to
Thee" benediction was pronounced by
Rev. DR.. McAfee, of Columbus, pastor
of the Broad Street Methodist church,
of Columbus, which the President at
tended while he was governor of Ohio.
This service was preceded by brief
private services at the house, attended
by the immediate family and Wash
ington guests. The house services con-
sisted of prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Man
chester, and the reading of the twenty
third psalm by the Rev. Mr.. McAfee.
The church was beautiful with the
wealth of flowers sent by the. people OF
the nation, and with the rich drapery of
mourning with which it had been ar
ranged by the officers of the church.
The chancel rail and the pulpit was
buried in a cluster of flowers and the
pulpit proper was entirely hidden by
delicate blooms from many hot houses.
AS backing to all of the flowers there
were drapings and festoons of black,
caught up here and there by cords and
bows of white. The large loft, ordin-
arily occupied by a chorus choir, was
occupied on one side by the officers of
the church. and on the other by the
clergy of the city.
When the cortege reached the ceme-
terry, the burial ground Of the Mckinley
family was surrounded by an immense
crowd who seemed to give no heed to the
inclement weather. A canvas canopy
had been erected near the open grave
fer the shelter of the family and those
assisting in the last sad rites. Here the
beautiful wreath of flowers, which the
President aud Mrs Mckinley had
placed upon the graves of the children
they lost long ago. and OF the Presi-
dents father. brother and sister,
were literally covered with the numer-
Gus floral offerings sent by sympathizing