The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-17

Nnurcn ana the streets Searby-Severnl
Thousands Pass Through the Church and
View the ~Body-Short Ssrvic. at the
Grase-Ihe Tribute of Flowers Prefuss
Canton. Ohio, December 14~.-Aithough
Il rained almost necessarily all day.
n crowd attending the funeral OF Mrs.
Nancy Allison Mckinley was number
ed 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
h simple ceremony thousands passed
through the church. each stopping an
instant at the altar to take a last lock
at the remains. This procession was
composed Of 5000 people who a 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 side door. pass the al
tar and go out at the other side. When
this had continued an hour it was
AOoAN Unnecessary >FoSc Tic SEUc UOpTS
and remove the casket to the funeral
a as it was feared that the interment
would be delayed 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 Youngs-
town, surrounded by grand children
and other near relatives. Back Of these
were members of the cabinet and the
Washington visitors, and many other
intimate friends of the family from
various points.
AS the casket containing the remains
was tenderly placed in front Of the
chancel rail, the Aeolian quartette of
male voices chanted Still, Still with
Thee" Rev. E. p. Herbruck, Of Trinity
Reformed church.. whose ~pastorate in
Canton is of the longest of the local
clergy, offered a fervent prayer. This
was followed by the reading of the
hymn Jesus, Lover Of my Soul by
Rev. Mr.. Milligan, of the First Pres
byterian church and h singing Of the
same by the quartette.
Rev. DR.. Hall, Of Trinity Luthern
church, read a Scriptural lesson from
FIRST Corinthians, part of the 18th chap
ter. Former Mayor r. A. Cassidy then
read the memorial adopted by the
board of officers Of the church, OF which
Mrs. Mckinley a so long been a
member and the quartette sang, Lead
Kindly Light"
Rev. DR.. Manchester, who was a
comrade in arms OF the president dur
ing the war as a member of the ia
nous Twenty-third Ohio in
fantry, and who has been the pastor
of the First NJ. e. church for several
years, delivered a short Grafton, in
which he dwelt upon the character of
h beloved departed and spoke Of her
as she was known by the neighbors
and riends in Canton.
After singing Nearer, My God to
Thee" Ibenediction 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 the
Washington guests. The house ser
vices consisted of a prayer by the Rev.
MI. Manchester and the reading of the
IL" L Sollll Wy IA III.
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
arranged by the officers Of the church.
The exercises at the grave were SIM
pie. The caSke was lowered into the
grave by the pallbearers and the simple
liturgy service of the Methodist Epis-
cOpal church was read responsibility by
Presiding Elder E. d. Holtz, of this
district and Rev. E. G. Manchester,
Rev. McAfee, Of Columbus, pronounc-
ing a benediction.
This evening the cabinet officers and
other distinguished officials except the
Mckinley family dined at the home of
Mrs. George D. Harter The president
and the immediate family remained at
the old homestead until train time.
The special train on which the Wash
ington party came this morning. left at
$3.50 o'clock this evening, the presidents
car Newport" being attached.