The sun., 1901-09-20

hoped for him that he would become a minister
pf the gospel and that she believed II to DO the
highest vocation In life II was not however. his
4other's faith that made him Christian. Hs
Iad gained In early life personal knowledge Of
Jesus, which guided him In the performance OF
greater duties and vaster responsibilities than have
been the lot Of any other American president.
lie said at one time while bearing heavy burdens
that he could not discharge the daily duties OF
his life but for the fact that he had faith IN Vod'
William Mckinley believed In prayer, In the
beauty Of It, in the potency Of 1t. Its language
was not unfamiliar to him, and his public ad-
dresses not infrcqucntly evince the fact 1t was
perfectly consistent with his lifelong convictions
and lis personal experiences that he should say
az the first critical moment after the assassina.
tion approached. "Thy kingdom come, thy will
be DONE" and that he should declare at the last,
'It is Gods way; his will be done" He lived
grandly; 1t was fitting that he should die grand.
ly. And now that the majesty Of death has touch
ed and Gained him we find that In his supreme
moment he still was a conqueror.
My friends and countryInen, with what language
shall I attempt to give expression to the deep
horror of our souls as ! speak of the cause Of his
death? When we consider the magnitude OF the
crime that has plunged the country and the world
into ,n,itterablc grief, we are not surprised that
one nationality after another has hastened to re-
pudiate the dreadful act. This gentle spirit. who
hated no one. to whom every man was brother,
was suddenly smitten by the cruel hand of an as
sassin and tSat too, while in the very act Of ex.
tending kind and generous greeting to one who
approached him under the sacred guise Of friend
ship.
Could the assailant have realized how awful
was the act he was about to perform, how utterly
hcartless the deed, methinks he would have stayed
his hand at the very threshold Of It, In all the
coming years men Will seek In vain TO fathom the
enormity Of that crime
Had this man who fell been despot, tyrant
an oppressor, an insane frenzy to rid the world Of
him might have sought excuse, but 1t was the
peoples friend who fell when William Mckinley
received the fatal wound. Himself son OF toll
his sympathes with the toiler. No one who
has seen the matchless grace and perfect eas'
with which he greeted such ever doubt tina
his heart was in his open hand. Every heart throt
was for his countrymen. That his life should b.
sacrificed at such time Just when there wa
| abundant peace, when all the Americas were re
| oicing together, is one Of the inscrutable mys
| teries OF Providence Like many Others II mus
| be left for future revelations to explain.
In the midst OF our sorrow we have much t
| console us. He lived to see his nation create
| than ever before AL sectional lines are blotte
| out There is no south, no north, no east n
| west. Washington saw the beginning of our ma
,ional life. Lincoln passed through the night Q
| nur history and the dawn. Mckinley behel
| his country in the splendor OF Its noon. Truly
| died in the fullness Of his fame. With Paul Ii
| could say, ans with equal truthfulness, II al
| ready TO be offered" Tie work assigned him ha
| been well done. The nation was at peace. w
| had fairly entered upon an era Of unparalele
| prosperity. our revenues were generous. Ou
| standing among the nations was secure. Gu
| president was safely enshrined in the affection
Of united people. 1t was not at him that til
| fatal shot was fired, but at the very life of tn
| government His offering was yicarious. 1t wa
blood poured upon the altar of human libert,
in view OF these things we are not surprised
| hear from who was present when this grea
| soul passed away that he never before saw
death SO peaceful or dying man so crowne
with grandeur.
Let Us turn now TO a brief consideration
some of the lessons that we are to learn iroi
this sad event.
The first one that will occur to us all is I'll
old, old lesson that ''in the midst Of life we al
in death" 'Man goeth forth to his work and I
his labor until the evening"" ''Ie fieeth
were shadow and never continueth in one stay.
Our president went forth in the funess OF h
strength, In his manly beauty, and was suddcn
sinitten by the hand that brought death with i
None of us can tell what day may bring fortl
Let u.s. therefore, rempmber that mo man livet
10 himself. and nonr Of us dicth to himself" Ma
each days close see each days duty done.
Another great lesson that we should heed is Il
vanity Of mere earthly greatness In the presen'
of the dread messenger how small are all Il
trappings of wealth and distinctions Of rank al
power. ] beseech you seek him who said: II a
the Resurrection and the Life. He that believei
in me- though he dead, yet shall he liv
and whosoever liveth and believeth in me sha
never die" There is but one Saviour for Il
sin sick and the weary. ! entrcat you find hin
as our brother found him.
But our last words must be spoken. Lift
more than four years ago we badc him goodby
he went to assume the great responsibilities
which the nation had called him. His last wor
as he left us were: Nothing could give n
greater pleasure than this farewell greeting, til
evidence Of your friendship and sympathy, yo
good will and, | am sure, the prayers OF all Il
people with whom ! have lived so long Al
whose confidence and esteem are dearer to u
than any other earthly honors. To all Of us Il
future is as sealed book, but If can, by OF
eial act or administration utterance, in al
degree, add to the prosperity and unity Of our i
loved country and the advancement and well beii
Of splendid citizenship ! will devote the he
and most unselfsh efforts Of my life to that en-
With this thought uppermost in my mind !
luctantly take leave of my friends and neig
bols, therishing in my heart the sweetest mem
ries and thoughts Of my old honle-my home nc
and trust my home hereaftcr--so long as live
We hoped with him that when his work "
done freed from the burdens OF his great ollie
! crowned with the affections of happy people,
might be permitted to close his earthly life
i the home he had loved
He has indeed returned to US, but how2 Bor
Is to the strains of Nearer, My God to Thee" Al
y placed where he first began life's struggle tn
the people might look and weep over sad
, homecoming.
, But 1t was triumphal march, How vast t
= procession! The nation rose and stood with II
{ covered head. The people Of the land are chi
u mourners The nations Of the earth weep wi
u them. But oh, what victory! | do not a
you in the heat OF public address, but in t
4 calm moments Of mature reflection what 9th
man ever had such high honors bestowed up
Z him and by so many people2 What pageant h
L eailaIed this that we look upon todayY We ga
him to the nation but little more than fo
! years ago. lie went out with the light Of I
Il morning upon his brow, but with his task set a
" the purpose to complete it. We take him back
II mighty cOnuucror.
. ''The clurchyard where his children rest,
= The quiet spot that suits him best
There shall his grave be made
And there his bones be laid,
And there his countrymen shall come,
Y With memory proud, with pity dumb,
!, And strangers far and near
y For many and many year
y For many year and many an age.
While history on her ample page
y The virtues shall enroll
y y OF that patcra soul"
"a At the conclusion of DIR. Manche
il ter's discourse Bishop |. w. Joyce
Is Minneapolis delivered short prayer.
k "Nearer, My God, to Thee" Sung.
H. The hymn Nearer, My God,
n Thee" was sung by the entire eongr
4 cation. The people remained standil
after the close of the hymn while Il
% benediction was pronounced by Nc
mn. q