The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-16

the words of Nearer, My God, to
Thee" the very words President Nc
kihley had repeated at intervals of
consciousness during the day of agony
before he died, AS the music died away
the pastor spoke again.
An Impressive Prayer.
Let us pray" he said, and every
head fell upon its breast He began
his invocation with a stanza from a
hymn sung in the Methodist Church.
His prayer was as follows:
" oh, God, our help in ages past
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast
And our eternal home
1--WE, Thy servants. humbly beseech
Thee for manifestations of Thy favor
as we come into Thy presence. We
laud and magnify Thy holy name and
praise Thee for Thy goodness. Be
merciful unto us and bless us, as
stricken with overwhelming sorrow we
come to Thee. Forgive us for our
doubts and faltering faith; pardon. all
our sins and shortcomings, and help us
to say, Thy will be DONE. In this
dark night of grief abide with us till
the dawning. Speak to our troubled
souls, God, and give to
us in this hour of unutterable
grief the peace and quiet which Thy
presence only can afford. We thank
Thee that Thou answerest the sobbinG
sigh of the heart and dost assure that
if man die he shall live again. We
praise Thee for Jesus Christ, Thy son,
our Saviour and elder brother; that He
came to bring life and immortality TO
light and because He lives. we shall
live Also We thank Thee that death
is victory; that to die is gain. Have
mercy upon us in this dispensation of
Thy providence, we believe in Thee
we trust Thee-our God o. love, the
same yesterday, to-day and forever
For His Unsullied Life.
1--WE thank Thee for the unsullied
life of Thy servant our martyred
President, whom Thou hast taken to
his coronation, and we pray for the
final triumph of all the Divine princi-
pies of pure character and free gov
eminent for which he stood while he
lived and which were baptised by his
blood in his death.
Hear our prayer for blessings of
consolation on all those who were as
ISOLATED with him in the administra-
ton of the affairs of the government;
especially vouchsafe Thy presence to
Thy servant who has been suddenly
called to assume the holy responsible
ity of our chief magistrate.
guide the ship of state through the
stormy seas. Help Thy people to be
brave to fight the battles of the Lord
and wise to solve all the problems of
freedom.
"GraciousIy hear us for comforting
blessings to rest upon the family cir.
Gle OF our departed friend. Tenderly
sustain Thine handmaiden upon whom
the blow of this sorrow most heavily
falls Accompany her, o God. as Thou
hast promised, through this dark val
ley and shadow and may she fear no
evil, because Thou art with her.
"All these things we ask in the name
of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has
taught us when we pray to say Our
Father who art in heaven. hallowed be
Thy name. Thy kingrom come; Thy
will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and
forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespaSS against us; and lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us
from evil, for Thine is the kingdom and
thu power and the glory forever. Amen
MAY the grace of Our Lord Jesus
Christ, the love of God, the Father, and
communion of the Holy Spirit be with
us ALL evermore. Amen"
All Joined In Lords Prayer.
All present joined in the Lords Pray
er as the minister repeated II. PreSl-
dent Roosevelt's voice being audible at
the back of the room. The service con-
Guided with a simple bnedfction.
The funeral director was about to
step forward to place the cover on the
casket. when suddenly there was a
movement behind Gov. Odell. Senator
Hanna, who had risen, saw that the
last opportunity to look into the coun-
tenance of his dead friend had come.
Pressing forward in an instant, he was
at the side of the casket, and bending
over and loking down into it. Almost
two minutes passed, and then he turn
ed away and the coffin was closed
Col. Bingham signalled the body
bearers. Four sailors, two infantry SER
geants and two artillery sergeants bore
the casket aloft and out of the house.
The President, cabinet and others fol-
lowed it. Mrs. Mckinley and the MEM
bers of the family remained. The
widow had passed through the ordeal
bravely and without breaking down.
The trained nurses and the personal
attendants of the President gathered
on the side of the porch to see the
body taken away.