The Republican journal., 1901-09-26
MEMORIAL OBSERVANCE IN BELFAST.

Thursday, Sept. 18th, the day of the fu-
neral of President Mckinley in Canton,
Ohio, was solemn day in Belfast, as it was
elsewhere throughout the length and
breadth of our land.s All business was
suspended during the afternoon, and many
places were closed all day. Flags were at
half mast on public and private buildings
and shipping, and many places were draped
with the insignia of mourning. The front
of Odd Fellows block, the Knights of
Pythias Hall and the Memorial building
were draped very tastily with portraits of
the martyred President, surrounded by
black and with the National cOlOrs entwin-
ed with black festOOned in streamers in
graceful lines. The journal Office had a
large map of the United States and our new
possessions with a portrait of Mckinley
appropriately draped in the centre. Mayor
Smalps Office had appropriate mourning
decorations of a draped portrait of McKin-
ley and draped flags, and several of the
prominent places of business were very
tastefully decorated. The decorations con-
sisted of portraits of Lincoln, Garfield and
Mckinley together, appropriately framed in
black. and surrounded by the National
colors; and of portraits of Mckinley alone
with Grape, bunting, notices, etc. The
notices were the words of the late Presi-
dent, from his speeches, his last words to
his wife, and the titles of his favorite
hymns.
At o'clock the bells of the city began
services in the Unitarian church were open
ed.
| The draping and floral decorations were
| the most appropriate and beautiful ever
seen in the city. The church is the Oldest
in the city andlthe altar affords fine facilities
for floral displays. The pillars, altar rail,
gas s-jet..p0sts, ETC., were draped in black and
trimmed with the fine white clematis in full
flower. The floor was covered with fur
| rugs. In the rear of the pulpit a picture
| of Mr.. Mckinley was draped in black and
hung on two crossed flags. The silken ban
ner of Palestine Commandery was draped
| in black and stood over very large mound
| light standard stood an immense bunch OF
white asters and on the right purple asters.
| The top of the pulpit was edged with hello
| trope and bore large cluster of the beauti-
| full cobea, and on either side and in front of
| the altar rail were tables banked with purple
and white flowers. Single vases of fine
| flowers were placed in effective positions
u Dot
president of the Village Improvement Soci-
ETY., assisted by Mrs. II. H. johnson, Mrs.
J. w. Frederick, Mrs. G. F. Ryan and
| Miss Hattie Clark A committee of two from
each church society furnished flowers. 1t
| is claimed for Mrs Frederick that she as
sisted in decorating this church for the
three martyred presidents, Lincoln, Garfield
and Mckinley
| Palestine Commandery, Knights Tenn
plars; Silver Cross Lodge, Knights of Pyth-
las; Tarratine Tribe, Improved Order of
Red Men; Thomas H. Marshall Post, Grand
| Army of the Republic; and the Waldo
county bar attended in goodly numbers and
occupied seats it the centre of the church.
The music was by choir composed of
E. o. Thorndke, bass; c. E. White, tenor
Miss Blanche L. Sullivan, soprano; Miss
Fannie Robertson, alto; Miss Mary E.
Fauuce, Organist.
The exercises opened with the Funeral
March by Brnche as an organ voluntary,
followed by the anthem "One Sweety
Solemn Thought"
Rev. G. E. Edgett offered an invocation
and read the 18th chapter of 1st Corinthians.
Miss Blanche l.. Sullivan sang solo,
"Light in Darkness" by Cowen.
Rev. E. IS. Philbrook offered fervent
prayer, and his touching references to the
widow of the lamented President brought
tears to the eyes of many of his hearers.
The response was President Mckinley s
favorite hymn, "Nearer, My God, to Thee. "
Ex-Mayor VIM. P Thompson was the
first speaker, dealing with the early life and
career of the martyred President. "Twenty
years ago to-day" he said, ''the country
was plunged in grief by the death, by an
assassin's bullet, of President Garfield. To-
day we commemorate the third President of
the United States who has thus fallen. But
the assassin cannot break up our govern
ment. 1t will 60 on" The early life and
career of William Mckinley differed but
little from that of many other country boys
who have risen to places of honor in the
nations counsels. But the achievements of
his mature years stamp him as a man of no
common mold. Lovable as woman, kind
as child, faithful to duty and his sense of
right, he was a true man in every relation
of life. Mr.. Thompson briefly reviewed
the late Presidents career, as a soldier, as a
lawyer and as statesman, in all of which
he showed the same traits of character
which marked his later years, and which
made him beloved and honored by all, with
out regard to religious or political differ
ences. William Mckinley was born in
Niles, Ohio, and attended the public schools
in Poland, in the same State, working on
the farm and clerking in store. At the
age of 18 he enlisted in the 23d Ohio regi-
ment, commanded by Col, afterwards
General RoSecrans. He was in the same
regiment with ex-President R. B. Hayes
and Judge Stanley Mathews. At the close
of the war he took up the profession of the
law, and at the age of "a was admitted to
the bar. He was in Congress fourteen years,
! op6 ,uor a1oo+ad nf Ohio u,hiob