The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-09-24
REV. DR. DUNAW WAYS
ADDRESS.
Delivered at the Memorial
Services Here.
BEAUTIFUL TRIsUrETo LATE PRESIDENT

The following is the full text of the ad-
dress delivered by Rev. DR.. T.. ; Duna-
way at the memorial services held in this
city. in ST. Georges church, last Thurs
day. The address was listened To with
great interest 10y an immense audience,
and was complimented in the highest
terms by all who heard il
Mr.. President. Friends and Fellow
Citizens:
We are assembled and engaged in these
solemn memorial services not so much in
obedience to the Presdept's proclama-
tion as in response To the spontaneous
promptings and impulses Of our own
people for this meeting had been arranged
for. except a. to time, before the issuance
Of that proclamation. This spontaniety
Of impulse and purpose is an honor to
our people.
4 strange and deeply affective provi-
dence has brought us together rs sharers
in a common sorrow and suffering. To
day n great nation mourns by the bier OF
good and great man. Our able, wise
and popular Chief Magistrate has been
stricken down by the veiled hand of
dastardly and brutal assassin. The gen
erous and kind heart has ceased 10 throb,
the skiliul hand is pOwerless 10 protect,
our trusted leader il absent in the mount,
the wise counsellor is silent and thefund
OF wisdom heretofore at the disposal OF
his countrymen is locked mp in the silent
chamber OF the dead In consequence a
deep gloom has settled on the nation a.
pail, and all the people OF all political
parties and all sections OF our broad
country have their deepest sorrows and
profoundest sympathies stirred by the
sudden and cruel death Of the man and
ruler who has done more than any other
since the Civil war To allay sectional
strife and unite all the people of all sec
tions in fraternal feeling. His death has
cast n dark shadow over every heart
and home in the land. The deadly bullet
that penetrated his body pierced the heart
not only of every true American citizen,
but OF every lover Of law, liberty and yir-
tue throughout the civilized world. All
alike are mOurners by the bier oi our dead
President today. cablegram from Lon
don states that arrangements have been
made to hold memorial services in most
OF the British cathedrals and churches
today. as well as in a majority OF the
Continental and Colonial capitals. En-
perors. kings, presidents, governors, leg
islative assemblies and other public bod
les throughout the civilized world con-
tinue to express their sorrow, their high
respect and great admiration for the ex-
alted character OF the illustriOus patriot
and statesman whose untimely death is
so universally deplored and whose body
is laid to rest today in the city and State
he loved so much and served so faithfully.
Our grief as citizens of this greatrepub-
lie is all the more poignant and our sense
OF loss all the greater because his death
was vicarious. He suffered and died on
our account. The fatal bullet was
not fired at him, by the fendish anarchist,
as a man, but as a ruler-not because
of any hatred to him personally, but be-
cause he was our rightful ruler, perform
ing with fidelity and ability the duties
and functions of the high office to which
he had been called by the free suifrages OF
the American people. Is it not true, then,
that the sufferings he bore so patiently
and the death he met so heroically were
vicarious and in our behalf?
While it is fitting that we pay just
tribute to the worth and memory of our
Chief Magistrate on this memorial occa-
sion. yet, | suppose that is not the chief
aim or ultimate purpose of these services.
Nothing which we could do or say today
could add to or take from the immortal
name and fame of William Mckinley.
These are secure beyond all peradventure,