The age-herald., 1901-09-20
City Ceases Work While MOurns for the Distin-
 guished Dead
METHODIST CHURCH PACKED
Eloquent Addresses Made By Rufus N. Rhodes, John w. Tomilnson,
 James Bowron and Others.
 Services In Catholic Church.

The memory of President Mckinley was fttingly honored in Birmingham yester- day, the day of the final obsequies at Canton.
 The city hali was closed at 10 a. m. and the county offices and the post office, with all the stores and nearly all the sa- looms were closed at D. m. Many Of the business houses were draped with streamers of black and white, while every saloon that closed had crepe on it's door. The works of the Republic Iron and Steel Company and several other industries in the district were shut down.
 Memorial services were held at the Catholic church of Our Lady of Sorrows. in Avenue F, at a. m., and at the First Methodist church at p. m. The Board of Aldermen and city, county. state and federal officials. Lincoln and Custer posts of the c. A R. and a battalion of the Alabama National Guard composed of the Birmingham Rifles, the Jefferson County Volunteers and the Woodlawn Light Infantry. Major Parkes command ing, attended the services at the Metho- c.st church.
 High Mass of Requiem.
 A representative congregation filled the Catholic church and heard high mass of requiem sung by the pastor the Rev. Father Meurer. During the services the venerable priest delivered an impressive discourse on the nations sorrow. He said that in holding this service he was fol- lowing the example of the Holy Father. who had spent an hour in prayer on learning of the death of President Me- Kinley It was especially appropriate, Father Meurer said that Catholics of the United States should assemble and la- ment the tragic end of so pure and upright a chief magistrate as William Mckinley. He referred to the late Pres ident as a high type of the Christian gentleman, a man who was honored and loved throughout the length and breadth of the land and a man who was esteemed by all the nations of the earth.
 The priest spoke of anarchists with a feeling of loathing and urged that steps 
 country of them.
 F The schools in connection with the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows were closed all day, and during the afternoon the bell of the church was toiled.
 Great Auditorium Packed.
 An hour before the time for the services at the First Methodist Church people be- gan to assemble there, and by haif-past o'clock the great auditorium of the build ing was almost filled. The G. A. R. posts were the first organizations to reach the church. They marched in about twenty minutes to and were seated in front benches reserved for them on either side of the pulpit. The soldiers came soon af- forwards and were seated in reserved pews in the middle of the church. At fivo minutes to 4 the acting Mayor and Board of Aldermen marched dn and were ush- cred to the seats of honor immediately in front of the chancel. By this time the church was crowded and hundreds of people stood outside unable to gain ad- mittance The steps about the pulpit and the organ gallery were filled with men and women, and in the spaces around the walls on the main floor and the galleries men stood packed two and three rows deep.
 Ii was estimated that fully two thous- sand people were in the church. and a more representative audience was never assembled in Birmingham. Judges and other leaders of the bar bankers, corpo- ration officials and merchants were there in large numbers, and so were the sons of toll Ladies prominent In fashionable society, as we'll as those who preside over humble homes, were present in equal numbers with the men,
 This vast concourse behaved not only with the utmost decorim but there was a solemn stiffness and a sympathetic air about the assemblage that could not fail to have been remarked by every one pres ent
 Major William A. Moody acted as chief usher. and he and his assistants per- formed their duties most admirably The back of the pulpit platform was | draped with black, and across the galded pipes of the large organ were stretched the United States flag and bands of black and white.
 The Rev. pr. Simpson Presided. The Rev. pr. J. B. Simpson. presiding elder of the Birmingham district, pre- sided over the meeting and on the plat form with him were the Rev. pr. A. c. Davidson. pastor of the southside Bap- tist church; the Rev. Dr. A. J. Dickinson, pastor of the First Baptist church, and l the two selected orators. Rufus N. Rhodes and John W. Tomlinson. Miss Belle Mccoy. the organist of the