Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1901-09-20
MANY MOURNED
FOR PRESIDENT
Joint Memorial Service Was
Very Impressive
ALL HEARTS WERE SORRONFUL
Tears Flowed a! Words Of EulOgV Of
Men Who Knew and Loved the
President

To William, Mckinley the third
martyr President, the people Of thisl
city paid earnest, deyOut and HEARTFELT
tribute at a memorial service IN the
Grand Opera House yesterday after
noon. 1t was an assemblage that could
not have manifested greater grief had
It stood around the open grave in the
Ohio town, where the body Of the good
man, the patriot and the statesman
was laid away forever from the sight
Of mortal man.
1t was a cosmopolitan company of
mourners. Religious creeds, POLITICAL
beliefs or social prejudices had mo-
part in it. 1t was simply a grief
stricken, heart-bleeding gathering of
Americans, assembled to pay homage
to the man whose memory will en-
dure as long as time, inspiring men tol
loftier purposes and greater love for
the country that gave to the world
such fine and noble character as Will
liam Mckinley.
Into the amusement hall, which was
impressively dressed in the garb OF
deepest sorrow, the crowd made its
way early At first it was a throbbing,
NIuOllOudl mass Dul cOOn d utdiLu-ll
stiffness pervaded the scene. Outside
the bells tolled a solemn requiem for
the distinguished dead. The city
heard the mournful sound, for indus
try had refused to pursue its busy
course. Inside was 2 sympathetic
throng, the women in tears and the
men inspired to exclamations Of
Amen" while words of eulogy fell
bo tV,c ,,ff
familiar with their subject The band,
with muffled drums, revived that PEE
cious old hymn, Nearer, My God, to
Thee" which will ever be connected
with the life OF the martyr; sweet
voiced vocalists sang Lead, Kindly
Light" and Thy Will Be Done in
sympathetic tones. Then solemn
hush came over the crowd, as all stood
with bowed heads. as though about
the tomb. while the beloved dust was
committed to the earth from which it
came. Never before in this city was
such sorrow expressed, and it is GER
tain that in no city, outside of that
which claimed William Mckinley as
its own by right of birth, was there
greater reverence paid him. The vast
audience attested that he had not lived
in vain. but rather had performed all
the duties which the Almighty had de-
signed for him, and had left to the
world as a legacy the most priced OF
virtues, which will be cherished and
emulated forever.
THE EXERCISES PROPER.
Never was the Opera House in such
mourning array as for the joint memor-
ial services held there by the Young
Mems Republican Club and the Young
Mems Democratic Club, Never was
there service more generally sorrow
full nor more impressive.
About the balcony of the theatre We're
heavy drapings of black. intcrspersed
at intervals with shields. Over the
prOscenium arch was a fine portrait cl
President Mckinley shrouded in crepe.
Above it were the immortal words CT
the President: 1T is Gods way, His
will, not ours, be done"
Overhead ropes OF red, white and
blue were festOOned at the apex of The
dome and radiated to the sides OF the
auditorium. The work was done Icy
the committee to which it had been as
signed, comprising Charles A. Ru-
dOlph, chairman; Wilkin l.. SIahorn
DR.. o. S. Rice. Silman A. HOdman,
Jr.. Ferris Giles. II. T. Black. john
Braunatein, J. e. Rudolph and S. g.
Hayman.
A hush fell upon the audience as
General James II. Wilson arose. He
introduced Governor Hum. who pre-
sided. The Governor was So filled with
emotion that at first he was unable tc
begin his brief address, which was as
follows:
To-day all over our great nation
and in foreign countries, special ser.
vices are being held in commemora.
tion OF our beloved and marytred
President, William Mckinley, TODAY
at Canton, Ohio, all that is earthly oi
this man whom the people so loved
and trusted, and who never betrayed
single trust. today, l repeat, he will
he laid to rest, his death the result of
a crime so terrible that nations stanC
appalled,. We cannot understand VIII,
such sacrifice is demanded great. in.
deed, should be the resulting good tC
compensate. Thrice has this offerinf
been required in less than half a cen
tury. Our sight is dim, our faith il
slow. We bow our necks to the yok,
and pass under the rod; let us heei
this warning and see to It that oui
great land is so cleansed and purified
as to be free. indeed. The earthly ca.
reer OF William Mckinley is closed
but in the loving memory of his coun,
try il has just begun. Men will striv,
TO emulate him; he needs no specia
eulogy; his life as a soldier, states
man and a husband was conspicuou.
for bravery. high ability and LOVING
devotion; he was enc of the ables
executives our great nation has evei
had; nobleman of nature by natur,
richly endowed. Pray for the invalid