The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1901-09-19
CITY MOURNS
Memorial Services Held for
President Mckinley by
All Churches.
SORROW EVERYWHERE EXPRESSED
Whole Congregations Weep
as They Hear Impressive
Singing and Speaking.
NO BUSINESS TRANSACTED
All Stores and Saloons Closed
Out of Respect to the
President.
NO BUSINESS TRANSACTED


There is a look of seriousness in the
countenance of everybody today. The
cloud of grief is accentuated by the heavy
mourning drapery of public buildings,
business houses and private buildings.
Its oppressiveness is relieved only par
TALLY by the bright September sunshine,
after one of the gloomiest of days, and
the bright waving folds of the national
colors at half mast. The streets are
quieter than is usual even on a Sunday.
Nearly all kinds of business has been sus-
pended for the day. The street noises,
except those of the rushing trolley cars
and light vehicles, are hushed. Nerve
racking sounds of heavy and numbering
truck traffic has ceased.
Where groups are found on corners the
department Of those who compose them,
is quiet and decorous Conversation is
carried on in subdued tones. Nearly
everyone wears some sign of mourning.
Some wear mourning buttons and badges
on the lapels of their coats. Thousands
i'll the morning donned black neckties.
Many places of worship were crowded TO
the doors where beautiful but sad MEM
orial services were conducted this morn
ing. The sight of the gloomy decorations,
the hymns that were sung and the pray
ers and eulogies that were uttered by
eloquent pulpit orators swayed the au-
diences In many instances there were
outbursts of sobs and tears flowed freely.
The thoughts of everybody, no matter
wherein church, at home, on the streets,
on boats or in cars-turn with the natio1.
in sympathy and deep sorrow to Canton,
Ohio, where tender hands are laying the
martyred President in his grave.
In every section of the city memorial
services were held this morning. The
principal one down town was united
service at Parmly Memorial Church in
Grove street. That church was crowded
to its doors. A united memorial service
of up town churches will be held at West
minister Presbyterian Church this evening.
The various churches in the Bergen
section were crowded this morning with
people who mourned the death of Presi-
dent Mckinley and participated in deeply
impressive services. Nearly all the
churches were dressed in mourning and
from some flew the Stars and Stripes at
were features and the hymns SO dear to
the heart of the martyred President,
Nearer, My God, to Thee and Lead,
Kindly Light" were sung with much fer
vor. The services began at eleven o'clock
and previous to that hour the air resound-
ed with tolling bells. The day was OBJ
served as a day of mourning and very
few places of business were open. Such
as were open were closed part of the
day.
Parmiy Memorial Baptist Church was
packed to the doors this morning at eley-
zen o'clock wnen memorial services began
Not only was the church packed with
chairs in every aisle, people standing IN
both gallery and church proper, but way
olt even in the vestbule the crowd gath
cred.
Black draperies were seen everywhere.
over the pulpit was a festoon of black
while the pulpit itself was tastefully
draped with black bunting and flags, and
just to the right on the platform was a
large size crayon of the late PRESIDENT
draped in black bunting and flags, rest
ing on a black easel. The choir boxes
were draped in black crepe paper over
American flags and all the ushers wore
black suits and ties with Mckinley but
tons mounted on black rosettes. Nor was
this all. Tokens of mourning were even
apparent III the dress of the congregation
Mckinley buttons were predominate, and
one young lady had bordered the jacket
Of her black coat with black and white
ribbon twisted into cord.
Handps "Funeral Anthem" began the
service. When the choir sang Mendels-
sohn,s brief Life everybody was all
attention and in readiness to follow every
word of the proclamation which was read
by the Rev. J. A. Brown and to listen
to the Scripture lesson and prayer led by
the Rev j. A. Owen. Probably never
before did the congregation feel ''Thy
Will Be Done as while repeating the
Lords Prayer this time and sob here
and there might be heard here and there
as the entire congregation rose to sing
Lead, Kindly Light"
CHE Rev. j. Madison Hare, as pastor of
the church, made few opening remarks,
in which he said:-"Not my will, but
Thine be done.'
Mayor Edward Hoos was next intro
duced. He said:-
Dear friends, fellow citizens in sorrow
and grief--Our gathering here this morn
ing is one of the saddest days in the his
tory of our beloved country, Lincoln and
Garfeld's untimely ending not excepted,
because after the great Civil War there
was in some hearts still hatred towards
the immortal freer of the colored race.
Sectional feeling was not Gained at Gar
fields tragic end, twenty years ago to-
day. Political feeling was running high
and one might say that such crimes as
committed on these two great men was
possible, but why our dearly beloved and
kind President, William Mckinley. should
have been selected to be assa assinated is
almost unexplainable. He, the man who
has done more than any other man to
cement and forever bring the North and