The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-19
AROUND The VACANT PEW.
Impressive Services at the Metre
p0litan u. Z. Church.

The Late Presidents sent Heavily
Braped in NouruinE Garb-Hd-
dresses by the Rev DIR. Hugh
Johnston and bishop Warren.
In the house OF God where President
Mckinley during his life AT the Capital
as CHIEF Magistrate of the United States
attended divine services a sOrrowful con-
-reSauon this morning assembled to pay
20 his beloved memory their last tributc-
Never before in the HISTORY Of lIcJro9aIi-
tam church had so great a gathering been
assembled there
The only empty pew in tho great ediHee
was the one draped in heavy folds of sa-
bic. i'm the fourth row on the right Of the
centre aisle The single word President
upon plate Of silver. indicated ihat this
was the pew of the departed President.
Around the walls of the church were
rows of people. Many stood in silence.
Long before the opening Of tE" services
every inch of standing room had been Sc
cured by sUrrowiuE members OF the con-
grgEdtiCn and members of other den0mi-
nations All Creeds met upon an equal
footing within this place Of worship.
When no more people could secure en-
trance into the denseIy packed church the
doors Of the Sunday-syhooI hall on the
ground floor were thrown open and al
most as great a crowd was assembled
there while the services were being con
Quoted in the room above. The speakers
upon the conclusion OF their addrosses in
the main auditorium went to the sunday
school room, where services were being
held at which sentiments of love and
grief were EXPIRE ssed-
While the organ played an anthem, the
speakers entered the church room ON
the platform were Presiding Elder II. Z.
NayIor, Or. W. II. Chapman, the acting
pastor; Rev. Hugh Johnston, of BaIu-
more. formerly pastor OF Metropolitan
Church. the Re- Dr. w r. Crawford.
President of Allegheny College. at Mead
vile. Pa. and Bishop Henry W. Warren.
OF Denver.
hush fell upon the immense congre-
ton as Presiding Elder NayI0r stepped
forward and announced the opening
hymn. which was sung by the choir. con-
sisting Of Perry b. TurDiu, leader and
tenor: Miss Elisabeth Whaly. soprano,
Miss Matte r. Cray. alto. and Herbert
d Lawson. bass. 4. r. Tasker presided
at the organ. Following the strains Of
music. the Apostles. Greed was said by
the entire congregation. standing, after
which Rev Hugh Johnston delivered the
opening prayer Dr- Johnston said
Thou ku0Wesr. O Lord. the strength Of
oar hearts, and We take refuge under Thy
protecting wings Thou ART the Eternal
one, % God, and Thou kuuWgsl tho az
Fiction OF this nation. sv-rwhel med in it's
addiction ard great bereavement. Look
down. @ Lord. upon this grief-stEick-u
country lHu FuoWg-L the luHl, gran
dcur Of Ih.s EreaJ man OF destiny wnem
We have lost. who has gone forth into
larger HeiGS et purpose He has left be-
hind hin. as a monument o. his worth.
united North and South. the product OF
his kindly spirit Thou EuOWest his love
for the church, and his delight in the
work for the glory of the King OF Kings.
lie leaves behind aim, a crowuiug Jrl-
umph in peaceful and trustful death
We prayed for his --cOygry. for his life,
health, and his return TO strength We
prayed Co Thee. q Lord. for the triumph
ot medical science and that he might get
well and return % us. Thou, O Lord.
Z mast answered our prayer in a mauL.- ~
which We did not think We asked for
his life. and Thou hast given 20 him an
eternal life. We prayed, O Lord. with
( love and devotion. How noble, o Lord.
was his ChlldiIkc submission 10 Thy Will.
ready 70 depart from his devoted wife
and nation. How sublime those last
words of his. His WIZ be done. NOS ours
w e fall back upon Thee. believing that
Ineu wilt comfort the hearts Of this
stricken people
Lord. hear oar cry. and bind I'D the
broken heart Of his faithful and devoted
vie Let him, upon whom the mantle
/ OF his predecessor has fallen, gain
strength 10 go on with the great destiny
Of the nation. We pray Thee % strength
On the President. the Cabinet the com
UaEaers or our army and navy. We try
20 forget AT this time the WretchCd man
whose uuspeakable crime has plunged us
into woe and sadness. We pray that an
2rcny De rooted out OF tI- land. that we
may pass wise and just laws tUr the aaJ-
Hilton OF this creed, that we may have
larger views upon our civil and religious
liberty and self-governmeut' Here Dr.
Johnston, accompanied by the entire con-
Eregation, repeated the Lords Prayer.
A solo was then sung bE Mr. IuTpin.
Sometime Wen Understand after
which the audience Joined I'm the singing
Of the faNorIJe hymn Of the President.
Nearer. Ny God. 10 Thee The mo-
uent was impressive iG the extreme. AS
carry with IL the Dgutointluu IT great
nation Louder and louder rulg the rev
eTeutial words.
Tears ran uncontrolled from the eyes Of
the bcrcayed congregation, and many
voices FILTERED as they took uu tine clos
ing lines OF the anthem. The last verse
was sung almost in "a whisper. and as the
sound died away, there was stiffness Tor
a moment. while the gathering paused.
as though IN contemplation OF the loss
which 10 has attained.
The Ecy. DIT. NaylOr then spoke az the
absence NJ the Rev Frank N. Bristol.
pastor OF the church, who is now in Eli
rope, and who was ur-uIc 10 reach the
United States iu time for the service. Dr.
Bristol. he said. had sent an expression II
this morning.
The Presiding Elder then read the fol
lowing tribute from Bishop CraustOu. con-
tanned in a letter: