Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1901-09-25
HONOR TO COUNTRY'SD DEAD
nEMoRIAL SERVICES LaRdeLY ATTENDED
LAST SUM- ~.

AVtNOAS " &VOlVkNE , UEAL
MEMORIAL SERVICES i. AR dsLY ATreSpHI
LAST SUM ~.
Methodist Tabernacle Well Filled md Appropriat
Addresses We're Made Audience Bowed In Gre
Over the Great Loss to the Country Anarch,
Handled Without Restraint by One Speaker.
As snnoun led last week services were
ne'd In e. . Methodist tibarnacla on Sul
day morn ng in memory of the late
president, William Mckinley BY half
past ten, the haur designated for the
.pehinS % the iiiasating, the large build
Ing was, we'll filled, many from the
surrounding c'.untry being present, AL.
ex'tn'i''r Lowrie Post marched to the
.'h.are',c''' n " hndy. following the
fnrled hsg draped in mourning Tie
walls of the ding itself were dressed
IN the national colors interviewer with
black, and Immediately behind the
rostrum hung q life.sized portrait If our
mareyred chic ttain, framed by the stars
and stripes and emblelns of mourning
A selected choir of our best singers oc-
cupied the platform with Rsvs. Stemen,
Iresldder, Witherbee and Haughton.
The exercises were opened by singing
of our national hymn, MY Country It's
OF Thee, ;" in which the audience i1ined
not with the usual spiri5 of buoyancy
and freedom, but quietly and reverently
under the influence of the time and y,Itb
the familiar features of the dead presi-
dent looking ont from their shadew of
mourning. Rev Fl ]. witherbee o..
the Springville circuit, made fervent
prayer closing with the Lords prayer IN
which the audience Joined. Rev. John
Iresilder stafcd the object of the meet
ing expressly !. The keeness OF his sorrow
over the occasion that had called the
people together. He introduced Rev,
John Stemen of the Congregational
church, who spoke eloquently and graph.
ieally of William Mckinley and his life
work. In referring TO the place held by
the late president in the hearts of the
American people, he said Lincoln, at the
time OF his assassination was beloved by
only part of the nation. owing to the
divisions, hates and animosities engen-
dered by the great civil strife; that the
wounds resulting from the war were
still too fresh and the minds OF many Of
our people still too much clouded by
at the time of Garfield's death
to allow a true appreciation of the
nations great loss; but now, when the
country Is united as it has never before
been ia its history, when north and
south east and west are united like
of one great family and when
peace l. smiling upon our beloved land
the terrible news of McKinley's death
comes as personal loss to every man
and woman throughout the nation. Nc
kinley occupied larger place in the
hearts OF the people Of all parties than
any other president from the time OF
w shington. Mr.. Stemen spoke but
little of the early days of William Nc
kinley, confuing himself chiefly to a
painting of his strong manly character,
his truth and generosity and the beauty
of the domestic side of his nature. He
said he beiived no one world question
McKinley's divine right GO political
leadership He possessed by nature
those graces OF mind and heart and
physique which made him leader
among men and drew to him the loyalty
and trust Of his fellow citizens. Quiet
and calm In the midst of turmoil and
the aroused passions of men. the strength
and beauty of his character shone forth
at the time Of the outbreak of the Span
ish American war. Harrassed and i'm
portunsd by the press and the people
he continued his own way in his own
manner. When informed by friends
that the people called him cowardly he
calmly leaned back in his chair and said
tAh well, they will soon think better OF
me." The outcome showed the FAR
Of the man and the security
he felt in his position Mr.. Stemen dwslt
upon the domestic side of our beloved
presidents life, his filial love that took
him 10 the bedside OF his dying mother
when pressing duties harrassed him ON
all sides, and the unswerving devotion
to the wife OF his early manhood, which
never faltered through the years of their
welded life In closing his address Mr.
Stemen referred to some of the principal
periods in the career OF William Nc
kinley when the strong points of his
were most clearly brought out,
and said that had he an artist 1t his
command TO paint these scenes as he
would wish, their value would be un.
told. He presented these to the
audience in word pictures one after the
other and closed with the last sad scene
ut Buffalo While he told of the presi-
dent lying with the hand of his beloved
wife in his and the words of that grand
old hymn, Nearer Ny God to Thee, "
lowering upon his lips, there was scarce
ly dry eye in the large audience.
At the close of Rev. Stemens address
tho choir sang that beautiful lynn
Lead, Kindly Light. which Is said TO
have been one of McKinley's favorites.
W. N. Coffiand was the next speaker
His remarks were confined
to "reminiscences Of his per-
sonal acquaintance with the late prei-
dent, which extended over period of
twenty years. Being an Ohio man and
o life long democrat Mr.. Cofflands words
were listened to with great interest
He said that while he and friend were
back in Ohio on business errend when
was governor of that state,
they called on him at the executive
chambers And passed very pleasant
hour. In the course of the conversation
Mr.. Mckinley incidentally learned that
their business with certain contractors
made visit to the state peniteasiary
The governor Immediately
asked his private secretary TO write out
O pass which gained them free admission
to that institution. Not long after Mr..
Coffiand met the governor on the street
and chatted with him for some time
These instances were mentioned to show
the kindness and generosity of President
Mckinley, who Mr. Cofiiand said Never
want back on friend or turned his back
to an acquaintance.
Rev. John Tresidder followed with
A. IL IA