The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-09-20

which lay foul wreathes, three broker
as if to represent the quarters of the
moon. 1t vas exquisite. Words melt
away powerless before the tender
beauty. Purple and green were the
dominant notes-orchids, violets,
palms and evergreens against the
sombre background. There were
more hansome pieces. Against the
walls on either side we're floral flags
and upon the pulpit rested an urn in
white carnations, broken at the base
to represent the water flowing from
it. At either side of this urn were
h cross of the Knights Templar and
the crown Of the Knights of Pythias.
The congressional party filled up the
entire east section of pews and the
rear half of the two central sections.
seats below the organ usually occup-
seats belo wthe organ usually occup-
led by the choir. All had risen as the
coffin was borne in. The generals and
admirals of the army and navy who
comprised the guard of honor. in their
Respondent uniforms followed the
body and occupied the first pew on
either side of the center aisle. Pres
ident Roosevelt and the cabinet came
slowly after. All we're in black and
wore black gloves. The president
alone had on an overcoat. He took
his place Immediately behind L%ieuten-
Inc General Miles, next the center
aisle IN the second pew to the east
ward. So close was he to the coffin
he could also have leaned over and
touched it. Secretary Cortelyou,
justice Mckenna Of the supreme
court, John NJ. Milburn and John N.
Scathierd of Buffalo and several
others look seats Immediately in the
rear OF the cabinet. Then followed
the mourning relatives, who occupied
the tier Of pews on the left of the
center aisle. Mr.. and Mrs. Abner
Mckinley led the way, followed by
the other immediate relatives; Sen.
ator and Mrs. Fairbanks, Controller
and Mrs. Dawes, Colonel and Mrs.
Myron T. Herrick of Cleveland, ana
a few other close personal friends.
The fourth pew from the front, that
was always occupied by President
Mckinley was draped in black and
remained vacant. After these had
been seated, the door leading into the
Sabbath school was opened and the
seats arranged below as we'll as those
in the balcony were soon filled with
the representatives of various organ
izations and the fellow townsmen of
the martyred president. Conspicuous
among these were the survivors of
his old regiment.
1t was after 2 o'clock when the
%quartette arose and lifted up their
voices in the touching words of Beau
tlful Isle of Somewhere"
When the sound of the last line had
died away Rev. o. B. Milligan, pas
tor OF the First Presbyterian church
in Washington, where President and
Mrs. Mckinley were married 80 years
ago, offered a fervent prayer. Every
mead within the church bent in SOL
reverence as the prayer went up.
DR.. John A. Hall, pastor of Trinity
Lutheran church, then read from the
Bible, the beautiful nineteenth Psalm
n Rev. E. P. Herbruck verses 41-5S
OF the 25th chapter of First Corin-
thians. With great feeling he read
the inspiring words telling of the
mystery that all would not sleep but
all would be changed.
The quartette then sang Cardinal
Newman's grand hymn, the beautiful
words ~re-echoing through all the
church, Lead Kindly Light" amid the
en%circling gloom; LEAD Thou Ne On"
DR., G, E. Manchester then delivered
an address, which lasted "a minutes,
on the life of the president and the
lessons taught by his noble character
n death. Bishop l. W. Joyce, of
Minneapolis, followed with a brief
prayer and the services were closed
with the singing of the hymn which
President Mckinley repeated on his
death bed: Nearer My God to Thee"
The entire congregation arose and
joined in the last stanza. Father
Waltman of Chicago, chaplain Of the
Twenty-ninth infantry, pronounced
the benediction.
Then the notes of the organ again
rose. The coffin was taken up and
borne from the church. The rela-
tives and those in official life went
out in the order they had entered.