The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-20
PRAYERS FOR REPOSE ..
OF DEAD PRESIDENT
Throughout the City There Was a Long
Succession of Services in the vari-
Gus Churches Yesterddy--Beau-
tifuI EuIogies Pronounced.

favored nation. We should reverently
pause this hour" said the speaker,
and hear His voice" He then spoke
of the peculiar position this country
occupies with relation to the tradition
Of the old world, which fails to under
stand "A scene like this of today never
witnessed in all its history--a people
bowed in universal grief for their chos-
en- leader The old World looks with
wonder at our achievements, at our
freedom from the oppression of eccle-
siastics and miltarism. at our great
civic body OF citizen soldiers which can
turn in II day and lay down the gun
and sheathe the sword tO busy itself in
work, trade, or commerce.
Truly America is n great nation. but
the greatness lies not so much I'm art
though We should produce a Michael
Angelo; not in music, though one to
rival Haydn; not in learning, though
one to suruass Bacon: hut the great
glory of America is In the character
and life of her people. But although
we have such liberty as was never
known before and our flag speaks of
peace and prosperity. yet above our
national sky. across its very threshold
is gloom of night, "A pail Of darkness.
Our honored president stands today,
probably when the nation is at its hap
piest, the next day he has sealed the
last words from his lips with his blood.
the victim of a deed so foul, so black
that il would seem devils would blush
to own it.
The speaker then read a poem in
blank verse. composed by himself,
vocing in fitting sentiments the trag-
edy of the century. He then paid a
high tribute to Roosevelt. after which
he spoke of being in Italy when good
King Humbert was slain. and how that
gref-sNicken country appealed to ur
to refrain from fostering anarchy in
the very life Of the nation, hut we did
not hear the cry. and it needed this
shock to rouse us to action.
A Parallel Case.
Never, perhaps, save on that great
day on Calvary's Cross when the
worlds Redeemor looked down upon
those who sought to kill Him and
said: Father. forgive them for they
know not what they do" has such a
scene been witnessed as that when
William Mckinley said when the smoke
from the assassin's shot yet hung over
the people: Let no one hurt him"
Where can such expression be found
outside the Christian life? The world
drops men down, Americas Christ lifts
them up.
The pathetic tribute to President
Mckinley in his private and public
life. sent wave of emotion over the
house and there were few eyes un-
dimmcd with tears rs the audience
passed solomnly out after the hymn,
Nearer My God To Thee"
The benediction was pronounced by
Rev. G. l.. Alrich, of the Grace Re-
formed church. Professor Pennington
played as postludc Bc"thovens "Fu-
| neral March for a Hero"
At st. Peters Cathedral.
with IT. Roy. n. j. Hoban, bishop
a.! scranton, present on his throne, a
solemn Ni,h mass, i'm reWnram of the
dead president, was celebrated At IT.
Peters cathedral at 10 o'clock yester-
day morning.
There was large congregation pres
ent the men Of the parish predominat-
| ing In numbers.
The officers of the mass were: Cole-
brant, Rev. John j. Griffin, chancol-
lor of the diocese; deacon, Rev. r.
OByrne. sub b-deaCOn, Rev. John
O'Donnell; master of ceremonies, Rev.
| j. 4. O'ReillN, rector of the cathedral.
The choir sang a requiem mass, and
| the Holy Name society, composed Of
| 500 of the male members of tho congre-
| CATION, rendered the presidents two
| favorite hymns, Lead, Kindly Light"
and Nearer, My God, to Thee"
The sermon was preached by Rev. n.
j. Dustin, principal of st, Thomas col-
| lege. He said, i'm part;
| We are gathered this morning to honor cnr
| departed president, and to assist A. the hur7'
rites. We are mourncrS each and all Of lls, ana
We gather here in the presence Of Gou, in Go0' :
| house, to show our profound sympathy for the
| stricken family, to express our grief At the lo''
| which our body of statesmen has endured, 70 SHOW
| forth tho tact that We appreciate our loss in thai
he whom We raised mp, through the providence
| Of God, 10 be our father i'm our country God has
| taken away to receive his inheritance.
| We believe that model citizen, true ma
| tionaI patriot 4 great statesman, has been re-
| moved from our midst, We needed him, and ne
was always ready and al hand to do all that
God had placed within his power for our nation
| welfare and for the individual happiness Of all
| within the sphere Of his iursdlction
| There is no question that in the death nj |,
| president of this country we always sustain
! serious loss; there is no question that the re-
| moyil Of any great man niurcS each and every
| person within the pale ~ his Acquaintance and
| Of his power; hut when one upon whom devolvss
| 50 much in trouhlous times is taken away The
loss, though not irrCparahlc, IS much more great
| " increased because of his position, .
Deeper Reason for Grief.
Bu' there iS behind and within it deeper Ns
| son for grict t. the nation today than would
have been the had God In His providenC'
| seen ht to take away IN the ordinary course o
| events great man. True, God in His power
| and wisdom can raise up another and will hu'
| there lies upon the surface o' this nation today
| a sort of blight We recognize IL by this. iu
| first fruits We might say. And what is thi.
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