The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-25
IN MEMORIAM.
Public Meeting Held as a Mark of Re-
spect TO President Mckinley.

At noon last Thursday the bell of the
City Hall began tolling the funeral
knell of President Mckinley over whose
mortal remains the funeral services
were being held in far distant Canton,
Ohio, andall business was suspended
in this city from that hour to 2 p. m.
At 12l5 between a thousand and
twelve hundred of the people of Sum
ter had assembled in the Opera House
to attend the memorial services in
honor of the dead president. The
large auditorium was filled and many
had to stand in the aisles and around
the doors throughout the services.
Mayor Stuckey presided over the
meeting and introduced the speakers
who had been requested to address the
audience.
The services begun with the Hymn,
Nearer Ny God to Thee - in the
singing of which the entire audience
joined.
Rev. n. W. Edmunds, D. D., of
the Presbyterian Church, offered a
feeling and touching prayer.
Gen. E. ". Noise made the opening
address. He paid an eloquent tribute
to Mckinley as man and patriotic
citizen who discharged his duty faith
fully and Justly in all stations that he
filed from that of private soldier to
that of President of the United States.
Rev. ]. A. Clifton, D. D., of the
First Methodist Church spoke of the
Presidents pure and noble personal
character, his devotion to his wife and
the elevating influence that his life
has exerted upon all with whom he
has come in contact.
Rev. II. G.. Grossman, Of the Luth-
eran Church, who served for four years
in the Federal Army and was the pas
tor of a church in Columbus, Ohio,
during the time that President Nc
Kinley was governor of that State,
spoke Of the dead president from per-
sonal knowledge of the man. He also
referred to the tribute that the South
as represented by the meeting today,
has paid to William Mckinley, a man
opposed to the South politically and
one who forty years ago was serving
in the army of the North against those
who, today, had assembled in every
town Of the South to do honor to his
memory. He said that he spoke as a
Northern man and as one who had
worn the blue, but as one who had cast
his lot with the South and loved that
section of the country and its people,
and he was glad and proud to record
the fact that the South had had no
part in any Of the assassinations Of
the three Presidents who had met death
in that way.
Rev. Il. II. Covington, of the Epis-
copal Church, in his address said that
this meeting and the others held this
day throughout the country were IN
themselves the greatest possible tribute
to President Mckinley even though no
word Of praise or eulogy be spoken.
No other president since Washing
ton, could have brought out so general
and spontaneous expressions Of sorrow
at MS death, and the tribute was paid
to the man as much as to the Office he
held. There is nothing perfunctory
about meetings held as mark Of re-
spect to the dead president, but they
are, in the South especially, sincere
tribute to the memory Of pure patrl-
otic and noble man. William McKin-
ley will not live in history as a great
man or brilliant statesman but he was
well rounded, symmetrical man,
pure and noble, who had won the
respect and good will of all of his fell
low-citizens.
Rev. G. G. Brown, D. D., of the
First Baptist Church, who made the
last address, in paying his tribute to
President Mckinley emphasized the
fact that his influence had been great
in cemeting and uniting the country,
and that in Gods providence the pres
ident's death may be the means OF
making this country more united, and
demonstrating to the people Of all
sections of this great country that in
feeling and sentiment they are one
and The same.
The meeting was dismissed by Rev.
James Mcdowell who pronounced the
benediction.
The Second Regiment Band played
several appropriate selections between
bo 3D.