The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-20
At the Church.

NJ Inc
The scene within the church when
the casket was carried in on the
! brawny shoulders of the soldiers and
sailors was profoundly impressive. A
black border, twenty feet high, relieV-
ed at intervals by narrow white bands
falling to the floor, swept completely
around the interior Only the gilt or
gan pipes rose above it. The vestibules
on either side of the chancel leading in
to the church were black tunnels, the
stained glass windows on either side
were framed in black and the balcony
of the Sunday-school to the rear thrown
open into the church by large sliding
doors, was shrouded in the same SOM
Der colors. Graceful black streamers
festooned along the arches of the nave
formed a black canopy above the chan
eel. From this, directly above the low
flag covered catafalque on which the
casket was to rest, hung a beautiful
silk banner, it's blood red and snow
white folds tied midway with a band
of crepe. But it was the floral display
at the front of the church which filled
the whole edifice with glory. The CEN
ter of it all was a great wreath of
American beauties from a black bor-
dered portrait of President Mckinley.
From 1t, extending outward and
upward. was perfect wealth of gor-
geous blossoms. The effect was as
il great rushing wave of color had
broken into flowers at the foot of the
bier. 1t was 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 many hand
some pieces. Against the walls on
either side were floral flags, and upon
the pulpit rested an urn in white car
nations, broken at the base to repre-
sent the water flowing from it. At
either side of this urn were the cross
of the Knights Templar. and the crown
of the Knights of Pythias, while to
the east was the square and compass
of Masonry.
Almost directly above the support
for the coffin a sunburst of lights gilt
tered like brilliant stars in a black
sky. The light from without came
dimly through the stained glass win
dows. Under the quivering folds Of the
starry banner. with the lights she'd
ding their effulgence from above the
fragrance of the flowers lowering all
about, and the music of Beethoven's
grand funeral march pulsing from the
organ, the bodybearers gently lowered
the flag -draped and flower adorned
coffin to its support. The members Of
the Loyal Legion, Gov. Nash, Gov.
McMillin of Tennessee and Gov. Longi-
no of Mississippi, each Of whom with
an uniformed staff, had entered the
church, filled up the most westerly Of
the sections of pews. The members Of
the Senate and the House of Repre-
sentatives had preceded the coffin
through the door at the side Of the
chancel through which it entered.
The generals and admlrals of the
army and navy who comprised the
guard of honor. in their resplendent
uniforms followed the body and occu-
pied the first pew on either side of the
center aisle. President Roosevelt and
the cabinet came slowly after. All
were in black and wore black gloves
The President alone had on an over
coat. He took his place Immediately
behind Lieut.. Gen Miles, next the CEN
ter aisle in the second pew to the
eastward. Then followed the mourn
ing 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. The fourth pew from the
front, that always occupied by Presi-
dent Mckinley. was draped i'm black
and remained vacant.
"Benutiful Isle Of Somewhere"
II was O'Clock when the quarttete
arose. and lifted up their voices with
the touching words OF Beautiful Isle
of Somewhere" When the sound OF