The Newtown bee., 1901-09-20
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
A MOST IMPRESSIVE SERVICE

A MOST IMPRESSIVE SERVICE
 AT THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH ON
 sUNDAY.-HARDLY A DRY EYE WAS
 NOTICED IN THE CONGREGATION
 DURING REV MIR MARKERS EULOGY
 ON THE PRESIDENT.
 A service most impressive and heart touching was held at the Congrega- tional church on Sunday morning, which really took the form of a service in memory of the beloved President Mckinley. The choir effectively sang an appropriate selection, "Hold Thou My Hand," by Cleland McAfee, and during the service the hymns, My Jesus, as Thou Witt, " Nearer, My God to Thee" and My Country! Iris of Thee," were sung. But it was during the sermon of Rev MT Barker that the audience was deeply moved. The voice of the speaker, himself, broke in his eloquent eulogy of the beloved President, and tears flowed from al- most every eye. On the front of the organ was fine portrait of President Mckinley, and the organ was appro- priately draped. Rev Mir Barker, taking for his text Ps. 97: 1-2, 1.-The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice: let the multitude of isles be glad ! thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about Him; righteousness and judgment are the habita tion of His throne," said in part:
 l It was the greatest crisis in our cOuntry's history, the morning after | the assaSsina tion of President Lincoln The wires were hot with the news of the awful tragedy. Throughout New York, Brooklyn, Jersey City and the neighboring region placards had been posted calling for a gathering of the people about the Exchange Building in Wall Street, that an expression of | opinion might be had. The hour ap- pointed for the meeting was II o'clock; but by o'clock, and even before, the street was packed with a jostling, pushing, silent throng. No hurrah was heard; but a great, deep silence hung over the vast assemblage, broken ever and anon by a murmuring which rose and fell, like the surges of the sea, and was carried through the masses as far as Broadway, and then was carried back again on the left down to the river. One man above all others was fnI hu In nd DY1f1 who could bring the news direct from Washington. Soon a cry was heard, ''Butler! Butler! Butler!' and, as the batOns of the police swung in air to clear the way, a carriage was seen moving with difficulty through the crowd. Nobody knew exactly how, but Butler was pulled through and pulled up on the speakers balcony. His first words were, "He died, my coun- trymen, in the fitness of his power." AS he raised his left arm in air, to which was attached black crape fully a yard long, in strange contrast with the flags everywhere displayed as a token of rejoicing at Lees surrender, the pent-up passions of the multitude, already wrought up almost to the breaking-point, knew no bounds. '"The World! The World! The office of The World!" was shouted; and simultane- ously 5000 or 10000 persons started in that direction. Something had to be done. At that moment a man stepped out upon the balcony, and, raising small American flag aloft, motioned for silence. "Another tele- gram from aWashington!' Gust few moments before the news had come that Stewards throat had been cut and an attempt made upon the lives of other members of the Cabinet.) Yak | ing advantage of the Hull that followed, | in clear, distinct tones the voice rang out: "Fellow citizens, Clouds and darkness are round about Him. His pavilion is dark waters and thick clouds of the skies. Justice and judg- ment are the establishment of His throne. Mercy and truth shall go be- fore His face. Fellow-citiZenS, God reigns and the government at Wash ington still lives" The effect was tremendous. The crowd stood riveted to the spot in awe, gazing at the mo- tionless orator, and thinking of God and the security of the government in that hour. "What is his name?" passed from lip to lip. The whisper came back: 'That is Gen Garfield, of Ohio."
 In the great crisis that is upon us now, in the midst of our tumults and fears, we need another Garfield to rise and say, "God reigns and the gov ernment at Washington still lives. '' Thank God, we still have country. Thank God, we still have the best government that the world knows. Thank God, we still are possessed with the most favored land the sun shines upon to-day. Thank God, we have a Vice-President, already succeeded to the office of President, who will carry out, unbrOken, the work which Will liam Mckinley so magniticently begun We still have country, and united country. Since the time of Monroe, 80 years ago, 1.-The era of good feel ing" had never had a better copying And that is the strange part of it all that when North. South, East anC West had struck hands in an indisso luble compact of loyalty to a country that they all dearly loved, one who had enjoyed it's blessings should yet be