The Washington times., 1901-09-16
THE PRESIDENTS CHURCH.
Every Detail of the Service Re-
called the Dead Executive.
Vast Congregation Fills the Edi-
fce-Mr. McNinIcy's Wisdom md
Stafesmanship Extol1ed-The Rich
Legacy of His Splendid Character.

Legacy of His Splendid Character.
The Metropolitan NJ. Z. Church. Presi-
dent McIinley's church. at which he at
tended service on almost every Sunday
morning from his first inauguration to
the time - his death. held special
services In honor of his memory yester-
day morning. The Presidential pew was
draped in pathetic black, and unoccupied,
a speaking reminder that It's owner would
never occupy it again. The main door of
the edifce was hung with heavy Grape
and inside the chancel was also draped
with the sombre garb of sorrow. The
sermon, the prayers, the psalm. and the
hymns, including Mr.. McKinley's own
favorite sacred song, Nearer, My God,
to Thee all spoke of him were a
memory of him in some particular way
TO the congregation. The services were
impressive and appropriate and were at
tended by a vast congregation, almost
larger than that on the first Sunday of
Mr. Mckinleys Presidency four years and
more ago. Their touching significance
and the nearness of the closing of the
tragedy at Buffalo made it impossible for
many of the congregation to restrain their
feelings. as wet eyes and subdued sobs OF
every side indicated.
prayer, made touching allusion to the
suddenness of the tragedy at Buffalo, and
offered the petition that the death of the
President less than his godly life
may have in its influence and results the
good of the country and the world. He
offered a special prayer for her that has
been above all others stricken, that she
may be given grace to bear the blow and
that she may realize that it is Gods will
and for the best" He offered a petition
/ also for the new President.
The sermon was preached by Rev. w.
ii. Chapman, the assistant pastor of the
church, and the substitute during the alb
sence of DR.. Bristol in Europe. He re-
viewed the week of hope ending with fear
and finally with the death of Mr.. Nc
Kinley, since the shooting at Buffalo and
paid an eloquent tribute to his character
and influence. He chose for his text the
words Judah mourneth' from jeremiah
xiv:2. He said in part:
Equally true is it that the great Ameri-
can Judah mourneth. The land Is flied
with mourning and all hearts are bowed
with grief and sadness. Mr.. McKinley's
death is great calamity as is the death
of every good man. as was recognized
by the Psalmist in his prayer, Help me,
Lord. for the godly man ceaseth the
faithful fail from among the children of
men, The nation greatly honored itself
in its selection of William Mckinley to
direct national affairs. His Administra-
ton was blessing to the country. A rec
ognition of this fact have we in his being
chosen by the people for second quad
riennial term. Under his Administration
great prosperity has come to the country
in all its sections, a prospect which still
continues.
NO safer. purer man than William Nc
Kinley has ever presided over the great
Republic and nora more admired than he.
He was endowed with the highest and
noblest virtues that lent dignity and force
to his character and moral bearing to his
life. He was a Christian man and exem-
plified In his daily life the sublime prin-
-ciples of Christianity and their wisdom
and excellency
He left behind him to kindred and
country a rich legacy of splendid char
acter and unsullied record; Christian
example of life that says to others
This is the way, walk ye in it,, and the
way that leads to moral wealth. which
is above all material wealth and leads
at last To heaven and God"
Rev. Samuel D. Paine, past grand
chaplain of the Grand Army and mem
Der of the same commandery of the Loyal
Legion with President Mckinley. made
the concluding prayer. He asked the divine
aid in the framing Of laws for the Nation
that shall make such crimes as the naur-
Ger of the President impossible.
The hymns sung were Lead, Kindly
Light" one of Mr.. McKinley's faVorite
hymns. and Nearer, Ny God. to Thee"
made so touchingiy appropriate by the
words of the resident on his deathbed.
During their singing many in the con
Sregatiun were visibly affected. The
psalm read by the pastor and the con-
greSation was the eighty-ninth. At the /,
conclusion Of the service DR.. Nj. NJ. Mof
fitt read the proclamation of President |
Roosevelt directing that Thursday be set |
aside as a day Of prayer.
Those on the platform during the serv
ice Were acting pastor. Rev. w. IL. Chap |
man, Rev. George Leech, Rev Henry !
Baker and Rev. Samuel d. Paine.
President Mckinley occupied, during |
Church as President. pew near the front |
of the church on the right hand central |
aisle. This pew has been occupied by |
more than one other President, and 1t is |
uonal reputation as the Presidents |
pew. This pew was entirely covered |
with black cloth yesterday, and the ush- |
ers allowed no one TO occupy it. The va |
cant seat and the draping of mourning |
where Mr.. McKinley's figure had been |
so familiar, drew all. eyes irresistibly |
and in the prayer oil Rev. George Ieech |
Many eyes were filled with tears as they
looked. and after the service many Of the |
congregation paused with silent tributes |
of respect as they passed IL in solemn
proce ession- II is proposed that the Pres
idents pew shall remain draped and va
cant for time in memory of its last
occupant.
Immediately after the service the Off |
GERS of the church held a special NEE ting
to arrange for the Thursday service to
be held in the church and to adopt fitting
resolutions on President NcKiniey's
death. II was decided that the services
on Thursday shall be held at IL o'clock
Several prominent speake rs are expected |
to be in attendance. though the arrange
ments have not all been made as vet
aration for this service was as follows:
n. D. Lynch j. ID. Croissant and A B.
Duvall. Other committees We're appoint
cd as follows: To represent the Metro
poltan church at Canton on THURSDAY
Judge T, II. Anderson, DR. NJ NJ Mof-
fit. and a. ID. Lynch; to serve at the
Capitol during the state funeral exer-
cises, Hon NJ. c. Emery Rev W II
Chapman, \. r. DuVaIl. Dr. Richard |
kingsman, and J. NJ. Holmes
1t was arranged that a special memorial !
service shall be held by the Metropolitan
Church Immediately after the return of |
its pastor the Rev DR.. Bristol who is
now in Europe, but is expected to leave
for this country before the end of the
present month The official board of the
church yesterday received message from
Secretary CortelyOu asking that Dr. Bris-
tol officiate at the state funeral exercises
at the Capitol. This will not be possible.
of course. No decision has been made as
yet who shall take his place, but II is un-
derstood that the Rev Dr. Navlor the
Presiding Elder of the Maryland Confer
ence. of which the District of Columbia
is part, viii be chosen.
The resolutions adopted by the meeting
Were as follows:
Resolved by the official board If the
Metropolitan Methodist Church of the