Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1901-09-26

as 1t saw with what tender conjugal de-
votion he sat at the bedside of his be-
loved wife. when all feared that fatal
illness was upon her. No public clamor
that he might show himself to the popu-
lace, no demand of social function was
sufficient to draw the lover from the bed
side of his wife. lie watched and waited
while We all prayed-and she lived.
Tender story of His Love.
This sweet and tender story all the
world knows, and the world knows that
his whole life had run in this one groove
of love. 1t was a strong arm that she
leaned upon and IL never failed her. Her
smile was more to him than the plaudits
of the multitude and for her greeting his
| acknowledgements of them must wait.
After receiving the fatal wound his first
thought was that the terrible news might
be broken gently to her. May God in this
deep hour of sorrow comfort her. May
his grace be greater than her anguish.
May the widows God be her God. Anoth-
er beauty in the character of our Presi-
dent, that was chaplet of grace about
his neck, was that he was a Christian.
In the broadest, noblest sense of the word
that was true. His confidence In God was
strong and unwavering. II held him
steady in many storm where others
were driven before the wind and tossed.
He believed In the fatherhood of God and
in his sovereignty. His faith in the gos-
pei of Christ was deep and abiding. He
had no patience with any other theme
of pulpit discourse. Christ and him cru
cihed' was to his mind the only panacea
for the worlds disorders. He believed IL
to be the supreme duty OF the Christian
minister to preach the word. He said:
I'VE do not look for great business men
In the pulpit. but for great preachers
Ever True Christian.
It is well known that his cody mother
had hoped for him that he would become
a minister of the gospel, and that she
believed II to be the highest vocation IN
life. 1t was not, however, his mothers
faith that made him a Christian. He had
gained in early life a personal knowledge
of Jesus which guided him In the per-
formance of greater duties and vaster
than have been the lot of any other Am
erican President. He said at one time.
while bearing heavy burdens, that he
could not discharge the daily duties of
his life but for the fact that he had
faith in God. William Mckinley believed
In prayer in the beauty OF 1t, In the
potency of 1t. Its language was not I'M
familiar to him, and his public addresses
not infrequently evince the fact. 1t was
perfectly consistent with his life-lons
convictions and his personal experiences
that he should say as the first critical
moment after the assassination APP
preached. Thy Kingdom come: thy will
be DONE and that he should declare at
the last. ut is Gods way; his will be
done" He lived grandly; 1t was fitting
that he should die grandly, And now
that the majesty of death has touched
and Gained him we find that in his SUI
preme moment he was still conqueror.
Lessons from the Sad Event.
Let us turn now to a brief considera-
ton of some Of the lessons that We are
1 to learn from this sad event. The first
one that will occur to us all Is the old.
old lesson that in the midst of life We
are in death" Man goeth forth to his
work and to his labor until the evening"
| He fleeth as it were shadow and never
continueth in one stay" Our President
| went forth in the fullness of his strength.
in his manly beauty, and was suddenly
smitten by the hand that brought death
with it. None OF us can tell what day
| may bring forth. Let us. therefore, re-
member that mo man liveth to himself
and none of us dieth to himself" May
each days close see each days duty done.
Another great lesson that we should heed
is the vanity of mere earthly greatness.
In the presence of the dread messenger.
how small are all the trappings of wealth
and distinction of rank and power. j be-
seech you, seek him who said: Il am the
resurrection and the life; he that believ-
eth in me- though he were dead, yet shall
he live, and whosOever liveth and be-
lieveth in me shall never die" There is
but one Savior for the sick and the weary.
l entreat you, find him, as our brother
found him. But our last words must be
spoken. Little more than four years ago
we babe him goodbye as he went to as
sumo the great responsibilities to which
the nation had called him. His last words
4, Lee HI rsr
me greater pleasure than this farewell
gree ng-this evidence of your friend
ship and sympathy, your good VIII, and,
l am sure, the prayers of all the people
with whom 1 have lived so long and
whose confidence and esteem are dearer
to me than any other earthly honors. To
all of us the future is as a sealed book.
but IL / can, by official act or admins
tration or utterance, In any degree add
to the prosperity and unity OF our be-
loved country and the advancement and
well-being OF our splendid citizenship, 1
will devote the best and most unselfish
efforts of my life to that end. With this
thought uppermost I'm my mind, l reluc-
family take leave of my friends and neigh
bors. ,cherishing In my heart the sweetest
memories and thoughts of my old home
my home now-and, trust, my home
hereafter, so long as l~live." We hoped
with him that when his work was done.
freed from the burdens of his great Of
flee crowned with the affections OF hap
by people. he might be permitted to close
his earthly life in the home he had loved
Sadness of the me-Comlng.
lie has, indeed. returned to us. but
how? Borne TO the strains of Nearer.
My God. to Thee" and placed where he
first began life's struggle, that the people
might look and weep over so sad home
coming. But II was triumphal march.
How vast the procession. The nation rose
and stood with uncovered head The peo-
pie of the land are chief mourners. The
nations of the earth weep with them.
But, o. what victory. ] do not ask you
In the heat of public address, but In the
calm moments of mature reflection, what
other man ever had such high honors be-
slowed upon him, and by so many people?
What pageant has equaled this that we
look upon tonight? We gave him to the
nation only a little more than four years
ago He went out with the light of the
morning upon his brow but with his task
set. and the purpose to complete 1t. We
take him back a mighty conqueror.
THE church yard where his children rest.
The quiet spot that suits him best;
There shall his grave be made,
And there his bones be laid.
And there his countrymen shall come,
With memory proud, with pity dumb.
And strangers far and near.
For many and many year;
For many a year and many an age,
While history on her simple page
The virtues shall enroll
or that paternal soul"
The bloom on fruit is said to be ma
tura's waterproofing. Where Il Is