The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-20
AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
A Mckinley Memorial Service Held in
the Evening.

NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that on Sunday
last a memorial service on the death of
President Mckinley was held at the First
Baptist Church, out of respect to the
proclamation of President Roosevelt an
other service was held last evening in the
chapel of the First Church, the attendance
being large. After prayer the pastor, Rev.
T.. J.. Villers, read from the Scriptures. fol-
lowing it by reading the proclamation of
President Roosevelt. Music appropriate to
the occasion was rendered, favorite hymns
of the late President Mckinley being sung.
The pastor took for his theme, Gods way
and will" He said:
william McKinley's last words were
sublime words, worthy of a prophet or an
apostle. In them spiritual vision and I'M
murmuring acquieScence are wondrously
blended: 1t is Gods way; His Will be
lone
Gods way is a way Of mystery. His
judgments are u~nsearchable, and His ways
past tracing out. He often makes dark
ness His pavilion, and thick clouds His
hiding place. There are times when we
hope that He is standing within the shad-
Ow, keeping watch above His own; but we
cannot see Him. We can only stretch lame
hands of faith and grope for Him. We
wonder why He should permit the noble to
be smitten, and the innocent to mourn.
We are perplexed by the tragedies of life,
and ofttimes feel the burden Of this un-
Ineligible world. What He does we know
not now, but we believe that we shall I'M
derstand hereafter. God is His own in
terpreter, and He will yet make all things
plain. 1t was this rod and staff that COM
fOrted our heroic martyr as he stepped
confidently into the valley of the death
shade, saying: His will be done
Gods way is a way Of wisdom. None
can charge Him with folly. We know only
in part; There are SO many ~unexplored
remainders OF knowledge. He sees the
end from the beginning, and makes all
things work together for good. There are
no accidents. What seems so have their
place in the one-increasing purpose which
under the weight of years or premature
ly cut off, fits into Gods plan. William
Mckinley knew this, and bowed resignedly,
like. Missionary Mackay, who. dying at
Madeira, said: Lord, L gave myself, body,
mind and soul, to Thee; 1 consecrated my
whole life to Thy service; and now if it
please Thee to take me instead of the work
which l would do for Thee, what Is that to
me? Thy viii be done
Gods way is a way of sacrifice. vi
carious suffering is a universal law. That
His only begotten Son. Christ beggared
himself that we. through His beggary.
might be made rich. He can give gifts unto
men because He passed through Geth-
semane and toiled up Golgotha. The blood
the church. The blood of patriots has ever
been the price Of liberty. William McKin-
ley was familiar with this fact, nor did he
feel that the law is unjust which so or
N[N NNN AOAOC0 VI lilo IL .
Indignantly active here, could not be prop
erly appreciated and measured till the ma
tional heart stood still with horror and the
honor OF the Nation was outraged. If the
Matching OF devices to shoot Presidents
and assasstnate governments could be sup
pressed only by yielding his life our hero
was ready to lay himself upon the altar.
Doubtless IT was of this that he was think
ing partly when he uttered his farewell.
Good.6ye all, goodbye; it is Gods way;
Gods way is the way of righteousness
he IS righteous, David declares. in all his
ways, and gracious in all His works. When
the heavens were opened to Johns vision
and he beheld the army of martyrs who
stan0 by the throne and gaze into the face
that makes glorious their own. he heard
them singing, as they held the harps Of
God, Righteous and true are Thy ways.
thou King Of the ages We cannot esti-
mate the recompenSe OF reward which He
has there for those who suffer innocently
in the overthrow of evil here; nor may we
doubt that out of the calamity which now
appals us we shall rise to a new and nobler
life. Sufficient for us that the chief suf-
ferer himself did not question God. Let no
murmur escape our lips. His will be done.
Gods way is also a way of love. He
himself is love, and he cannot act other
wise than according to his nature. In all
our Affections he has in mind the peaceable
fruit OF righteousness, and the eternal
weight of glory. In every Gethsemane,
therefore. we can say: Thy will he done
We can love him when ne strikes US. as
well as when he strokes US. We can sing,
ana earnestly QesHe IL Wnen We sing:
Nearer, my God, TO Thee; Nearer to Thee
What an issue for a Presidents death!
Instead Of funeral strains, bands every
where playing: Nearer, my God, to Thee
Instead of patriotic hymns, people every
where singing: Nearer, my God, to Thee
No North or South, no East or West. All
speech flows to music, all hearts beat as
one; and this is the burden of their song:
Nearer. my Cod, 10 Thee; Nearer to Thee
Could the Christian martyr wish more?
The stars on our banner grow suddenly
dim;
Let us weep in our darkness, but weep not
for him.
Not for him-who. departing. leaves mil
lions in tears.
No for him. who has died full Of honor
and years.
Not for him, who assembled Fame's ladder
so high;
From the round at the top he has stepped
TO the sky.
1t is blessed to go when so ready to die"