The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-09-26

Washington, Sept. 17.-As the re-
ligious services in the capitol were
about to begin there sounded through
the high deme-accustomed year
after year to the echo of rapidly pass
ing feet and the confusion of MANY
notes.-the clear sweet strains of
"Lead, Kindly Light" Cardinal New
mans gentle hymn and President Nc
Kinley's favorite of all church music.
A small organ had been placed just in
advance of the guard of honor and
was surrounded by the choir of the
Presidents church.
PRAYER BY DIR. NAYLOR.
When the strains Of the anthem
had ceased Rev. DIR. Henry r. Naylor,
presiding elder of the Washington
District Methodist Episcopal church,
offered prayer in tones that sounded
to the very edge of the throng. His
prayer was as follows:
ooh Lord God, our Heavenly Father,
a bereaved nation cometh to Thee in
its deep sorrow! To whom can we
90 in such an hour as this but unto
Thee? Thou only art able to comfort
and support the afflicted.
death strikes down the tallest and
best of men and consequent changes
are continually occurring among ma
tions and communities. But we have
been taught that Thou art the same
yesterday, today and forever: that
with Thee there is no variableness
nor the least shadow of turning. So
in the midst of our grief we turn to
Thee for help.
''We thank Thee, oh Lord, that
years ago Thou didst give this nation
a man whose loss we mourn today.
We thank Thee for the faithful and
distinguished services which he was
enabled to render to Thee, our coun-
try and to the world.
"We bless Thee for such a citizen.
for such a lawmaker, for such Gov
ernor, for such President, for such a
husband, for such a Christian ex-
ample and for such friend.
"But, oh Lord, we deplore our loss
today; sincerely implore Thy sancti-
flying benediction. We pray Xhee for
that dear one who has been walking
by his side through the years, shar-
ing his triumphs and partaking of his
SORROWS. Give to her all needed sus-
tenance and the comfort her stricken
heart so greatly Graves. And under
the shadow of this great calamity
may she learn as never before the
fatherhood of God and the matchless
character of His sustaining grace.
"And, oh Lord, we sincerely pray
for him upon whom the mantle OF
Presidential authority has so sudden
ly and unexpectedly fallen. Help him
to walk worthy of the high vocation
whereunto he has been called. He
needs Thy guiding hand and Thine
inspiring spirit continually. May he
always present to the nation and to
the world divinely illumined judg-
ment, brave heart and an unsullied
character.
"Hear our prayer, o Lord, for the
official family of the Administration,
those men who are associated with
Thy servant, the President, in the ad-
ministration of the affairs of govern
ment; guide them in all their delibera-
tions to the nations welfare and the
glory of God.
"And now, Lord, we humbly pray
for Thy blessing and consolation to
come to all the people of our land and
nation. Forgive our past shortcom-
ings; our sins of omission as well as
our sins of commission. Help us to
make the Golden Rule the standard oil
our lives, that we may do unto others
as we would have them do unto US,
and thus become indeed people
whose God is the Lord"
DIR. Naylor then recited the Lords
Prayer.
A soprano solo, ''Some Time Well
Understand" was rendered by Mrs.
Thomas c. Noyes.
| SERMON BY BISHOP ANDREWS.
Bishop Edward G. Andrews, of the
Methodist Episcopal church, who was
MIR. McKinlsy's pastor during the la:-
ter's Congressional service, then rose
to deliver the sermon of the day. He
| said:
BLESSED be the God and Father OF
our Lord, Who of His abundant mercy
hath begotten US again unto a lively
! hope of the, resurrection of Christ
from the dead, to an inheritance in
corruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in Heaven for US
who are now. by the power of God
through faith unto salvation, ready to
be revealed in the last time.
The services for the dead are ftly
and almost of necessity services oi
religion and of immortal hope. In
the presence of the shroud and the
coffin and the narrow home questions
concerning intellectual quality, con-
cerning public station, concerning
great achievements, sink into com
parative insignificance, and questions
concerning character and mans rela
ton to the Lord and Giver of life
even the life eternal, emerge to oul
view and impress themselves upor
US.
| CHARACTER THE BEST THING.
Character abides. We bring moth
ing into this world; we can carry
nothing out. We ourselves depar
with al the accumulations OF ten
dency and habit and quality whicl
tho years have given to US. We ask
therefore, even at the grave Of th'
illustrious. not altogether what grea
achievement they had performed ant
how they had commended themselvs
to the memory and affection or re