The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-24
OUR PEOPLE MET IN HUMILIATION AND
PRAYER YESTERDAY.
Tremendous Outpouring of All Glasses
at the First Baptist Church-Inspir-
ing Services and Interesting Address
es-Remarkable Prayer.

William Mckinley whose mortal re-
mains were laid in the tomb yesterday
at Canton, o. We doubt whether any
other city in the United States observ-
ed the day more devoutly and earnestly
than Wilmington. The banks, the GUS
ON house. h postoffice, the produce
exchange, the lumber mills, the real
estate establishments, and h whole
sale and retail stores and saloons
were closed and all business
was generally suspended The day was
one of great solemnity n the
streets had the appearance OF
Sunday. The flags on all the public
and private buildings and on the Amer
lean and foreign shipping in port were
at half mast.
MEMORIAL SERVICES
a union service of prayer and sorrow
was held at the First Baptist church at
III a. m. The church bells in the city
began tolling at 1O:30 a. m and their
mournful peals continued till the peo-
pie assembled for this service in mem
ory of the murdered president
Al the flTSI bdpIlSI III NiNAN
was a great o~utpouring of the people
of Wilmington. The large auditorium
and galleries were packed, and despite
the fact that chairs were placed In the
aisles. many persons had to stand. The
people of all denominations and sects
and races were there, including u ma
tive porn and foreign white people, col
ored people, Chinese. and Syrians. The
masses were there with humble hearts
to do reverence to the memory of the
Iamented chief of the nation and to bow
in humble submission to God, the ruler
of the universe.
The Rev. Calvin S. Blackwell, D.. D.,
pastor of the church, presided as chair
a and in the pulpit with him We're
the Rev. A. D.. Mcclure, d. D., pastor
of St. Andrews Presbyterian church,
the Rev. G. D. Bernheim, D. D., of the
Lutheran church., the Rev. r. H. Her
ring, pastor of Southside Baptist
church, the Rev. Joseph P. King, pastor
of ST. Matthews English Lutheran
church the Rev. Joseph P. King, pastor
of the Advent church, the Rev. P. c.
Morton. of the Presbyterian church, the
the Rev. S. Mendelsohn, rabbi of the
Temple of Israel, the Rev. John H.
Hall, pastor of Fifth Street NJ. +.
church and the Rev. A. G. Voigt, d. D.,
pastor of ST. Paurs Evangelical Luth-
eran church.
The following choir occupied the or
gan loft: Messrs. E. H. Munson and A.
H. Yopp ~organists, and Miss Carrie
White, Mrs. a. S. Holden. Miss Matte
Lee Horne. Mrs. Z. G.. Woody, Miss
Norma Foster, and Messrs. A. S. Hol-
den. c.. H. Cooper, r. F. Fowler, j. S.
Williams. and c.. S. Granger. The
Second Regiment Band, North Carolina
state guard, occupied the front gallery.
From the organ loft two large United
States flags were suspended and droop-
ed to one side with an American shield
between them. The flags and shield
were draped in mourning.
The Second Regiment Band. opened
the services by playing a dirge and the
solemn measures were very effective,
adding to the solemnity of h occa-
sion.
After the dirge. the people arose and
with the choir grandly sang the hymn
America, MY Country 'Tis of Thee"
A beautiful invocation was then de-
livered by the Rev P. c. Morton, after
which Remember Now Thy Creator"
was inspiringly sung by a quartette
of MeSsrs. c.. H. Cooper, r.
F. Fowler, ]. S. Williams and A. S.
Holden.
The Rev. DR.. Mendesohn impressive
ly read a selection from the Old Testa-
ment. The selection was the third
chapter of Thir Samuel, beginning at
the 9th verse. 1t vas very uppropri-
ate, referring to the assassination Of
Abner, King of Israel and the deep
mourning of his people for him.
DIR. Blackwell read a scripture selec-
ton from the New Testament-the 22nd
chapted of ST. Luke, referring to the
betrayal of Christ.
NOT GODS WAY.
The next thing in order was a prayer
by he Rev. Joseph P. King, of the
Advent church. 1t was a remarkable
prayer from the fact that the Rev. NJ.
King expressed in his earnest petition
to God that the assassination of the
president was not Gods Way" Elder
Kings prayer was as follows:
I'm obedience to the proclamation of
u living president, dear Lord and
Master, we willingly come together to-
day to express our sorrow and pay our
tribute of love n respect to the great
and good president OF our land who
buI a few hours since was the wise
ana good custodian of u political in
terest as a nation, but who now sleeps
in the silent folds OF a winding sheet
by the hand of an assassin. We meet
to mingle our tears, to tell our grief and
speak of the virtues Of such an one, n
though thou has permitted n Tree
volition that neved the arm and fired
the heart to slay the righteous a
yet we-or at least some of us-cannot
with the dying president say ut is
Goods Way" His ways are ways of
pleasantness and all his paths are
peace. No, no. dear Lord, the loving
hand tha led through life's Uneven
~-~ La-1 fhof nro{oa%o5 a. A.