The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-16
AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE.
Appropriate Music and Memorial Ser
mon at the First Baptist.

Appropriate Music and Memorial Ser
mon at the First Baptist.
The memorial service at the First Baptist
Church yesterday morning was very i'm
pressive. The music appropriate, and
At the close Of the sermon the large audi
ence united in singing My Country. tits of
Thee" Rev. T. j. Villerss sermon on the
dead President was In part as follows:
Blinded as we are. by tears and envel-
oped in gloom, the Masters words fall COM
fortingiy on our ears and hearts: What
understand hereafter That our Nation, in
this era OF peace, good will and Astounding
prosperity should be so suddenly plunged
into an overwhelming sorrow, Is a pTovi-
dence whose mystery we cannot at present
fathom. 1t becomes us TO say with our be-
loved President as he passed into the VAL
lev OF the death-shade: 1t is Gods way;
His will be done" With such faith and
submissiveness, We shall find that this af-
Fiction, which now bows every loyal heart,
will work a more exceeding weight of ma
tiona1 glory: The divine purpose will ripen
fast, unfolding every hour.
Born ifty-eight years ago, William Nc
Kinley came of splendid lineage. His
father, of Scotch-Irish descent, was iron
manufacturer, who apparently beQueathed
ideas. His grandmother was a Puritan,
who fed from England to Holland, coming
woman OF great Intelligence was not only
religious, but also intensely patriotic.
From Niles, where he was born, he
he passed from the public schools into
Union Seminary. and later into Allegheny
OF his collegiate studies when i'll health
necessitated his return home. The civil
war began. and though little more than
mere boy. he enlisted. Successfully pro-
NOTED from private to sergeant, from SER
geant TO second lieutenant. and from sec
ond lieutenant to first, he was made a
captain when only twenty-one. Serving on
the STATS OF Generals Crook. Hancock and
Carroll. President Lincoln. near the close
OF the war, brevetted him major for gallant
and meritorious services. Graduating from
the Albany Law School, he settled in Can
ton. and was soon elected prosecutor of
Stark county. For a period of fourteen
years he was member of Congress. Then
for four years he served his own State as
dency OF the American Republic. In this
exalted position he proved himself not only
veritable rock OF safety. His knowledge Of
soldiers. his extended political experience
his superb gifts OF craftsmanship. his
scrupulous integrity. his aggressive con-
servatism and his spotless Christian char
acter combined to make him an ideal Pres
ident.
HIS MANY VIRTUES
Leaving TO others the pleasant task of
extolling his political achievements, let
me name a few OF the many virtues
which he incarnated. He was a man
utterly unselhsh. Love has been de-
hned selhshness turned inside out.
William Mckinley seemed to feel to-
wards others as selfish men feel toward
themselves. When the Mills tariff bill was
under discussion Samuel j. Randall in
sisted on being brought from his death
bed that he might utter a protest. His i'll
ness caused him to speak with such slow
ness that his time expired before his speech
was completed He requested an extension
OF time by unanimous consent; but the au-
If he hFVrr xygr,or
faced the House and shouted: L object 1t
now McKinleys turn. Rising in his
place e, ne explained ;; me MT; Speaker, l yield
Pennsylvania may need TO finish his
speech! And the crowded galleries thun-
dered their applause. similar spirit man
ifested itself in the deadlock which dis
tressed the national convention OF 1888 The
delegates began 10 turn enthusiastically to-
ward Ohio's popular leader. Amid deafen-
ing cheers he arose with face as white as
marble. declared that he had come pledged
no man reflect on his loyalty by casting a
vote for him, thus deliberately trampling
under foot the prize which others make the
heavenly love was singing itself in his
bosom-that love which seeketh not its
own.
''Unfailing faithfulness to duty was an
other trait that marked his whole career
He spared himself no pains in ascertaining
his duty; but. when IL became known, he
fearlessly and unwaveringly followed it.
The path OF duty was for him the way TO
glory. Many are content with seeing the
primal duties, which shine aloft like stars
He cultivated keen eyesight, with deli
cate sensitiveness TO truth and righteous
ness. that he might detect the duties more
obscure; and so i. was that he quickly dis
cerned and approved things excellent.
AT Antietam. where his regiment. with
out breakfast went into the fight at day.
break and fought till the stars appeared
he conceived II to be his duty in the after
noon to supply his famished men with food
Boy as he was. he started with two lumber
ing mule teams straight for the line Of
battle Time and again he was ordered
back, out ne pushed right on. under fire,
until he fed the Twenty-third Ohio with
warm meats and hot coffee Danger or diff
fculty between him and duty was not an
impeachment but a spur. 1t was such acts
OF devotion. filling his public and private
life. that won for him the increasing con-
fdence or his fellOw-men. They sometimes
doubted his head. but they never doubted
his heart.
CONTRADICTORY GRACEs.
William Mckinley. like all great men.
combined graces that are apparently con-
Trajectory. In him the heroic and the
gentle were perfectly blended. To manly
energy and resolute purpose he added a
rare degree OF tenderness. When he sought
the hand OF Ida Saxton her father said:
you are the only man to whom I am
willing 10 trust the future Of my child.
How nobly has he justified that confidence
His a1ectionate and beautiful devotion to
his invalid wife has endeared him to every
American home. His first thought was not
OF self but OF her, when the death-bearing
bullet entered his body. Fearing lest the
shock might PROSTATE her. he urged the
messenger not 10 exaggerate the matter
In all his domestic relations how fully he
obeyed Peters command: BE We synpa-
thetic. tender hearted.
But the browning grace OF our martyred
Presidents character was his Christian
faith. II was the bond OF perfectness that
held in wondrOus harmony all the resi-
Uniting with Christ's church at the age ~
sixteen. he has for fOrty-two years held
fast his confession. Through all the weary
etagnancy or monotonous toll. amid all the
heated strife OF political campaigns under
all the singing criticism OF opposing fac
lions on all the topping crags OF personal
successes. he has ever been William Nc
Knley the Christian. His words. expressive
OF desire that no injustice be done mis-
sxecrable murderer. sound like an echo