The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-09-16
Tributes to Mckinley
From Salt Lake PuIpits

The thought waa impressed upon the
congregation that during the day null
utudes of Christians We're assembled
throughout the land paying their trib-
utes to the memory and worth of the
great and good man. There is but one
theme and one sorrow On this Sab
bath day there are no political par
ties, no sectarians. but all are express
ing their bereavement and sending
forth their prayers of sympathy to the
lone woman upon whom falls the bur-
den Of the calamity.
Ten days ago. the speaker contin-
ued, President Mckinley was in the
enjoyment of the full tide of his sue
cessful career. His life was possessed
of an eloquent fullness, and his sta
ton was more exalted than that of
kings. By steady tread in the paths
of righteousness and honor he won
the esteem of his fellowmen and was
twice elected to the highest honor in
the gift of the people. He so deported
himself that the honor and love OF his
political opponents came TO him. The
man in such a position who has ac-
complished this has certainly made a
grand success of his life work. Then.
to recall that such noble character
mas been stricken down by the hand
of an assassin makes the people Of the
land mourn as they have not been
called upon to do before. Indeed, when
Lincoln was felled by the assassin's
blow a generation ago there was not
the surprise that has just come
upon us.
So far as human beings can see. there
is no excuse, no justification for the
aSsassin's act, and we stand appalled,
at the thought that one whose life was
blameless and who was loved so per-
Iestly by his fellowmen should be
taken away from is in such manner.
This circumstance will prompt many
minds to doubt that the Almighty
could have averted such a calamity,
but 1t Will yet be shown that the wis
dom of God Overrules for the good of
his children. No man falls in vain. and
in this crisis will be found something
good for the spirits of men.
Whenever great sorrow like this is
burned into the hearts of the people
we draw into closer relations with each
other and come closer to God. So. il is
possible that God has accomplished
more in the manner of taking our pres
ident from US than he has accom-
plished through his life.
Men without the soothing and sus-
tanning power of Christian faith may
lead good lives, but it requires faith
IN God and in the promise of eternal
life to show men how to die In the
death of President Mckinley is fur
nished one of the most illustriOus ex-
ampleS in history of how men of Chris
tian faith can die. Sick unto death.
he chanted the hymn of praise, Near
er My God to Thee" then said Good
>.
will be done" Search history for any
thing so sublime as that in the death
of an unbeliever.
Such lives as this one are not from
accident, and il is not illogical to be-
lieve that, as in the life of Christ. all
martyrs have died that the world
might be better. What tongue is able
to tell the destiny of Mckinley. In his
immortal sphere with Gods hand and
law. what may not his spirit attain
for the benefit of mortalsl Out OF all
the sacrifice God win bring great good
from seeming evil. for none of his IA
vored sons ever suffered death in vain.
The opening prayer was delivered by
Colonel Thomas of London, a recent
convert to Mormonism, and the bene-
diction by Elder Henry w. Naisbitt.
and both implOred the blessings of the
Almighty upon this nation and his
comforting grace upon the presidents
widow and family in this time of sor-
row. The choir sung the anthems,
Behold, the Great Redeemer Dies,
"Oh, My Father" Rest for the Weary
SOUP and Nearer Nv Cod To