The Washington times., 1901-09-20
A BLOW AT THE NATION.
Lessons of the Lnte Tragedy Point
ed Out by the Rev. j. NJ Schick.


The service yesterday at Grace Ger
man Reformed Church, where President
| Roosevelt will worship, was solemn and
| impressive. The small edifice on Fif-
teenth Street, between Rhode Island Ave
nue. and Street, was filled to its ut
most seating capacity. and the service,
which consisted of the regular burial
ritual and sermon, was conducted by the
pastor. the Rev. John NJ. Schick. Two
large American flags. draped heavily
with black. one on either side of the pull
pit, were the only emblems of sorrow
and mourning.
The service was begun with the chant
ing of the Ninetieth Psalm by the con-
gregatiun, led by the choir. Conservatory
and memorial prayers were then read by
the pastor. Before the sermon the hymn
Lead, Kindly Light was sung very i'm
pressively by the choir, composed of Miss
Belle Rouzer and Miss Pauline Ham
mond, sopranos; Miss Mary Schick and
Mrs. Ephraim Carman, altos; r. f. Nc
Elroy, bass and Mr.. Carman, tenor. Miss
Mabel Moreland was the organist.
After prayers by the pastor for the
family of the late President and for the
nation the choir sang Nearer, My God.
| TO Thee" with much feeling.
ing text from Numbers Xxiii:S: How
shall curse whom God hath not cursed?"
These words" said the preacher. are
the burden of the prophet Balaam to Ba-
lah, King of Moab. when he had been sent
for to curse Israel on its march to the
promised land, and will serve the purpose
of an inspiration to anyone VINO VIII pray
erfully consider the one question which
occupies the nations mind and heart at
this hour.
ION last Sunday we reverently gave
our thought to the character and worth
of the President and drew comfort from
his life and character; and learned
lesson of trust to the will of God IN all
the circumstances of life, confident tnat
he is able to make all things work to-
gether for good 10 them that love hlrn
Today let us turn to the darker scene
of the assassin $ act and learn S.miiar
lesson of trust, assured that the same
God who himself ordains the nations of
the earth sustains them also in every
trying hour.
only the power that ordains can de-
stroy a government; and for our comfort
and consolation, as citizens mourning the
death of President we love, We turn to
the scenes of universal sorrow ana be-
hold the very general devotion to our
institutions represented IN our mar
tyred Executive. The answer of the ma
tion cannot be misunderstood. as one man
there has gone forth its response to the
challenge of anarchy saying that its
curse cannot avail; the nation God blesses
cannot be cursed by the act of man.
Its curse must recoil upon the perpe-
traitor and his inspirers. and here, too. as
in President McKinley's case. the answer
is not in any sense merely Vengeful
hatred of the individual anarchist. but
against the sentiment for which he
stands. God-fearing nation, moved TO
love of country, as an expression OF It's
love of Ged, cannot be moved by muir
derouS act to anything but deeper love
to the institutions assailed, and for the
nation which mourns.
To-day we lay with sorrowing hearts
the loved one to rest; no thought of
anxiety follows him; we know he sleeps
sweetly. and the tears that flow are mel
lowed for the memories that attach to
him; and when we contemplate the pos
sibilities confronting the nation we are
changing sovereignty and are bold in the
certainty that no curse of man, in what
ever form it may show itself. can harm
or hurt
will not end in tears, and the act of the
assassin cannot, dare not. meet its only
answer in the expressions of love for the
murdered President. True Christian 10y
atty. asserting itself above even our sor-
rows, will grow into definite acts which
shall make for national integrity. An
archy will be confronted with positive
loyalty. In our lives and in our words,
lofty patriotism will make itself known
and in all our grief a confident trust in
God, the God of Nations, Will comfort and
console us.
Let us consecrate ourselves this day
to fuller, more earnest devotion to God
and native land so that the stranger
within our borders may learn from us
how deeply we love the nation God has
blessed and the Gcd who has established
preserved and guided us; and the increas-
ing love of rulers and loyalty to our in
of our tears that William Mckinley did
not die in vain.