New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-16

CLERGYMEN AT WASHINGTON SPEAK
ON THE NATIONS LOSS.
fBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1suNE.l

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Washington Sept. 15.-In all the churches of
the national capital to-day the services were of
a most solemn character. and the sermons were
devoted to the nations loss.
The Rev. DR.. Frank Bristol. the regular pastor
of President McKnley's church, the Metro
politan Methodist Is in England. and the pulpit
to-day occupied by the Rev. w. H. Chap
man. The church. one OF the largest In the city,
crowded, many people being compelled to
stand. The Presidential pew was heavily draped
in black Tear dimmed eyes and subdued sobs
were the visible signs of the deep emotion that
stirred the immense congregation At the open
ing of the services special prayer offered
by the Rev. George Leech for 'her that has
been above all others stricken. that she may be
given grace to bear the blow, and that she may
realize that 1t is Gods will and for the best"
In his sermon Dr. Chapman reviewed the week
of hope ending with fear and finally with the
death of the President. He chose for his text
the words Judith mourneth." from Jeremiah
xiv. 2. He said in part:
The nation greatly honored itself in the cleo
ton of William Mckinley to direct its affairs.
His administration was blessing to the coun-
try. A recognition Of this fact have we in his
being chosen by the people for a second term.
Under his administration great prosperity has
come to the country in all of it's sections, pros
perity which continues. Zen those who disagreed
with him in his policy accorded to him honesty
In the course he pursued and regarded him ever
as man of honor and high integrity. He did
nothing that his Judgment and conscience failed
to approve. No safer, purer man that William
Mckinley has ever presided over the great
pubhc, and none more admired than he He was
endowed with the highest and noblest virtues
that lent dignity and force to his character and
moral bearing to his life He Christian
gentleman and exemplihed In his daily life the
sublime principles of Christianity and their wis.,
dom and excellence. He left behind him to
legacy splendid
character and unsulled record; Christian ex-
ample of life that says to others: This Is the
way, walk We In It," and the way that leads to
moral wealth, which is above all material
wealth. and leads at last to heaven and to God
The Rev. Samuel d. Paine. Past Grand Chap
lain of the Grand Army of the Republic and a
member of the same Loyal Legion commandery
with President Mckinley offered the concluding
prayer He asked for divine aid in the framing
Of laws for the nation that shall make such
crimes the murder Of the President impos-
sible.
At the Church of the Covenant the place of
worship Of Benjamin Harrison, James c. Blaine
and John Hay. and from which General Lawton
was buried, the pulpit filled by the Rev Dr.
James NJ. Ludlow, pastor of Mum Avenue Pres
byterian Church. of East Orange. n. j.. who
preaching from the text. Psalms xcvii. l. 1.-The
Lord reigneth." said:
Thrty-seven years ago nation stood over
the PROSTATE form of Abraham Lincoln: a whole
people stricken with mighty sadness; tossed
with contending passions of grief and fright
and vengeance. Then rose man majestic as a
prophet His voice sounded across the CONT
nent: God reigns. and the government at Wash
ington still lives" Sixteen years later James
A. Garfield was himself to fall by the hand of
the assassin. Then by his bier the nation heard
again the great text His lips did not move
but their silence articulated the saying in the
popular memory. where 1t ever fingers.
We had national prophecies in those days
The mother of Garfield bowed broken hearted
over her stricken son. all womanhood in the
cry. Now have nothing to live fort" quickly
adding But God knows best" And now we
have a new martyr prophet. The mantle of
Lincoln and Garfield, bloodstained but radiant
has fallen on William Mckinley In the last
moment. when deaths dart. mysteriousy
and cruelty started had almost silenced the
brave heart he gave this message to the coun-
try: 1T is Gods way. His will be done not
ours" Caiaphas, with the gift of the high
priests prophetic spirit upon him. said. 1T
is expedient that one man should die for the
people" Be sure, friends. that our Presidents
suffering in some way enters into the problem
of our nations redemption from pressing evils
1t was so with Lincoln's suffering. Across that
bloody chasm" the North and South
stretching their hands. and the spirit of Lin
coin welded them in divorceless alliance. Gar
f1eIds suffering for long time silenced the
greedy strife of factions and the whole nation
stepped TO higher plane from his grave
The greatest evil of our day is the discomfort
OF classes. voiced naturally perhaps rightfuly
by labor leaders. 1t is a dangerous condition
The hour calls for calmest business vision
fraternity. Beneath the debaters is a mass of
ignorant. over-amalgamized. fierce tempered
humanity which listens but cannot understand
Labor and capital should guard our debate
for the fool is Go to Ellis Island when
ship unloads its human freight Look at the i'll
balanced heads, the bestial or semi-idiotic
faces. the badly born sediment of European
population. sloughing off our shores Our
mining camp and manufacturing town are
dumping grounds. and worse in our greatest
cities political organizations which but
training schools for the perversion of civil gov
eminent from the purposes of safety and prog
rises to those of greed and lust, crime and an
archy; and yet the American citizen is unroused
to the tremendous hazard That is the meaning
OF the fact that the criminal classes of New
York pay annually hundred times as much
for their protection the capitalists and mer-
chants are willing to contribute for reform.
Was that shot at Buffalo needed to awaken the
people? 1t sounded like an accidental discharge
of one of the bombs in whole magazine OF
practical anarchism beneath our feet
One other consideration. Out of this horror
energies something of wondrous beauty, like a
grand mountain top through the clouds which
have wrapped It's side. 1t is the character Of a
man. Mckinley is now the nations beloved
His life. his work. will by force of circumstances
become the study Of history. 1t is grand thing
to be bic to say to the genera tons. Behold not
only the great. the devoted. but the good man
a pure soul cleaning ii. through ths evident vir-
sonal honesty, delicate sense of honor. dignity
combined with self-abnegation. the illustrator
crown which no nation could have set upon his
brow, the crown of his own humble discipline
ship of the all-crowned Jesus
The Rev. Dr. Donald C. Mcleod. Talmages
successor, pastor Of the First Presbyterian
Church. which Mr. Cleveland attended when
President, devoted his entire sermon to the life
and character of the martyred President. His
text was. Know We not that there Is a prince
and a great man fallen this day In Israel?' He
said In part:
1t is particularly and emnently fitting we
should be absorbed in the duties of our Presi-