The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-09-20
Bishop Hoban's Address.

Bishop IIoban was the first speaker.
The audience seemed to be in doubt as
to whether or not applause was appro-
pirate and, consequently, the greeting
To the bishop, while general. was OF a
subdued character. Before he had fin
ished, however, his hearers forgot the
restraint they felt, and broke out sew
eral times i'm very loud hand-clapping
The bishops address follows;
Nj. chairman and Fellow Citizens:
We are gathered here tonight to pub
licly manifest our sorrow i'm the ma
tion'S loss ana to pay n tribute of re-
spect to the memory of William Me
Einlcy, late president of these United
states.
NOt only the physicians and the
nurses watched by the bedside of the
illustrious patient, but the eye of every
loyal citizen throughout our country
and of every friend of republican insti-
tutions throughout the world watched
anXiously for sign Of comfort and Of
hope that from that bed of sorrow he
might rise again to occupy the chair of
state, which he so worthilY filled.
And Not we alone, his fellow citizens.
offered up our earnest prayers that he
might live, but from the monarch on
his throne to the peasant in his cabin.
u
priest i'm the Philippines. from the lips
of believers in every Christian denomi-
nation, one universal prayer went up
to our Heavenly Father. such as the
world had never heard before, that the
chief magistrate of the American re-
public might he spared, not only TO
America but to the world.
But God i'm His omnisCicnt wisdom
has permitted otherwise, and we bow
in humble submission before the in
scrutahle designs of Divine Providence.
Mr.. chairman, il is not necessary for
me to dwell upon the lifc-stOry of our
lameutcd president, of his political
successes, of his honesty of character.
of his faithfulncss to duty, of his clean
private life ana unspottod public
career. We are all COgniZant His
knightly devotion to his invalid wife.
to whom this night i'm "A special man
ncr. the sympathy of the whole world
goes out in her atiliCtion and dcsola
tion. was but the beautiful fowering &
of noble soul, But what | would
wish to dwell upon during the few mo-
ments allotted to me this evening is
the christian character of the man in
his hour of trial The natural man.
when he is injured by another in
! stinCtly Graves for revenge, or at least
/ is pleased with the idea of punishment
| being inflicted ON his aSsailant. But
! Mr.. Mckinley rose above the level of
! the merely natural man; almost his
| first expression, after recovering some
what from the shock, was a prayer not
| to hurt the contemplate wretch, who
under the guise of friendly salutation
| had Crept forward to aSSa SSinatp the
| kindly man, who looked with pityine
eye on his supposed aflliCtion. Were
| Mr.. Mckinney man who had not
| taught himself lessons of Christian
Kindness all through his life, the thin
veneer of social restraint would have
! been broken In that sudden onset OF
| the assassin and the natural man
would have cried out for vengeance
| He, dying. fOrgaVc his enemy. and may
! Christ. who died for all men and in
| dying prayed for the forgiveness of His
| enemies, extend His mercy to the
stricken president. who initiated Hin
| in His divine charity.