Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1901-09-27

stained glass windows on either side
were framed in black and the bal
cony of the Sunday-school to the
rear, thrown open into the church by
large sliding doors, was shrouded in
the same sombre colors.
Graceful black streamers festooned
along the groined arches of the nave
formed black canopy above the
chancel. From this, directly above
the low hag-covered catafalque on
which the casket was to rest, hung
beautiful silk banner, its blood-red
and snow-white folds tied midway
with a band of crepe. But it was
the floral display at the front of the
church which filed the whole edifice
with glory. The center of it all
was great wreath of American
Beauties framing black bordered
portrait of President Mckinley.
From it extending outward and up
ward was a perfect wealth of gor-
| geous blossoms.
Under the folds of the starry ban
ner with the lights shading their
effulgence from above, the fragrance
of the flowers lowering all about and
the music of Beethoven's grand fu-
neral march pulsing from the organ,
the body bearers gently lowered the
coffin to its support.
The generals and admirals of the
army and navy who comprised the
guard of honor, in their resplendent
uniforms followed the body and oc-
cupied the first pew on either side of
the center aisle. President Roosevelt
ard the cabinet came slowly after.
The president took his place immedi-
ately behind Gen. Miles.
The fourth pew from the front,
that always occupied by President
Mckinley, was draped in black and
remained vacant. The door leading
irto the Sabbath-school was opened
and the seats arranged below, as
well as those in the balcony were
soon filed with the representatives
OF various organizations and the fell
low townsmen of the martyred presi-
dent. Conspicuous among these
were the survivors of the Twenty
third Ohio, McKinley's old regiment,
who brought into the church the tat
tered battle flags the regiment had
carried throughout the civil war.
1t was after ? o'clock when the
quartette arose and lifted up its
voices with the touching words of
beautiful Isle of Somewhere" When
the sound of the last line had died
away Rev. o. B. Milligan, pastor of
the First Presbyterian church, in
which President and Mrs. Mckinley
were married 80 years ago, offered q
fervent prayer.
Rev. John A. Hall, pastor of Trim
ity Lutheran church, then read from
the Bible the beautiful 18th psalm
and Rev. e. p. Herbruck verses 41-5S
of the 25th chapter of First Corin-
thians. The quartette then sang
Cardinal Newman's grand hymn,
Lead, Kindly Light"
DIR. C. L. Manchester then delivered
an address which lasted "a minutes
on the life of the late president and
the lessons taught by his noble char
acter and death.
Bishop Joyce, of Minneapolis, fol-
lowed with brief prayer and the
services were concluded with the
singing of the hymn which Presi-
dent Mckinley repeated on his death
bed, Nearer, My God to Thee" The
entire congregation arose and joined
in the last stanza. Father Voltman,
OF Chicago, chaplain of the Twenty
ninth infantry, pronounced the bene-
diction. Then the notes of the organ
arose. The coffin was taken up and
borne from the church. The relatives
and those in official life went out in
the order they had entered.
1t was after 3 o'clock when the
anxious throng outside the church
saw the solemn pageant reappear
through the church doors. First
came the guard of military and naval
honor, the generals and admirals
forming in double line leading from
! the entrance to the hearse. Again
the fag-draped casket with its
wealth of flowers appeared and was
committed to the hearse. The presi
! dent and members of the cabinet fol
| lowed and stepped into the waiting
carriages. The relatives entered
carriages next. Then the squadron
of troopers broke from their battal
, ion front and, wheeling into platoons
, took up the march to the grave.
In the long line of carriages were
United States senators and members
of the house of representatives from
every section of the country, justice.
Of the United States supreme court
: the ranking heads of the army ant
navy, governors of states and may
J ors of cities and the dead president,
: fellow townsmen. Out Tuscarawai
} street the long procession moved
through a section OF the city where