The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-24

ing in all the Ian when these three
died.
And far removed from these in line
and circumstances but not in character
another leader. our chief. William Nc
Kinley. has fallen and is mourned as
truly and as sincerely as were they.
The strongest evidence Of devotion to
lofty ideals and near approach thereto
which a nation can furnish TO the world
has been furnished by us and that is.
true and heartfelt sorrow for the death
of our chieftain and righteous indigna-
ton and horror for the manner thereof.
Gods greatest gift to our nation is a
ruler of such upright and noble char
acter. as was u president and the
devils greatest curse is such an one as
his slayer. The one from above the
other from below. The one stands for
law and order, for righteousness and
peace, while the other is the avowed
enemy of them all. He belongs to that
class which breaks down the carved
work of Gods house with axes and
hammers n casts fire into His sancy
tuary and defiles by casting down The
dwelling place of Gods name to the
ground. In the garden of the Lord the
substitute the thorn for the grape,
the thistle for the fig, and the apples
of Sodom for the fruit of life. With
whips and scorpions they would drive
the children from the play ground and
hush forever their songs and shouts at
| play. But thank God their number is
small and doomed to become smaller
From wherence they spring,
They shall go down to the vile dust
From whence they spring,
Unweped, ~unhonored. unsung."
But the virtues of our dead president
shall be told in song and story: for
| kings and men shall delight to do him
honor. Like Moses, he was the leader
of his people over rough and ruggid
ways and like him also in that that he
was a man who sought divine guidance
in the discharge Of his high and deli
cate duties, and still further like him
in not being permitted to enter with
his people into the earthly Canaan.
But God reserved something better for
| him-a crown of righteousness, a home
in the Fathers house, membership in
the general assembly and church Of
the firstborn fellowship with innumer-
able company of angels, the spirits Of
Just men made perfect and our elder
brother. He went from a hall of music
to hear angels and ain sing the songs
of Moses and the Lamb. A man Of
lofty purpose, of unimpeachable char
acter, of a pure soul, of a loving, tende
affectionate nature-one of Gods no.
blemen, who bore without abuse that
grand old name of gentleman" Blame
less in his private and official life, as
gentle and sympathetic as a woman as
evidenced by his solicitude for the SOL
diers on their return from Cuba. In
his visit to them his bright smiles and
kindly words fell upon them like a
ray of sunlight on a prison wall"
And what was more beautiful than his
sweet ministry to his sick wife? And
for this, if for nothing else, every wo-
man Of the land should rise up and call
him blessed. His thoughfulness and
consolation was bestowed upon all
L even 1lnOn his C1a vav SInf M an I,,rt
! him."
Rev. Mr.. Hall closed his touching ref
erence with a identifying poem exceed
1ngly appropriate and consoling to his
hearers in this their hour of grief.
ADDRESS OF DIR. MCCLURE.
me chairman called on the Rev. A.
ID. Mcclure, DID,. who addressed the
audience. Mr.. Mcclure began BY read
ing the first five verses of The Thir-
teenth hapte of the APOSTLE PauTs
letter to the Romans. and said. This
is the message Of the apostle by insDir-
alton to his day and suits the condi-
lions that calls us together tcday. AS
a nation we are qualified in the terms
here used. 1t is time to realize this.
There is too little regard and rev.
erence Tor office bearers in our country,
we are haSty and rash in our fault-fnd
ing and criticisms. 1t is enough tbat
a man be of the opposite party 10 be
condemned. But the scriptures saw
Thou shall not speak evil OF the ruler
OF tiny people" Our fault in this is but
d part OF one national Sill that gives ex-
cuSe and license to maGn men to 60
further and kill ever such a ruler as
our late lamented president, Whom we
mourn today. 1 wish TO call attention
TO this and to raise my voice 20 CON
denim it.
2. Another sin may be mentioned as
important here because it is the evil
dence of a wide spread and serious
moral tendency. There is the spirit of
lawlessness wide spread n growing.
1t appears in our lynchings. President
Mckinley feared this and said, when he
feared that the mob might take the law
in their w n DO not let them
hurt him." There is a crime in our
southland which is base and I yielS To
none in condemning it. But it docs not
warrant the hasty procedure Of pun
without due process Of law.
That only adds one murder to another.
BY all means let the trial be speedy AMI
the execution of it's penalty swift. But
let the law have it's due course. 1t is
time for us all to create and Gull
trVate a public sentiment to uphold the
majesty of the law. Anarchism is only
n OF the worse EXPRESSIONS of CON
tempt for law and order.
3. Nothing but religion can cure this
evil. righteousness exalteth a nation"
and Righteousness is true religion in re-
lation and obedience to law. In this I
near a call to carry cur religion ~
these goddess. lawless ones. I hear a
call for home missionaries TO eniighten
and save. By all means, let the guilty
be punished. But let us try to redeem
and save as far as possible.
If any one says 1 cannot understand
how the will of God is done in the death
OF President Mckinley SO good and so
great, l point to this assembly called
together, to the thousands assembled
throughout our country as we are; to
the unity of our minds and the union Of
our patriotism expressed and promoted
by this.
Thinking Of what 1t means to thu
president, I recall an incident of a rail-
road employe on his way to execute a
command. His train was tagged and
he was ordered to report to the super
1ntendent. He wondered If there were
any charges against MIN. No, when he
entered the office Of the superintendent