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

Wnen the SOunO OF the last line naQ
ldied away, Rev. o. B. Milligan, pastor
Iof the First Presbyterian church.
lin which the president and Mrs Nc
lKinley were married thirty years ago,
lofered a fervent prayer
DR. John A. Hall. pastor OF the Trim
lity Lutheran church, then read from
the Bible the beautiful 18th Psalm, and
i25th chapter of I Corinthians. With
great feeling he read the inspiring
words telling OF the mystery that all
would not sleep, but all would De
lchanged.
The quartette hen sang Cardinal
Newman's grand hymn, the beautiful
words floating through all the churh.
DIR. MANCHESTER'S ADDRESS.
DR.. G. E. Manchester then delivered
an address, which lasted twenty-four
minutes. on the life OF the late presi-
dent and the lessons taught by his
noble character and death. Dr. Man
leicester said in part:
My friends and countrymen, with
what language shall l attempt to Civ
expression to the deep horror OF our
souls as 1 speak of the cause OF his
death. when we consider the magnitude
of the crime that has plunged the
try and the world into unutteraole
grief. We are not surprised that one
nationality after another has fastened
to repudiate the ~dreadful act. This
gentle spirit who hated no one, to whom
every nan vas a brother, was suddenly
smitten by the cruel hand OF an assas-
sin and that too, while in the very act
of extending a kind and generous
greeting to one who approached him
under the sacred guise of friendship.
Gould the assailant have realized
how awful was the act he was about
to perform-how utterly heartless the
deed, methinks he would have stayed
his hand at the very threshold of it.
In all the coming years men Will seek
in vain to fathom the enormity of that
crime.
Had this man who fell been a des-
pot, a tyrant, an oppressor, an insane
frenzy to rid the world Of him might
have sought excuse but it was the peo-
pies friend who fell when William Nc
kinley received the fatal wound. Him
self a son Of toll, his sympathies were
with the toilers. No n who has seen
the matchless grace and perfect ease
with which he greeted such can ever
doubt that his heart was in his ope
hand. Every heart throb was for his
!c~ountrymen. That his life should be
sacrificed at such a time, just when
there was abundant peace, when all the
Americans were rejoicing together, is
one Of the i~nscrutable mysteries of
Providence. Like many others, is
must be left for future revelations to
explain.
I'm the midst of our sorrow we lave
much to console us. He lived to see
his nation greater tina ever before.
All sectional lines are blotted out. There
is no south, no north, no east, no west.
Washington saw the beginning of our
national life. Lincoln PASSED through
the night Of our history and saw the
dawn. Mckinley beheld his country in
the splendor of it's moor Truly he died
in the fullness of his fame. With Paul
he could say. and with equal truthful
mess: / am now ready to be offered
The work assigned him had been we'll
ldone. The nation was at peace. We
had fairly entered upon an era of un-
Iparalleled prosperity. Our revenues
were generous. Our standing among
the nations was secure. Our president
was safely enshrined in the af-
Elections of a united people. 1t was
not at him that the fatal shot was fired.
but at the very life of the government.
His Offering was vicarious. 1t was
blood poured upon the altar of human
liberty"
Bishop I. w. Joyce, Of Minneapolis,
followed with a brief prayer and the
lservices were concluded with the sing
ing of the hymn which President Nc
lKinley repeated on his death bed,
NEARER My God, to Thee" The entire
congregation arose and joined in the
last stanZa.
Father valtman. of Chicago, chaplain
of the Twenty-ninth infantry, pro-
I%nounced the benediction.
TO THE CEMETERY.
Then the notes of the organ again
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 8 o'clock when the silent
and anxious throngs outside the church
saw the solemn pageant reappear
Through the church doors.
Out UScarawaS street the long pro-
l~ceSSion moved through a section of the
city where the sound of the dirge had
not before been heard; but it presented
the same sorrow stricken aspect that
had been observed in the heart Of the
city. Funeral arches spanned the
street, some of them, it is understood
Ihaving been erected by school children
The houses were hung with black and
even the stately elms along the road
way a their trunks enshrouded in
black and white drapery.
The line of the funeral march from
the church to the cemetery was abcu;
one and one half miles in length.
For tours even before the time SCI
for the commencement of the fuaera
Exercises at the Mckinley home. tn
streets along the entire length Of tn
line Of march was crowded with spec
tators. From the gates Of the cemeter.
to the doors Of the church there wa!
on each side Of the street an almos
unbroken line Of soldiers, and on all tn,
intersecting streets detachments o
militia were posted about 100 feet from
the line of march.
AT THE CEMETERY.
1t was exactly four minutes after
O'Clock when the funeral car bore III
remains Of the lead president through
the gateway of his last resting place
Twenty n after that time, tn
brief services at the vault were over
the members of the family and tn
distinguished men Of the nation VIII,
had come so far to do him honor, hat
Ipassed through the gates on their home
ward way.
THE VAULT GUARDED BY TROOPS
One hour and forty minutes after tn,
hearse had entered the cemetery tn
place was clear and the dead presiden
was resting alone under the watchfu