The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-09-19


murderer bullet found the Presidents
life, but it found also the divine Mas
ter at the heart and center of hts be-
ing.
If we follow the smitten president
into his sick room and watch him
through the hours of his patient
suffering, it will only deepen the i'm
preston already made, of a life
sacredly and steadfastly held in the
blessed thrall of loving faith. We
listen to his words that are brave
and strong with the spirit of trustful
submission as the death angel comes
closer and breathes in his face. To
his companions in the service of the
government, whose grief and dismsy
are too deep for words. he utters the
words of hope and trust. and then
he leads them in that prayer for the
coming of the kingdom and the fulfill
ment of the divine will oa earth. And
finally, in vol 20 which does not
tremble with irresolution or doubt,
he says, "good bye all, goodbye. 1t is
ODDS way. His will be done.
will not undertake to characterize
him further or his services to his
country. 1t falls in with my purpose
to exhibit the religious element in his
character. The political situation he
dealt with was intricate and trying
and there have been and will be many
opinions as to the work he did ; but
in the tragic light of his taking off
the world has been permitted to look
into the heart of him, and men will
Increasingly believe that he loved
his country, and in the high and large
place he has called to fill, earnestly
sought to serve the people and the
world
At the First Baptist church last eve
ming large congregation assembled
to do honor to the late president, Will
liam Mckinley. and to listen to a
memorial sermon by Rev. F. E. R.
Miller. The preacher took text from
Isish As 10: ST graded thee though
thou hast not known me, and stated
the theme to be, Goods Hand in the
Life Of Ruler In introducing the
subject he showed how God solemnly
set apart Cyrus, the great Persian, as
an instrument to perform an i'm
portant service in the cause of Je-
hovah. The girdles of mighty kings
were Embossed before him, doors of
empire swung open at his touch, and
Israel was delivered from her Baby
lonian oppressors. Here is an intima-
ton of the processes of Providence.
Jehovah seeks by every means the &C
acknowledgement that he is the sole
God, the creator and ruler of the
world, that he is the father and coun
sellor of men. What profound inter
est this idea gives to all human his
tory There is SO much in the activi
ties of men resembling Don Quixote
fitting windmills that the mind is
often moved to contempt. But ali.
introduce the divine. element ard all is
changed. In this view "profane"
history becomes "sacred How great
the Importance it lends to every hu-
man lifel Though l may not be con-
scious of it always, though | may not
be able to understand the dealings of
God with me, nevertheless. his hand
is upon my arm and if yielded to will
direct my life to righteous issues. The
biography of any common man will
illustrate this truth, the history of the
nations heroes will but elaborate it.
Is not this the theme of William Nc
Kinley's career2 God girded him.
The preacher then selected several
incidents in the great mans life illus
trative of this thought. He referred
to his early home training, his CONVEX
sion at the age of sixteen years as
the laying of foundations for his after
life. His whole career is marked by
moral seriousness. Life and work
were to him significant. His espousal
of the abolition cause, his honest pay
ment of debts contracted by signing
paper for friend who deceived him
were introduced to support this state
ment.
In conclusion the speaker called at
tention to the closing scheme of Nc
Kinley's life. ''He stands speaking to
the multitudes who have come from
all parts of America to hear his
words. How rapidly and splendidly
his philosophy has broadened in these
later years. These are his significant
words: sGod and man have linked the
nations together. No nation can
longer be Indifferent to any other. +"
We must take those words as indica-
tive of our national duty. No need
to erect monument to this man 8
memory if we compel the insurgents
in congress to do justice by Cuba in
this hour of her commercial need. ("