The Washington times., 1902-09-15

In score or more OF the leadin
churches of Washington. yesterday
services were held commemorating tn
death of the late president McKnle,
from the assassin's bullet one year ago
1t is not improbable that as result o
the general interest manifested. an eff
fort may be made TO have September L
set apart as a national day of prayer
Rev. DR. B-.stol. the late President
pastor. made this suggestion :, his ad
cress yesterday morning.
In nearly every instance the congre.
cations were large. and the music espe.
eially appropriate TO the occasion, in
cluding as rule the late Presidents
favorite hymns, Nearer, My God, to
Thee" and Lead Kindly Light
In the Catholic churches the order OF
Cardinal Gibbons that there should be
services commemorating the day was
observed.
Secretary Wilson and Secretary
Hitchcock, two members of President
McKirley's Cabinet. and Secretary Cor
telyou attended the service at the Met
ropolitan NJ. e. Church, where Presi-
dent Mckinley worshiped for five years.
Laurel on Memorial Tablet.
The altar was draped with the nation
al colors, and on the marble tablet,
recently erected in the north end of the
church to the memory of the martyred
leader, was placed laure, wreath and
an American flag.
The church was crowded to the doors,
and many were compelled to stand in
the ante-rooms. Secretaries Hitchcock
and Wilson occupied the pew of Sena-
tor Fairbanks, the fourth from the front
il the central part of the church. The
seat which had formerly been President
NcKinley's was vacant.
Dr.. Bristol preached an eloquent and
thoughtful sermon. choosing his text
from Proverbs y:7, THE memory of the
just is blessed Secretary Wilson, at
the close of the sermon, to which he had
listened attentively, paid the divine
high compliment in the course of cas-
ual conversation, saying it was one of
the best sermons which he had ever
had the privilege of listening to. Then
he added:
81 often promised President Mckinley
lifetime, but / never did so. l am
sorry that never found the opportu-
nifty to come here before
Dr.. Bristoi's Sermon.
DR.. Bristol said in part:
1T hardly seems possible that year
has gone by since the most universally
loved President this nation ever had was
stricken down. The wound inflicted
upon the American heart was so sudden
and SO deep. and the pain of the peoples
sorrow was SO intense. that the country
scarcely realizes that twelvemonth
has passed since the good, great Presi-
dent met his martyrdom. The people
refuse TO be coniforted. Not all the
national glory, not all the material
prosperity, not all the bright hopes of
our political anu commercial future have
succeeded in diverting us. The nation
is still in mourning. And 1t viii be
long before this saddened and sordy |
chastened people Will be able TO say to |
the God of Nations Thou hast turned for |
me my mourning TO dancing; thou hast |
Put off my sack cloth and girded me |
with gladness.'
Suggests Setting Day Apart. /
"well may the people assemble this
day in the churches of our land and |
inaugurate an annual memorial of the
death os William Mckinley. In the olden
time, when the just. arniable. patriotic,
and righteous Josiah fell in battle the
prophet Jeremiah iernented for Josiah.
and all the singing men and singing
women spoke OF Josiah in their LAM
cntations and made them an ordinance
in Israel. Shall not annual memorial
services for William Mckinley be made
an ordinance in America"
DIR. Bristol then said that the peo-
pie bow their hearts TO the dispensa-
tion OF Proyidence-aithough the kill
.ng of the President was rather a dis
pensation of diabolical cruelty-and
learn the great lesson OF brave faith
and loving submission. He continued
as follows:
Not for one hour have the people
IOTSoSASu pusts LIE SOUu, the lGEl, =
the chiyairous Christian man; the pa
;riotic. hroad-minded. ideal President
the magnificent American. William Nc
Kinley. We garland his name with
most beautiful tributes of
gratitude and praise, of honor and love.
We rejoice In his fame as we glorled
10 his deeds. And in our song and ]
prayer, We worship. with renewed faith,
that divine Providence, who raises the ,
master spirits sent to guide our ma
tional destinies, and TO lead us in the
way of liberty and peace. and who nath I
wiiled, by the dictates of his uncrring {
ustice that the righteous shall be had ]
N everlasting remembrance. The more !
deals We have the better The more )
Just and great the leader we have TO !
GLOW to emulate. and to boast OF, the I
safer are our liberties, and the :,urcr +
Will be our footing up the difficult b
sleeps Of national prosperity"
DR.. Bristol said that great men indI- {