Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-15
SOUTH OMAHA HAS A UNION SERVICE.
Rev. wheeler Delivers n Principal
Sermon-SpecIaI Music.

Rev. wheeler Delivers the Principal
Sermon-SpecIaI Music.
Union memorial services in honor of will
liam Mckinley were held at the tent, Twen-
ty-third and NJ streets. at ii o'clock yester-
day. 1t is estimated that over 1000 people
attended these services. All of the local
clergymen were present and occupied seats
upon the platform, which was festooned with
flags draped In mourning. and a large photo
graph OF the former president. All Of those
who could procure them wore the ~favorite
flower Of the late president, a pink carna-
tion.
Rev. Robert L. Wheeler. pastor OF the
First Presbyterian church here for fifteen
years, delivered the principal address. HI
chose for his theme. Faith, the immortal
element in character" and used the thir-
teenth verse OF the eleventh chapter of He
brews: These died in faith. not having re-
ceived the promises, but having seen them
from afar of. and were persuaded of them,
and embraced them" He said, in part:
Sir Walter Scott tells In a mastery way
the story of Old Mortality, that loving al,
mirer of the old Covenanters who devoted
His time and energies to the restoration OF
their The touch of time had
messed the marbles where rested their
names and recited their virtues-and theSe
names of whom the world was not worthy
were passing into oblivion. Then Old MOT,
over scotland's kirSyards scraping away
the moss, ohiseling anew the letters and
sacred story Of the heroism of those Inn
might read and not forget the names Of the
men who saved the liberties and faith OF
AUD Scotia in an eternal peTpetulty; ,na
same sort OF work. The young church was
slow to take on the greatness Of character
1t must be possessed of II It MI the heav-
gnlV dream Paula mind NiSiOneC an The
coming empire of righteousness by the
faith OF Jesus Christ. SO he points out the
names of the heroic dead of the old church
Abraham, Jacob, Moses ana David, and
declared these held faith until death, they
saw the promises afar off by faith, they
t~hem'-faith then was the element in them
which gave the brilliancy of Immortality
to their character and names.
We have gathered about the first annual
milestone In our journey since we kneit
with a Borrowing nation at the grave of
because he was a loyal soldier, not alone
because he was the best loved president,
but because he, possessed that element Of
ordinary men the things of tomorrow, and
Ia the language of the text. he was per
suaded of them and embraced them We
had Just entered the gateways of the new
century, the outlines OF the n~ation's larger
life dimly lined the future. No man since
the days of Lincoln read so accur tely the
divine destiny of this republic. Mr.. Nc
Ktnley could not with his great faith be-
lieve that this nations future was con-
fined by the Golden Gate on the west or
Castle Calder on the east. but eyesight
overlooked the seas-"he saw the promise
from afar on and was persuaded of them.
He set the stars OF Old Glory in the orr,
ent. by faith he comprised the isles OF the
seas with constitution and law, and beyond
our sea-gates poured the light of our civ.
iization until the world was belted with
the larger hope of our larger life. Wash
iEgton at Bunker Hill by faith saw the col.
onies take on constitI tional life; Lincoln al
Gettysburg saw by faith a new nation rise
from the smoke of a cruel civil waT-but II
Was reserved for William Mckinley to ex-
tend Columbia's dominion worldwide and
introduce her, a living, reigning queen
among the powers of the earth. Faith i'm.
mortalized him.
Following the sermon OF DR.. Wheeler
there was a short address by Evangelist
Smith, which was directed along the same
lines. Special music was provided for the
occasion The songs loved best by the lat,
president were rendered by a choir and the
music was greatly appreciated by thos,
present. The iags on the pOstof1ce building
and on the high school building we're placed
at half-mast in honor Of Mckinley and re.
/ NAMED so all day.