Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-09-15
REMEMBERED
MR.. MCKINLEY
Special Memorial Services Were Held
I'm Three Akron Churches Sunday.

Just a year ago, while nurses sur
rounded the bed of sufferer in
Buffalo, and skilled physicians tried
In vain every means that science could
suggest to relieve pain and prolong
life, the spirit of President William
Mckinley passed from earth. The
end was the more shocking to the
American people from the fact that
but few hours before the bulletin
had been cheerful, full Of hope and es-
surance that the wound the President
had received would probably not prove
fatal.
The people, who had been stunned
by the news of the dastardly attack
upon the President at the Exposition,
had forgotten their sorrow and were
preparing to celebrate his recovery.
The bulletins said: He will be at his
desk in six weeks" and everywhere
Americans Of whatever political creed,
were rejoicing that the attempt Of the
assassin had been unsuccessful. and
were rejoicing with the frail woman
to whom his recovery meant so much.
| Then came the news that the loved
one was failing rapidly, and before the
import of this was fully realized, all
was over. The next night, in the
churches all over the land. the people
gathered and lamented for their Pres
ident and sorrowed with his widow
Sunday night was the anniversary
Of Mr.. McKinley's death, and in many
hundred of churches in the United
States memorial services were held,
and the lessons which were to be
learned from the life of this exem-
plary husband, great statesman and
Christian gentleman were repeated
In Akron the observance was not
general, and in three churches only
were there special services in me-
moriam. At the First Congregational,
perhaps, the most elaborate prepara-
tions had been made. General Chas
Dick, Mayor VIM. b. Doyle, President
A. 3, Church, of Buchtel college, and
Rev. Fl. s. MacAyeal were the speak
ers
Rev. Howard MacAyeal was the first
speaker, and he said among other
! things: "The visions Of great men
are always fascinating. The lives Of
Alexander the Macedonian and julius
Caesar always attract, and when we
come down to our own times, and con-
slider our own heroes, we rejoice that
/ Washington was at the head of our
country. We rejoice in the life of
Lincoln. We are stirred when we
think that he belonged to us.
II do not mean to say that McKin-
ley stands on the same plane of great
ness as Lincoln. This would be un-
just to the man. Lincoln stands out
in a place by himself. Washington
1 is the second figure in American his
tory. In the group that follows, Me-
Kinley stands well toward the front.
l cnn add three things to what said
of Mckinley year ago
"He was distinctive in his home
life. The greatest of America Is the
result of conditions in the home, and
the prophecy of the man or the nation
without home is as nothing.
| "Then there was the religious note.
Religion is regarded as one of the
strongest bulwarks of the nation. and
Mckinley believed in throwing his
moral support on the side of religion.
Mr., Mckinley occnpied a high place
in the making of the last decade of
the worlds history. When it became
necessary for the United States to be
plunged into war with another, he
grasped thnt situation firmly. He
realized that America was to put the
imprint of the Anglo-Saxon on all the
peoples of the earth. and criticism did
not serve to drive him from his pur-
pose"
Mayor Doyle, who introduced Gen.
eral Dick, spoke very briefly, as fol-
lows.
THE election of Mr. Mckinley to be
President was a matter of especial i'm
portance to Ohio and to Akron people.
II there were those to whom 1t did not
bring sensation of JOY there was
pride that the President was an Ohio
man. Akron people felt that they had
particular interest In Mr.. Mckinley