Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-30
IN HONOR OF mckinley
Celebration Last Evening in
Metropolitan Church.
HIS FAME AND GOOD WORKS
Speakers Pay Tribute to Memory Of
the Deceased.
PRESIDENT ROOSEvELTS LETTER
Objects Of the United States Histori-
cal Society-views Of Postmaster
General Cortelyou.
PRESIDENT RO0SEvELTS LETTER

politan M. E. Church The occasion was
the celebration by the United States His
torical Society of the sixty-fourth anniver-
sary of the birth Of the great Ohioan.
1t was in the Metropolitan Church that
President Mckinley worshiped while serv-
ing in Congress and later when elevated to
the presidency, and his former pew was
draped with American flags last night The
audience was a large and representative
one. Mr.. Harry A. Colman, president of
the historical society, presided. The ushers
were members of the guard of honor, COM
posed of Spanish War Veterans in their
uniforms of blue and gray, and in charge of
Capt William Peacock, department adju-
tant; Capt. Thomas A. Green, department
quartermaster, and Capt. George West By
ron, department officer of the day.
Seated on the platform with President
Colman were the speakers, Rev. Frank M.
Bristol, pastor of Metropolitan Church,
and the members of the committee on ar
rangements. The background of the chancel
was made up of American flags, with
large likeness of the late President Nc
klnley as a center piece.
After the invocation by DR.. Bristol and
the opening musical number by Col A P.
Tasker on the big organ, with the Metro
politan Church choir, President Colman
stepped forward and made the opening ad-
dress:
''The United States Historical Society,",
he said, has invited you here tonight to
participate in paying a tribute of love and
homage to the memory of William Mckin-
ley on this the sixty-fourth anniversary of
his birth. While this society has for a
number Of years commemorated the natal
day of Abraham Lincoln, this is the first
occasion that it has undertaken to per-
form ike services for the last American
Iresioent VINO became martyr through
an assassin's bullet. It Is our intention.
however, to continue this service annu-
ally.
I'm concentrating the birth of these
two patriots we do SO, not because we fear
the passing of time will dim their glory.
but because we feel that in their lives are
embodied the principles of ideal manhood
and that they should ever be held up to the
young men and women of this age as types
of as near perfect life as it is possible to
attain on this EARTH"
Objects Of the Society.
Referring to the United States Historical
Society, President Colman concluded:
Established in 1888, this organization
has gone steadily onward until today our
membership extends from Maine to Florida
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and
among our members are many state super
lntendents of education and those identified
with other institutions of learning. Every
oOClcly VI tIllS character mas some specific
end to which it's members labor. Ours is
In the interest of truthful history-in the
interest of establishing facts not heretofore
recorded by the historian and in the in
terest of correcting errors in the history
that has been written. And while our work
has been limited in the past to certain por-
tions of the civil war and the recent war
with Spain, we hope in the future to
broaden it's sphere. We hope some day to
see erected in the capital city Of this ma
ton magnificent temple of history, in the
building of which each state of the Union
shall SHARE and where may be kept a last
ing record of the glorious deeds of Amer
ica'S famous men.
1.-The details of this proposed structure
are now being worked out, and we hope
before long to give them to the public"
Life and Public Services.
Maj John F. Lacey, representative in
Congress from Iowa, was the next speaker.
In an eloquent review of McKinley's life
and public services Maj Lacey said:
''McKinley's rise from the poor orphan
boy to the highest place in Christendom
is tale that is ever new and comforting.
He wore the chevrons Of a non-commis-
stoned officer at Antietam. The nation
made him commander-i chief in 1896.
widespread calamity. We have grown 30
used to prosperity in these days that 1t Is
difficult to recall the conditions which met
Mckinley on his inauguration. The pros
porous soon forget the ladder by which they
I'VE wear his favorite flower today. and
the nation and the homes are better that
he lived. and his death VIII set an example
Of Christian faith till time shall De no
more"
Favorite Hymn Sung.
At the conclusion Of his address, Mrs.
Inez Seymour Mcconnell sang one Of Presi-
dent McKinley's favorite songs, Rock of
Ages" At its conclusion she was heartily
ann,anded and received several floral pieces.
The next address was by DR.. Frank T.
Howe on mckinley, the Soldier" Having
been himself wearer OF the Union piue
during the days Of fire and smoke In the
eos. Dr. Howe began his story by descTlb-
ing Mckinley as the country boy and raw
recrlit. He traced his career as private,
non-commissioned officer, lieutenant, major
and finally, in 1896, the climax OF his SOL
der glory when he became commander-in-
chief of the American army and navy. DE-
Howe told the story Of Antietam. where Nc
Kiniey carried rations and hot coffee to
the soldiers on the ngntlns me. ne ae-
his promptitude Of action, and as perora-
tion told of the great love that Is feit Tor
the late President by the old veterans OF
the civil war and the younger ohes VI the
war with Spain.
Mr. Dana C. Holland sang Aeao, hinoiy
Iieht - another of the late Presidents
favorites, as lass SOLO, ana was the re-
Col William Edgar Rogers read letters
of regret from President Roosevelt vice
President Fairbanks, Postmaster Genera!
Cortelyou and MAJ; chas n, Miner To, OF
NJ the limited Spanish War Veterans and
a nephew of the late President Mckinley.
"McKinley, the Statesman"
An eloquent address on Mckinley the
Statesman, was given by Gen. ]. War
ran Ka;Yar representative from Ohio He