The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-05-15
BENEDICTION
Pronounced by Late
Bishop on Mckinley
Memorial Day Re-
called by Many
INDEX TO CHARACTER

INDEX TO CHARACTER
To many of Canton's citizens who
heard last night of the death of Bish-
op Horstmann there came back the
picture of the venerable prelate as he
stood on the platform facing the Nc
Kinley monument on the afternoon of
September 30, last year, and pronounc-
ed the benediction following the con-
clusion of the ceremonies of dedica-
tion. Tall and of commanding appear
ance, his head whitened by the pass
ing of nearly three score winters and
his face shining as with a great light
the bishop made a memorable figure
| as he stood barhed in the golden
beams of the setting sun of that beau
tiful autumn day and spoke the last
words of the ceremony in honor OF
the late president, man with whom
he had been intimately acquainted.
That was the last public appearance
of Bishop Horstmann in this city if
his participation in the confirmation
services at local churches since Mon
day evening be excepted. 1t was the
last time that the general public of
the city and neighboring cities had
opportunity of hearing him speak.
In the words which he used that
day for the framing of his thought
may be found the keynote of his char
acter and success. He and President
Mckinley were close friends because
they had many traits of character in
common. Both were mastery men,
stout but tender hearted, unselfish in
thought and action. fain to do for 9th
ers at the sacrifice of self and because
of this both grew to be greatly below
ed by those who had opportunity to
know them and to be respected by all
to whom their reputation was borne
by word of mouth or printed book.
The benediction delivered that day
is as follows:
I'VE have come to the end of this
simple, impressive and solemn cere-
mony. I have been asked to give the
benediction.
ITO me it is, indeed, a privilege and
pleasure to stand here today be-
side the tomb of my dear, departed
friend, William Mckinley, the late
president of this republic, and to
give public expression to the great
esteem in which l held him during
life and to the deep reverence l have
FOR his memory, now that he is gone.
"The world is ruled more by ideals
than ideas 1t is good for us all 10
have ideals-men of character to
look up to. We have had them in
the past, and we have them still in
| this our beloved land, and we thank
! God for this inestimable blessing TO
mankind and especially to our own
Countrymen.
From illustrious names in our
country's history, names like Wash
fngton, Lincoln and Mckinley, let
youth draw it's inspiration. Let the
character of our young manhood be
nodded On models like these. They
were great men, all of them, and
great in the measure in which they
were good-men of pure lives, men
who were tried and fourd true, in a
word, men who were men. Their do
mestic life was blameless, and their
public life no less. Conscience ruled
them. They realized that duty was
paramount, duty to God and man,
and they strOve earnestly in the full
fillment of theirs; and now they are
in the hands of their Judge, and we,
on our part, thank God for their
work
Almighty God, we thank. Thee for
this memorial, which has been set up
here in the midst of our people, to
perpetuate the name of great and
good man, the late lamented president
of the republic. We give Three praise
today for the life of William McKin-
ley. May this tomb-this monument
erected to his memory by a grateful
nation-ever remain to teach our cLil.
dren, and our children's children, that
true greatness is founded upon Vir-
tue, and that the fear of the Lord
is the beginning of wisdom.
THE Holy Spirit, speaking of the
heroes of Jewish history, bids us
praise men of renown, and our faith
ers in their generation; their bodies
are buried in peace, but their name
liveth unto generation and genera
tion-foTever, William Mckinley was
such a hero; he was truly a man of
renown; his name will ever live in
the history of our country as a great,
good, a pure man, wise and pru-
dent statesman, an honor and a glory
to the presidentcy of this grand repub-
lie.
"While we thank God for the ex-
ample of this noble life which was