Daily New Dominion

UNION MEMORIAL SERVICES
Held In Commencement Hall by all Churches.

Numerous Addresses by Distinguished Ministers and Laymen—Morgantown's Tribute to the Deceased President—A Large Gathering of Representative People Present.

The Morgantown people assembled on Sunday evening at the Commencement Hall of the University to pay their highest tribute to their martyred President.

The hall was crowded with bowed heads in deepest grief. They had assembled to do honor to their great chieftain, dead William McKinley, who was but a few days ago the foremost citizen of America. He was one that has been tested by the standards by which we are accustomed to measure men, he commanded our respect and admiration; in private life, personal character, and in public services he exemplified the highest type of manhood.

The entrance to the hall was draped with the sombre pall of mourning. Across the big pipe organ was hung the garb of mourning and black bordered portrait of the three martyred presidents were suspended from the organ. The portrait of Mr. McKinley occupying the center position, Lincoln on the left and Garfield on the right. Over the pulpit was draped the American flag and on either side of the rostrum stood the stars and stripes at half mast. A large flag at half mast was hung from the gallery.

Mayor Steele presided at the meeting in an admirable manner. Those gathered to pay homage to the nation's dead fully appreciated that the event was one of the saddest and most heart rending calamities that has ever befallen the American people.

The meeting was opened by song, "Jesus Lover of My Soul" and followed by a very beautiful prayer by Dr. S. V. Leech. The congregation then sang

Lead, kindly Light amid the encircling gloom,
Lead thou me on.
The night is dark and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on.
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

I was not e'er thus, nor prayed that thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to choose and see my path; but now
Lead thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

So long thy power hath blessed me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

This was the late President's favorite hymn and it was sung with much depth of feeling and tenderness.

Dr. P. B. Reynolds delivered the first short address.—"Our Late President as a Representative American."

In part he said, We, to-night, are but joining a great people in a great loss. The bereavement is a personal one. It arouses true sorrow and a deep feeling. Our grief is not external and extravagant. It is spontaneous, sincere, and sorrow that is proper. It is a time when we forget party differences.

William McKinley was not a ruler, but a server of the nation. He was a typical American. He was a worker, a laborer, a student, a professional man, a soldier, a statesman, a representative of the people and as a President of the United States he stood for the ideal American."

Rev. W. D. Ryan spoke of the "Late President as a Christian".

Rev. Ryan said: "Millions bow in deepest sorrow to-day, not because the President of the United States has been taken from our midst, but the character of a great and good man has gone out. One that has been tried in every crucible.

In the past eleven years he has been the most prominent factor in the making of American history. Since sixteen years of age Mr. McKinley has been a member of the M. E. church and for 30 years has been a most devoted husband to an invalid wife. He was twice raised to the executive office, the highest gift of the American people. It was the coronation of his character. Our beloved President is dead and has gone to a second coronation. In his last words he spoke no word of malice against his assassin, but unwavering bade farewell to the American people,— "Goodby all, Goodby."

Hon. Joseph Moreland spoke on the "Late President as a Lawyer." His talk was very impressive and brought out many points of interest in the President's earlier life.

Dr. E. M. Turner, "The Late President as a Statesman." Mr. Turner dealt largely with his history as a statesman, relating his part in the great "McKinley Bill" and of his work in the halls of Congress.

Dr. Purinton,—"Mr. McKinley as President." He spoke of the President's high intellectual qualifications, his ready mind, and yet conservatism.

At a meeting held on Saturday morning at 11 o'clock at the Presbyterian church Mayor Steele appointed a committee of three to draft resolutions in memory of the President and the committee was composed of Dr. S. V. Leech, chairman, Prof. W. H. Gallup and Hon. Frank Cox. The resolutions as drafted by the committee were read and adopted.

Resolutions.

Whereas, the late universally beloved President of the United States— William McKinley has been murdered at Buffalo, N. Y. by an assassin we, citizens of Morgantown, W. Va. and its vicinity in mass meeting assembled regard it as a duty and privilege to place on record the following:

Resolved, That we deplore the terrible tragedy that has removed from earth one of the most patriotic accomplished and successful Chief Magistrates the nation has had. His remarkable and progressive achievements as a soldier, statesman, orator and President, combined with the sterling moral and Christian virtues that so richly adorned his character and life, have made his name and fame immortal.

Resolved, We tender to Mrs. Ida Saxton McKinley, in her overwhelming bereavement our deepest sympathy and our earnest prayers for divine support. May her precious recollections of him as a tender and ideal husband—a Christian of stainless character and spotless reputation, and a President who had won the admiration and respect of the peoples of all nations—be as a fountain of consolation to her, until she shall enter on the blessed heavenly life, and be with him again and forever.

Resolved, That President Theodore Roosevelt is entitled to our sympathy, as loyal citizens, in this supreme crisis, of his life. We pray that God may so endow him with wisdom that he may be thoroughly qualified for the important duties and solemn responsibility so suddenly forced upon him.

S. V. Leech,
William H. Gallup,
Frank Cox,
Committee.

The meeting closed with song, the national hymn, "America" and benediction by Dr. A. M. Buchanan.