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Obsequies
Elaborate and appropriate
obsequies were held, beginning Sunday, September 15, at the Milburn
home in Buffalo, with a simple service of prayer, Scripture reading
and the singing of the President’s favorite hymns, “Lead, Kindly
Light,” and “Nearer, My God, to Thee.”
The casket was richly draped in black,
and bore this simple inscription on a silver plate:
c
Over the foot of the
casket an American flag hung in graceful folds, while beautiful
flowers in rich profusion, the gift of people from all parts of
the country, bore testimony of love.
At the close of these services, the
body was taken to the city hall, where it lay in state and was viewed
by thousands of sympathetic mourning people. [73][74]
On the following morning it was conveyed
to Washington, D. C, where services of a more national character
were held.
It is estimated that while on the
way from Buffalo to the national capital, one million people looked
upon the coffin in which were inclosed the mortal remains of their
beloved President.
Schools were dismissed, farms and
shops were deserted, and the people gathered at all available points
along the line on the railroad over which the funeral cortège passed.
Flags draped in mourning hung at half
mast from every home and store along the route. These, with the
faces of the people, bore evidence of the universal mourning into
which the Nation was plunged.
The services at Washington were held
beneath the dome of the Capitol, and were attended by high state
officials, representatives of foreign governments, and members of
various civic orders. Bishop Andrews, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, pronounced the eulogium. At the close of the services, sixty
thousands [sic] people passed in mournful [74][75]
file by the casket, and thousands more stood reverently waiting
when the doors were closed.
The last and most impressive services
were at the home city, Canton, Ohio. From Washington to this point,
twenty cars were required to transport the funeral party.
Along the route the same scenes were
enacted as had been witnessed between Buffalo and Washington. Though
the journey occurred in the night, at every station crowds were
gathered to pay their last tribute to the honored dead.
On arriving in Canton the body was
taken to the court-house, where it lay in state until evening. Here
it was again looked upon by thousands of people who were mourners
indeed. From the court-house it was removed to his home, where it
remained until the final services, which were held in the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which President McKinley had been long a member.
His pew, draped in mourning, was vacant.
Aside from that, every available place in the church was occupied.
[75][76]
There were present the same official
representatives as at Washington, and also the same company of relatives;
but here old friends and neighbors were given the place of honor
in the company of distinguished mourners.
Outside the church, sorrowful throngs
crowded the grounds, the streets, and neighboring lawns. The city
was one vast mass of mourning humanity that had come from all parts
of the state, all parts of the country, to do honor to him who was
to be laid away out of their sight forever.
At the close of the services at the
church the body of President William McKinley was conveyed to Westlawn
Cemetery, between two solid files of men, women and children, many
of whom manifested their grief by convulsive sobbing and weeping.
The gray stone vault that was to receive
the honored dead was literally banked with masses of beautiful flowers.
At the entrance the procession paused
while Bishop Joyce read the burial service [76][77]
and eight bugles sounded the notes of the soldier’s requiem for
the dead.
And now occurred one of the most singular
incidents ever recorded in the world’s history.
By request of President Roosevelt,
that day, September 19, was set apart as one of universal mourning.
Wherever our flag waved it was draped in black, and hung at half
mast. In all the large cities of the Union impressive services were
held at the same hour as those at Canton.
At the moment when the casket was
being lowered into the tomb there was a solemn hush throughout the
country. Telegraph lines were silenced. Street cars stopped running,
and for five minutes nearly all human activities ceased.
Not only was there mourning in this
country, but it extended throughout the world.
In many of the great cathedrals of
the Old World, in London, Paris, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, impressive
religious services were held. All denominations, Roman Catholics,
Protestants and Jews joined in these services, thus showing that
the religion of [77][78] him whom they
honored was of that divine type which alone can lead men in the
path of duty and righteousness.
The remains of President McKinley
lie in the cemetery at Canton, where a beautiful monument has been
erected to his memory. The place is annually visited by thousands
of people, who come to pay their respects to one who devoted his
life to the service of his country.
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