Publication information
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Source: Friend
Source type: newspaper
Document type: editorial
Document title: none
Author(s): anonymous
City of publication: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of publication: 14 September 1901
Volume number: 75
Issue number: 9
Pagination: 65

 
Citation
[untitled]. Friend 14 Sept. 1901 v75n9: p. 65.
 
Transcription
full text
 
Keywords
McKinley assassination (religious response).
 
Named persons
Jesus Christ; William McKinley.
 
Document

 

[untitled]

     THE Christlike utterance of our beloved President, “May God forgive him!” which he spoke when pierced by an assassin’s bullet, will disarm more Anarchists than all that man’s vengeance or gibbets can deter. That Divine expression dates from Christ on the cross and has done more than all wars to tender, redeem and civilize mankind. The winning power of Him who was so lifted up as to draw all men unto Him, is still potent, and it is a boon to this generation that the wrath of man can still praise him in showing to the nation an evidence of the Spirit of Him who said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” President McKinley has not lived in vain if only to have been brought to the place of such gospel preaching, which will become again historic.
     But how blind sin makes the foolhardy, who most always find that for every head of a government which they cut off, another forthwith springs up in its place. Rebels to civil government because rebels to the word of Divine grace in their hearts, may they be tendered by some sense of the virtue of Christ’s spirit as shown in William McKinley’s words, which for all he knew, were dying words.
     We know not the result thus early in the tidings, but can only wish blessing to our President’s life, and if that be inevitable, his death.

 

 


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