CHURCH NOTES.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 17 September 1901, Page 4

CHURCH NOTES.

‘•McKinley is Dead.”

(By Amicus.)

Such were the heart-stirring words

tiiat met our eyes on the “extra” as we a wended our way Jo church on Sunday morning. Instantly the whole circumstances that occasioned the great event flashed before the mind, and we joined with the civilised world in its sorrow. Our flags were half-mast, we listened to the “ Dead March ” from the organ, and our thoughts were chiefly riveted on the influence likely to be exercised by the awful tragedy. It is obvious_ that the hydra-headed anarchy is more in need of suppression than, ever it has been, and the propagators of its pernicious and abominable teaching need to be taught that a civilised world will hunt such devotees to the farthest extremity of habitation. The history of anarchy is too well known to need recital. What victims it has claimed, how it has undermined the splendour of society and advocated principles of an iiuhumane nature—all are familiar with these fiicls. President McKinley is a decided loss to the world. Few men have had more onerous duties than he, nor discharged them with the precision and excellent judgment that has characterised his career. During the Spanish-American war he was the object of much criticism, but bis actions and ruling have gained for him a world-wide approval. He has shown that he has a will of bis own, and his motives have not been actuated by foreign influence nor bis decisions polluted by men of partiality and selfishness. In tlio political world lie has stood eminent above most men of bis time, and in his, governing and administrative powers he has been the admired of all nations. He was essentially a Christian man. A member of the largest Protestant Church in America, be cultivated a character that would stand the closest scrutiny. To preach the Gospel and teach in the Sunday School were not unknown joy-;to •him and in every sacred duty he showed the profoundest reverence to the overruling power he recognised as his source of governance. Even though his Church ' wished him to follow its guidance, M'Kinley was not persuaded to diverge from the conviction of his own mind, but chose bis own lino of demacation although in opposition to valued friends. Ho one who had watched his movements can fail to -under-estimate his valued excellence nor refrain from casting a halo of glory around that personality so utterly stripped of any appendages of egoism or selfishness. Are we now to believe that the great mind has ceased its working ? Is he really dead ? How aunualous is that word “dead." M'Kiuley still lives. Set free from the entramelling environment of the flesh it is cast aside forever and the subjective has now been borne into the full morning of light. The evolution of that great spirit so admirably begun here will continue to evolve under infinitely more congenial conditions and understand fully the import of,its existence. We mourn bis loss, we regret the sjjd circumstances of his death, we join in grief with bis wife, wo pity the unfortunate fellow in bis awful deed, but for M'Kinley we may reserve our sympathy. Before the completion of, bis obsequies lie will have been initiated into the glory of the future besides which the happiness of the world is but avforecaste. How the lessons ■ press in us at such a time ! Poor weak struggling humanity, how great ihe need of patience by the great Ideal! How important that His teaching should be fostered. Anarchy offers us nothing. Materialism ssultifies our growlh and allays no spiritual yearnings. -Pessimism crushes the spirit of man and robs us of all existing joys but the golden rule, “do unto others as ye would they should do unto you,”, and “to love God and your neighbour as yourself ’’—that is the teaching that opens itp the avenue of the soul and leads man to the exercise of the grandest and noblest feelings and pro vofces a development that cannot fail t) make us regard our departure from this world as the most welcome and joyous event in our existence. M’Kinlcy’s dying words “Nearer my God to Thee,” are true in every sense of the word. While th/J world mourns his loss he now understands the infinite joy accompanying the soul’s return whence it came.'