A True Story of President McKinley Who Was Assassinated in 1902
What true child of God in this land has not heard of that sweet singer of the gospel of Christ, Ira D. Sankey? His travels with the noted evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, at whose meetings Sankey sought to preach Christ in song, introduced him to a worldwide audience.
One of Sankey's last lectures on "Sacred Song and Story" was delivered before a large audience in Washington, D.C. It was during the administration of President Wm. McKinley, and among those attending the lecture were Secretary of State John Hay, members of Congress, and several judges of the Supreme Court. The audience heartily joined in the singing of several of the hymns with Mr. Sankey, but the favorite of the evening was the soul-stirring "Nearer, my God, to Thee.”
During this visit to the nation's capitol, Sankey had requested Dr. Hamlin, pastor of the Church of the Covenant, to secure for him an appointment for an interview with President McKinley. Two days later the chief executive welcomed the singer warmly and graciously to the White House, expressing his pleasure in meeting personally one whom he had often heard in Ohio and whose gospel singing he had much enjoyed.
Mr. Sankey responded, "I understand that you are quite a fine singer yourself.”
With a smile the President replied: "I don't know about that; but I do try, like you, to sing the songs of Zion in the Spirit and with the understanding. The following day President McKinley went to New York, and while there attended service at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. During the service, "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung, and the President's clear voice rang out as he joined heartily in singing his favorite hymn. As he sang, oblivious to his surroundings, a reporter took a photograph of him which appeared the next day in one of the New York papers.
It was in Buffalo, in 1902, that the martyred President lay dying by the hand of an assassin. As his life was ebbing away, the sorrowing bystanders heard him singing faintly:
"Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee;
E'en though it be a cross
That raiseth me!
Still all my song shall be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee!”
Thus, on the wings of a song sacred to thousands who have heard its comforting words in time of sorrow, passed away one of the nation's noblest men. At the time of his funeral in Canton, Ohio, all the trains, trolley cars, and nearly all machinery in the United States were stopped for five minutes, and "Nearer, my God, to Thee" was sung in nearly every church in the land.
Friend, do you know the heavenly Source of all comfort, the blessed God who loves you with an everlasting love? If He is still a stranger to you, how can you face the trials of this life? And how will you dare to face the last dread enemy, DEATH? Before it is too late, turn to Him who so loved you that He gave His only begotten Son to die for you, and who, because of that precious death on Calvary's cross, can now speak peace to your soul.