“Have mercy upon us in this dispensation of thy providence. We believe in thee, we trust thee, our God of love—‘the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.’ We thank thee for the unsullied life of thy servant, our martyred President, whom thou hast taken to his coronation, and we pray for the final triumph of all the divine principles of pure character and free government for which he stood while he lived and which were baptized by his blood in his death. “Hear our prayer for blessings of consolation upon all those who were associated with him in the administration of the affairs of the government; especially vouchsafe thy presence to thy servant who has been suddenly called to assume the holy responsibility of our Chief Magistrate. “O God, bless our dear nation, and guide the ship of State through stormy seas; help thy people to be brave to fight the battles of the Lord and wise to solve all the problems of freedom. “Graciously hear us for comforting blessings to rest upon the family circle of our departed friend. Tenderly sustain thine handmaiden upon whom the blow of this sorrow most heavily falls. Accompany her, O God, as thou hast promised, through this dark valley and shadow, and may she fear no evil because thou art with her. “All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who has taught us when we pray to say, ‘Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’ “May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.” All present joined in the Lord’s prayer as the minister repeated it, President Roosevelt’s voice being audible at the back of the room. The service concluded with a simple benediction. [Illustration: GENERALS MILES, SHAFTER AND OTIS ENTERING THE MCKINLEY RESIDENCE AT CANTON.] [Illustration: THE LAST RETURN TO HIS OLD HOME. TAKING THE CASKET OUT OF THE CAR WINDOW AT CANTON.] CHAPTER XXXI. LYING IN STATE IN BUFFALO. The funeral services of William McKinley, the man, took place in the Milburn house in Buffalo, Sunday morning, September 15. The funeral of William McKinley, the President, commenced the next afternoon in the official residence of the city where he died. At the city hall in Buffalo everything was as he, who never denied the people’s desire to meet him face to face, and who paid with his life for the self-sacrifice, would have had it. From noon into another day, the reverent thousands upon thousands flowed past his bier, taking a last look on the face they so loved for what it meant to them and their country.