1897-1901
One of the most devout presidents, McKinley found Methodism at a camp meeting revival when he was 10 years old. He became a member of the church six years later and remained steadfast in the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout his life. A biographer described McKinley's faith: "His devout Methodism did not lead him to concern himself with dogma or denominational differences. The loving-kindness of God was McKinley's religion, and the source of his inner serenity."
McKinley himself beseeched God's help and mercy publicly in his Thanksgiving proclamations and inaugural addresses. In his first inaugural, he referred to the nation's founders: "Our faith teaches that there is no safer reliance than upon the God of our fathers, who has so singularly favored the American people in every national trial, and who will not forsake us so long as we obey His commandments and walk humbly in his footsteps."
In 1899, McKinley spoke to the General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the White House and described his decision-making process in intervening in the Philippines: "I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed to Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night. And one night it came to me this way -- I don't know how it was, but it came -- (1) that we could not give them back to Spain -- that would be cowardly and dishonest ... (4) there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace to do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed, and went to sleep, and slept soundly."
McKinley was shot in 1901. He publicly forgave his assassin before dying eight days later.
One of the most devout presidents, McKinley found Methodism at a camp meeting revival when he was 10 years old. He became a member of the church six years later and remained steadfast in the Methodist Episcopal Church throughout his life. A biographer described McKinley's faith: "His devout Methodism did not lead him to concern himself with dogma or denominational differences. The loving-kindness of God was McKinley's religion, and the source of his inner serenity."
McKinley himself beseeched God's help and mercy publicly in his Thanksgiving proclamations and inaugural addresses. In his first inaugural, he referred to the nation's founders: "Our faith teaches that there is no safer reliance than upon the God of our fathers, who has so singularly favored the American people in every national trial, and who will not forsake us so long as we obey His commandments and walk humbly in his footsteps."
In 1899, McKinley spoke to the General Missionary Committee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the White House and described his decision-making process in intervening in the Philippines: "I walked the floor of the White House night after night until midnight, and I am not ashamed to tell you, gentlemen, that I went down on my knees and prayed to Almighty God for light and guidance more than one night. And one night it came to me this way -- I don't know how it was, but it came -- (1) that we could not give them back to Spain -- that would be cowardly and dishonest ... (4) there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and by God's grace to do the very best we could by them, as our fellow-men for whom Christ also died. And then I went to bed, and went to sleep, and slept soundly."
McKinley was shot in 1901. He publicly forgave his assassin before dying eight days later.
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