The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-25
y. n. . T. n,
BcRH NOVEMBER, 1895.
DIED June Is. 1919.
We . . . Z . > Q > . GO .


The body lies in State to day. The noble draw.
ing rooms are shrouded in black, and every win
dow III mourning with black scarts OF Grape. The
tall white columns of the majestic portlco facing
the ssuh are completely shrouded In black, giving
solemnly majestic and funeral as ect to the Pre-
sJdential mansion.
The funeral took place at four o'clock this af.
ternoon, masonic ceremonies being first performed
In the drawing room over the body. | saw the
body before it was encoffined. The features are
in noble compOsure. Death has impressed upon
them the sea of majesty. In his llfe, his features
never wore that impress of command and inteec-
tual strength, that seemed now chlselled upon
their marble outline. He was habited in a plain
suit Of black, and copy Of the Constitution Of
he United States was placed at his feet Before
being taken to the cemetery, the body was herme-
tically soldered within copper coffin.
From the house the funeralcOrtege, which was very
large all places OF business being closed by order of
our good Wing mayor, proceeded 20 the Methodist
Episcopal Church, where, after services performed
by the Rev: Mr.. Mcterren, II was conveyed to the
cemetery, followed by vast cOncourse of citizens.
The body was deposited in the Grundy vault, tenn
porarily; but it will soon be removed to vault on
the lawn of the ex-Presldenlal mansion. where
willow now stands, and over it will be erected
stately marble cenotaph thus the body of the Pre-
sdent from Tennessee will lie entombed in the
heart Of its capital MIR, Polk by will, the evening
before his DEATH, gave the lawn to the State, in
perpetulty, tor this purpose.
Mr.. Polk sent for the Rev. Dr. Edgar, Of the
Presbyterian church, seven days before his death,
desiring to be baptized by him He said to him
impressive!y -
should come to my death.bed unpr~pored. it woald
have made me wretched man yet am about to die,
az d have not made preparation. have not even been
baptized Tell me- sir can there be any ground for
man thus situated to hope?"
The Rev. Doctor made known to him the assur-
ancss and promises OF the gospel that merclfully
run parallel with mans lite.
Mr.. Polk then remarked, that he had been pre-
Ism n accidental
occurrence, that he had been several times strongly
inclined to be baptized during his admlnlstra-
ton, but that the cares and perplexlties OF public
life hardly gave him time for the solemn prepare
ton requisite, and so procrastination had ripened
into lnactlon, when II was now almost too late 10
act In his conversation with the Rev clergyman,
Mr. Polk evnced great knowledge OF the scrip.
tures which, he said, he had read great deal, and
deeply reverenced as Divine truth; in a word, he
was, theoretically, christian.
The conversation fatigung Mr.. Polk too much
for him TO be then baptized, it was postponed, to
take place the next evening but in the interval,
the ex-President recollected that when he was
governor and lived here, he used 10 hold many ar
guments with the Rev. Mr. McFeren, the talented
and popular Methodist minister OF the place, his
VAIN personal and political friend, and that he had
promised him thatwhen he did embrace christianity,
ihathe, the Rev. Mr.. McFercn. should baptlze hun.
He, therefore, sent for the Rev. DR.. Edgar, made
known this obligation, and expressed his in!entlon
The same day the venerable, Mrs. Polk. mother
Of the ex-Presldent, very plous Presbyterian
lady, arrived from her residence, forty miles dis
tant, accompanied by her own pastor, hoping that
her distinguished son would consent to be baptsed
by him..
'"Moiher," sad The dying ex-President, taking
her atieclionately by The hand," have never in my
lite dsobeyed you, but you must yield to yo'r son
now, and crafty my wishes. must be baptsed
by the Rev. Mr. McFerren."
His mother, wise she is pous, did not hesitate
10 gave her consent; and ia the presence OF the
Rev DR.. Edgar. and the Rev. Mr.. Mack, of Co
lumba, the ex-President received the rite of bap-
tism, at the hands of the Rev. Mr.. McFerren.
Mr.. Polk has died worth about one hundred
thousand dollars, the bak of which is settled upon
his ami,ble lady who, it to be hoped, will long
make this city her abode--an ornament to its
cety, for call lips do praise her. NOEL.
81 have sent you a rude, but accurate,
sketch Of the mansion Of the ex-Presldent, as
draped with mourning, on the day of the funeral.
The window blinds tied with black Grape, in,
however, handsomer bows than my pen has achiev-
ed NJ