Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-02-14
Funeral of Rishon Caners.

The funeral ceremonies over the last re-
mains of Bishop William Capers, in Column
bia, on Saturday last, were ola particularly
interesting and imposing character. We
learn from the Cdr0liniaB that, on Friday
morning, the body, enclosed in a metallic
coffin, was removed from his home, near An
derson Court House, accompanied by his
bereaved family and several friends. Judge
Whitner, Mr.. Osborn and others, accompan-
led it on it's way to Columbia, as far as Bel
ton. At this point they were met by the
Rev. DR.. Whitefoord Smith, who had been
requested by the family of the deceased to
the remains of Columbia, and
preach the funeral m
On arriving at Cokesbury, a large number
of weeping friends visited the car in which
the body was conveyed, and gazed for the
last time upon those features, so calm and
placid in death, and which had been so en-
deared to them in life. A committee, con-
sisting of the Rev. DR.. Boyd, Rev. Messrs.
j. w. Townsend, G. II. Wightman, had been
appointed by the community Of Cokesbury
to unite in the procession.
The funeral escort Feached Columbia at
4 O'Clock, P. M. and was met at the depot by
a committee of the clergy and laity, where a
procession was formed and the body convey
ed to the residence of the Rev. N. Tally.
On Saturday morning, at 10 O'Clock, the
body, accompanied by his family and the
clergy of Columbia, was conveyed to the
Washington-street Methodist Church, the
following ministers acting as pail be lrers:
Rev. P. j., Shand, Rev. A. Wigfall, of the
Protestant Episcopal Church.
Rev. DR.. Boyce and Rev. Mr.. Curtis, Of
the Baptist Church.
Rev. Drs. Leland and Howe, and Rev. Mr.
Frazer, of the Presbyterian Church.
Rev. Messrs. Crook, Gamewell andS. Town
send, of the Methodist Episcopal Churcl
South.
Attic church a large and sympathizinI
audience had already assembled. The solem'
services were conducted by Rev. DR.. White
foord Smith, and opened by the choir singin
he737th hymn, What though the arm ofco1
gueriag DEATH This was followed by a yer
impressive prayer. The 739th hymn-' Sci
t cant Of God, aceU DONE was then sung. Tn
lessons were the Goth Psalm and a porto
of the 18th chapter of lst Corinthians.
DIR. Smith then read his text from the Ac
. of the Apostles, xiii, chapter and part of tt
I Both verse:
For David, after he had served his own gener;
ton by the will of God, fell on Sleep
The sermon is said to have been eloquei
and impressive, and dwelling with some lit
particularly upon the the facts in Bishop G
{ pers' history, gave a clear and forcible anal
9 sis Of the character Of the man, and of h
religious teachings. From this we learn TIL
Bishop Capers was converted in 1903, ar
commencing ministerial services soon ate
continued them, under various, and ofte
L trying circumstances, to the hour ofhis deaf
At the close of the services the choir, whiC
n seemed to be q union of all the choirs of tt
different churches, sung with great effect Il
beautifulhymn (73l) ofBishop Heber-'Th,
a art done to the Craze, but zoe aoiu not deplo
10 heeP
il At the close of the services in the churc
= a large portion of the congregation pass
y around the altar, taking their last look
= one they so tenderly loved. The color
: people, to whom the deceased was peculiar
endeared by his many services, were then
lowed the like privilege.
y The body was then removed to the gra
ut in the rear of the pulpit, where the servi
for the burial of the dead was read by t
: Rev. Nicholas Tally.
Thus closed the melancholy scene, and
: mortal remains Of a great and a good m
" were left to rest till the Resurrection of
Last Day.