Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-09-15
LYias ln Stats


During the day Saturday thousands
visited the Capitol To take a last look
at the statesman and patriot, whose
life had been devoted to his country
men. Many brought flowers and
wreaths, which were placed upon the
casket as offerings to one whose fame
will live while America has history.
Although the crowd WAS large, and
all were anxious TO look upon the face
of the dead, yet it Was orderly, and
nothing occurred tn mar the s0lem-
nifty of the occasion.
As the time approached for COM
mencing the services, the spacious
galleries began to fill, and when the
clock struck three both galleries were
densely packed, and the floor OF the
house was also filled. Not One-fOurth
Of tie people who visited the Capitol
We're able to get into the hall. The
passages, the lower hall, south steps
and grounds We're thickly filled with
ladies, gentlemen and children. 1t
appeared as if the entire population
of the city were in and about the Cap
it0l.
In response to the invitation of the
Committee of Arrangements, the pop
uI9tian of the city rapaiFesi to the
CapitOl Yesterday afternoon, at .
O'Clock, to participate in the last hon
ors to the remains of Hon. John BELL,
Tennessee's gifted son. When we ar
rived at the Capitol we found all the
approaches crowded, and the entire
building crowded with a vast con-
course gathered to pay respect to the
illuStriOus dead. The body had been
lying in state during the day iii the
Representatives Chamber, guarded
BIZ a detachment of the 45th Infantry;
the elegant casket was covered with
wreaths; crowds were continually
passing along, looking fpr the last time
hpon the face of the dead. After some
time spent in permitting the vast
crowd to look upon the remains, the
audience became seated. The speak
er's stand was occupied by Bishop
Quintard, Revs. Rice, Sawrie, Young,
Wright, Skinner, Campbell, and p. ).
Fall; also ex-President Johnson, Gov.
SanteF, and mshY alher PIQnllnent
and distinguished diYines and citizens.
After the arrival of the family and
mourDers, the services were COM
menced by the reading OF selections
from the psalms, In impressive tones,
by the Rev. w. ID. Sawrie.
After the reading of the psalms,
Rev. DR.. Young offered ferYept and
eioduent prayer 10 the Throne of
Grace; when the Rev. +. S. Fall made
an address of great beauty, the con-
Guiding portion of which we copy, as
follows. He said:
For forty years past and more, az
acduaintance with our iliuStEiOus dead
was my privilege and my joy. Some
public men must speak of him as he
deserves. Some one better acquainted
with public matters than myself must
be his biographer as statesman and
as a patriot. Our beloved friend had
reached his three score years and ten
some three years since. His lease
was out, and he had the very great
privilege of spending the last three
years of his life, three years added to
| the allotted space of human exist
ence, in the quiet and delightful re-
tirement of a home like paradise, in
the bosom of family that loved him
and appreciated him. Drawing upon
the stores of his vast attainments, he
edited them daily by reading literary,
political and scientific, and especially
religious subjects. His last days were
not simply the days of philosopher,
man withdrawn entirely from the
hustle and turmoil Of political life,
but his life was that Of one medita-
ting upon divine things. What a
pleasure it is that the memory of man
retains the impression early made
upon 1t, when those Impressions are
such that he wishes to cherish them
when about to die. The immense
amount of learning acquired by Mr..
Bell was refuge in his last hours ior
himself, and a pleasure and Il delight
to his family circle. He was a menu
ber, as you are aware, of the First
Presbyterian Church, and was a regE-
lar communicate in that church. He
has now closed his eyes upon all
earthly things, and we trust has
opened them upon a world of light