The New York herald., 1869-04-26
The LONG ISLAND RAILROAD DISASTER.
Funeral Services for Three OF
the Victims.


the funeral services over the bodies or Mrs. MAIN
da X. Pray Mr.. William c. RushmOre and DIR. O. M.
Pray three OF the victims OF the recent terrible ds
aster on the Long Island Railroad. were yesterday
performed at the Washington street Methodist Epis-
copai church, near the corner OF Hillary street.
Long before one O'Clock, the time when the SER
vices were announced TO take place. the church
was crowded to its utmost capacity, the aisles being
densely packed with persons obliged to stand there
being no room for them In the pews. The crowd
extended into the street, which, in front OF the
church, was thronged with people. There was not
even standing room on the steps OF the edince,
great was the press to get near the
door, great many OF the ladies and gentlemen in
the church who were not relatives OF the deceased
were in deep mourning and the general man fiesta
ton OF sorrow and respect was such as is seldom
accorded to the memory OF private individuals.
The interior Of the church was draped in mourn
ing and the front and steps OF the altar
fully Ornamented with wreaths OF white immor-
tees. Several clergymen Of various denominations
were present.
The services were opened by q voluntary ON the
organ. The hymn commencing "How vain is all
beneath the skies" was then sung, the entire con-
gregation joining in the solemn anthem. A fervent
and eloquent prayer by the Rev. Mr. Curry was
succeeded by scriptural selection taken from the
twenty-seventh Psalm, thirty first chapter of Pro-
the Rev. Mr.. Fletcher The funeral sermon was
then preached by the Rev. Mr.. Hlnt, pastor OF the
Washington street church, OF which Mr.. Rushmore
and Mrs. Pray were both members. He said they
were under the shock of fearful calamity but they
could not avert IT, they could not help it; they could
only trust In the living God, and they did so
trust In Him. He would be their hiding
place and refuge until these calamities
him he preacher) at tnis time to attempt anything
like an orderly discourse, but it seemed to him that
there was something In the manner in which the
very similar to the manner the Intelligence had
reached the patriarch OF old Of the sorrow that had
and naked shall l return thther; the Lord
e ns 1ne OF ne ese
iarly difficult for him to day.. he said, to at
tempt to conduct the services with any propriety
account OF the difficulty growing out OF the TACT that
there were salient marks Of character in the de-
ceased which he could only touch upon, but by the
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ he would speak out
Of the fulness Of his heart. The speaker here
alluded to Dr. Pray. He said that shortly after DR..
another Christian church. His pastor was present
and would speak Of his character. Soon after his
return he had co, come to see see The speaker, who had
frank and ingenious disposition and nigh
then alluded to Mrs. Pray: Her character was one
anS 5STn IN %'i 9ussa 81
tic disposition she the life and Joy OF her house
hold. She had accomplished a great deal In con-
nection with the church and the instruction and
assistance OF the poor. After speaking Of her
amlabe characteristics. her unaffected benevoence
and her Christian simplicity OF disposition and read
ing q hymn OF which she was the author the
preacher adverted to Mr.. RushmOre, aluding to his
benevolent and kindly disposition, his high IN
tegrity, his business capacity and general worth and
his religious le The speaker concluded by remind
Ing his ssarG Of the lesson Which this
Son OF Man cometh.n The Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher made o few remarks, in the course OF
which he extoed the characters OF the deceased
man could be business man and yet be reli-
g0us that he could 60 to the bank. the ONCE the
store and yet carry with him INTO his business q
spirit OF Christianity and love for his Maker. Mr..
Beecher spoke OF the eminent qualities OF Dr. Pray
who had been q member OF his church, and, while
away In the flower OF youth, said that consolation
TO be found In the sacred declaration blessed
are those who die In the faith"
The 1,051st hymn, which commences
oh for the death Of those
Who slumber In the Lord;
oh be like theirs my last repose,
Lake theirs my last reward,
was then sung after which a benediction was pro-
nounced by the Rev. Mr.. Curry, and the services
were concluded by the long metre dox0logy. The
remains Of the deceased, enclosed In handsome
rosewood casket were carried to the three hearses
IN waiting outside, and the funeral cortege pro-
cceded to Greenwood Cemetery, where the bodies
were Inferred The line OF carriages very long.
During the services many OF the congregation TO
whom the estimabe qualities or the deceased were
well known were affected TO tears, and all evinced
the deepest sympathy and regret and profound
sense of the solemnity OF the OCCASION large de-
tachment OF police from the Forty-drst precinct was
m atta