Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-04
DIR. Kelley's DiseOurse-A Minister'S
Protest Against Mob Law.
The Remains Inferred at Mount OliTet
with Masonic Ceremonies.
The Memorial Recorded by the Sur
wing Comrades.

well aLteSJed Dy the unusually large tune
raj demonstration Of last Sunday afternoon,
in respect to the memory of the late officer
Robt. L. Frazier. The procession was
formed at the residence of the bereaved
family, on North Cherry street, and march
ed to McKendTee Church, in the following
order: Police Force (Sargeant Hawkins,
marsha), Mayor and City Council, Jeffer
sonian Club and citizens on foot, Or. &.
Sloan and Henry VOgt, maEshals), MasOns,
IT. o. Norris, marshal), the hearse, attend
ed by Sergeant McAllister. Jas. Womack,
w. I. Baker, and Henry Curren, pail bear
ers from the police force, and +. C.. Rock,
w. f. DaShiell, L. B. Verdner,
and L. r. Eastman, pail bearers from
the Masonic fraternity; family and friends
of the deceased and citizens generally in
carriages-the whole being, we suppose,
about three-quarters Of a mile in length.
Police Commissioner Parkes was Chief
Marshal of the procession. A more sol
emn and impressive funeral demonstration
was probably never witnessed in the city
Of Nashville. The attendance Of MasOns
was very large, that Of the municipal gov
ernment fell, and with the Jefiersonian
Club the number of citizens joining in was
a oENNAuNAC A9LGAN hAHnEo1Nu On AHG WA
sion of a fellOW-being's death. The very
long and comely line Of carriages furnished
by the undertaken, NJ. 5. Combs, was sup
plemented by an almost equal number Of
private vehicles.
AT THE CHURCH.
Very many that crowded about the vesti-
bule Of McKendree church DESTROYS of ad-
mittance could not get even standing room
inside the church and were turned away.
A greater ~cOncOurse was never assembled
within the walls Of that ancient sacred
structure.
Rev. DIR. d. e. Kelley preached the
funeral discourse. He read from the 18th
chapter Of the epistle to the Romans bear
ing upon the duties Of subjects 10 magis-
trates of government. at the close Of the
sCriptural recitation he remarked that piety
and patriotism were cOnfederates, not so
far divorced from each other that they did
not sometimes have mutual claims, one
Upon the other, and that this was an Oeca-
sion in which patriotism made a demand
upon piety which he was willing TO recog-
nize. The feeling and delicate sympathy
due 10 those, who were mOuTneTs upon
such an occasion as that, required the very
kindeSt treatment, yet his unqUeStiOned
friendship for the parties led him to indulge
in a line of thought to which duty called
him.
The Scriptures had laid down the bright
principle of obedience to statute authority,
and resistance thereto was not only a frac-
ton Of law, but a sin against God. This
principle did not affect the right Of the
people to change their government, but de-
,s,I r0urr8anaa 70 1aua1 anfhOrffu WhTln
he was aware that he was speaking only 70
the conservative and ~laW-abiding element
of the community, yet it was through
them alone that we might expect to reach
the level Of the mass Of society. II was a
principle clearly and distinctly fixed in
their minds, and necessarily reached out
and produced q controlling influence in the
whole community. The Apostle, in writing
these rules Of obedience TO government to
the people under the authority of foreign
rulers, was not Of their own nationality,
nor did he agree with them in modes Of
government.
He was glad TO see from the morning
papers the protest made 10y our city authOri-
li-s against the mob violence that ensued
upon The murder Of this officer Of the law,
and while he applauded them for the po-
sitiOu they took and especially recognized
the act Of The policemen rs being al they
could do under the circumstances, and
commencing them for their refusal to use
violence in support Of THEN authority, yet
the time was probably upon us when this
spirit Of mob violence would demand at
our hands las 4 yicariOus sacrifice some
prominent citizen in civil life, not with
arms, but with heroic purpose TO prevent
this desecratiOn Of the majesty OF the law,
to this mad spirit Of iusubOTdiuatiOn. The
loss Of one valuable and noble life would
DC DGtteI than that Il country should be
caused 10 suIier the OblOquy and the dis
which such scenes As that Of Friday
brought upon Us. He therefore de-
sired 30 add to the protest Of the guardians
Of peace, his protest as a patriot and Chris
lian minister, against that kind Of spirit, as
be believed il to be unworthy Of the time
bOnOred reputation Of our city, the civiiiza-
ton, and above all the Christianity Of the
AGE IN which we lived. He, therefore, in
the name of the Master whom he served,
entered his protest, believing that ODE
diencc 10 law was the true measure OF
Christian duty.
After a song and prayer DR.. Kelley read
lie personal history of Mr.. Frazier, and
upon the latter's desirts
Tor d religious life, and expressed
for his eternal salvation. Then
to the policemen PRESENT,
be remarked that he most earnestly CON-
neudai TO them the religious principles Of
which he had spoken Is characterizing the
life Of the deceased, and said that they little
dreamed If the confidence that was placed
them, both as TO their bravery and their
ruthfuluess, for it was under their careful
vatchfUlness that we slept az night, that
)ur houses were in safety above our heads,
md he assured them that many prayers
,Scended to God in their behalf for their
,tcrual life. He commended them to a
christian life and then closed with a few
emaTk5 TO the members Of the Masonic
Fraternity who were present. He pledged
o the family not only the interest Of the
.eceased's comrades on the police force,
nd the affection Of the Masonic Frater-
iiiy, but also the abiding interest Of the
cOmmuT ity.
The remains were taken to Mt. Olivet
and inferred with Masonic cere-
Monies.
a. OBITUARY PAGE
The following resolutions adopted by tie
urviving comrades have been spread on a
ace Of Record Of Arrests at the station
OuSe:
"Tbe companions on the police force Of
he lamented Robt. I. Frazier, killed TO-
AZ BY a pistol shot while in the discharge
his duty, desire to express in this formal
their respect for their deceased
''He was an honorable man in Ill his
fearless in the performance Of
very obligation, and free in every respect
ON the breaihOf repUOach. We regret his
ss as a friend; we deplOre the i~rreproach-
Die loss his family have sustained, and We
esire to present to them our sincere SYM
ithy; therefore
"ResOlved, that we send to the widow of ]
le deceased this expression Of u sorrow
T his death and her Bereavement, that We
tend his funeral in a body, aud that VT !
ear the usual badge Of mourning for thirty
lys.7 I
The memorial which VIZ present below 7
pears ON the opposite page with appTO- Z
ilie drapery, and in the midst Of the q
Of the surviving comrades and PO- 8
ye Commissioners: d
OFF1CER RoBT. FRAZER,
while in the discharge of his duty, : 4
WAS shot and killed by Joe =
Reed, cOlOred, at one O'clock, ,
on the 30th OF April, 1875. I
Nav he rest in peace, is the k
wish OF his late /,
companions. =
u
q