The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-04-17
me r,.neraI q mo r.ssss q. 4. stewart,

The FuncrsI sr enc sssstc n. Il. stewart
Condensed from rapport or a eW Off Titnea1
The coffin containing the bod yrs piaced
in the main hall directly Id front of the en-
trance. The floral display was the most
elaborate and expensive ever prepared by,
New York florists. It was the first sight
that attracted attention upon entering the
house, and its effects were so dazzling that
the magnifcence OF the hall itself was FOR.
the time quite overlooked. The coffin, Of
rectangular shape, was OF solid English oak,
covered with rich lyons velyet, and lined
with white satin. From its edges there
hung q fringe OF bullion goli nearly four
inches deep. The edges OF the cover were
covered with heavy gold plating. Rods Of
plated gold extended along the sides for
handles, and similar shorter rods srayersed
the two ends. The cover was hinged, and
bore upon its inner surface an inscription
OF Dir. Stewards name and the dates OF his
birth and death. Upon the coffin there was
placed = crown Of white flowers, surmount-
ed by cross.
The remains were borne from the house
to st. Marks church. The funeral cortcge
was met at the door by Right Rev. Bishop
Potter and his assistants, who preceded the
body up the aisle to the railing. where it
was imbedded in mass OF flowers, perhaps
not quite so extensive, but appearing even
more expensive than those at the house.
Immediately after the coffin came the nine
teen pall-bearers. After these gentlemen,
and taking the pew Immediately behind
them, were Judge Hilton, with Mrs Stew
art upon his arm, and Mr.. Charles P.
Clinch, her brother, with his wife. Mrs.
Stewart was attired in the deepest black,
and so thick was her veil that her features
could not be seen, but underneath its
folds the white outlines Of widows
cap were visible. There was more
haste than decorum in the conduct
OF the services, for hardly had the coffin
been set in its place before they were begun,
and before all those entitled to admission to
the building had taken position they were
half over. They consisted solely Of that
burial ritual Of the Protestant Episcopal
church which is so familiar from long use,
but which is yet so solemn and seems so
fresh every time it is rendered. The SER
vices were commenced by Rev. DR.. j. III.
ter, and were concluded by Rev. DR.. Stephen
ii. Tying, Jr. The singing was quite equal to
that OF other occasions Of the kind. To the
general surprise, the entire service was per
formed in the church, the sexton at the
proper time throwing handful Of earth
upon the coffin. BY this time it was known
to all in any degree familiar with the ritual
that there was to be no sermon, and when
the fact became known by the abrupt con-
cluson, there was n general sense OF disap-
pointment, for it had been supposed that
Bishop Potter would make at least short
address.
Forty PAGES away in the old church-yard
was the family vault, which has now become
historic. The coffin was put in its place,
short benediction was pronounced by
Bishop Potter, the pall-bearers and mourn
ers retired, and the world was done with
all that was mortal of Alexander 7. Stewart.