Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-01
THE LAST SAD RITES
Over the Remains Of Ralph Waldo
Emerson.
Universal Manifestatlons Of Public asd
Private Sorrow.
CONCORD, Mass, April 80.

CONCORD, Mass, April 80.
The last sad rites over the remains OF Ralph
Waldo Emerson occurred this afternoon.
A special train from Boston carried . large
number. Many people we're on the streets,
attracted by the services, but were unable to
gain admission to the Unitarian church,
where the public ceremonies were held.
Almost every building in town bore over
the enterence of the door large black and
white rosette with other sombre draperies.
The public buildings were heavily draped
and even the homes of the very poor bore
outward marks of grief at the loss of their
friend and fellow townsman.
The services at the house. which were
strictly private, occurred at half-past two
and were conducted BY Rev. W. H. Furness
of Philadelphia. They were very simple in
character and only Mr.. Fnrness took part in
them. The body lay in front of the north
east room in which were gathered the family
and close friends of the deceased. Only
flowers were contained in three vases on the
mantel and were lilies of the valley, red and
white roses and arbutus. The adjoining
room and hallway were filled with friends
and neighbors. The aged mother of the poet,
Ills vile duu uduSutCi, S"s 'S'A s'AS
coffin Dr. Furness occupied a position in
the passage way between the two rooms and
made a brief and touching address, say
ing the peaceful face lying before them only
indicated to the like quiet of the soul within
and reflected its peace and purity while 1t
tenanted. He then recited Tennyson's de
serted Home" and repeated from Longfel-
low the words read at the poets own fun
eral few week ago. Appropriate quotations
from the Scriptures followed. The process
sion then formed for the public services at the
Unitarian church, which were but short
distance from the house. Concord
social circle led the way, then
followed by the hearse and pail
bearers, Chas. Emerson and Haven
Emerson, nephews of the deceased, VIM. H.
Forbes. (Emerson's sonin-law) j. Elliot
Cabot. (Emerson's biographer) Prof James
B. Thayer, DIR. Edward Emerson, Ralph
Forbes and MIR. w. Thayer, GALL relatives of
the deceased) and following them few car
riages with the family and intimate friends.
At the church many hundreds were awaiting
the arrival of the procession, and all the
space except the reserved pews were packed.
In front of the pulpit were simple decora-
tons. Boughs of pine covered the desk and
in their centre was harp of yellow jOnquils,
the gift of Mrs. Louisa NJ. Alcott. Other
floral tributes were an open volume upon one
page on white ground the word "Finis" in
blue flowers, this was from the teachers and
scholars in the Emerson school. By the
sides of the pulpit were white and scarlet
geraniums and pine boughs, and high on the
wall laurel wreath.
Before $50 the pail bearers brought in a
plain black walnut coffin which was placed
before the pulpit The lid was turned back
and upon it was put a cluster of richly color
ed pansies and a small bouquet of roses.
While the coffin was being carried in "Pleyels
Hymn was rendered on the organ by request
of the family of the deceased DR.. James
Freeman Clarke then entered the pulpit
Judge 4. lockwood Hoar remained by the
coffin below, and when the congregation be-
came quiet he made a brief and pathetic ad-
dress, his voice many times trembling with
emotion.
MIR. Hoar began his tribute with the words,
'The beauty of Israel is fall in its high
place" He then spoke of the world wide
sorrow which will be felt at the Poets death,
and Of the special veneration and grief of
the tOwnspeople who considered him their
own. He read selection from Parnassus,
beginning, ''He is gone, is dust, he the more
fortunate, yea. he hath finished" Then
turning to the open coffin he said "That
and lowly aspirations, those lips of eloquent
and never let go its Immortality, that great
heart to which everything was welcome that
belonged to man, that hospitable nature,
loving and tender and generous, having no
repulsion, no scofn for anything but mean
ness and .baseness, oh, friend, brother, father,
lover, teacher, inspirer, guide, is there moth
ing more that we can do no than to give thee
our hail and farewell?
Another selection beginning. "a sweet
attractive kind of grace" was then read by
Mr.. Hoar, and in conclusion, he recited one
of DIR. Watts hymns specially liked by
Emerson.
Judge Hoars remarks were followed by
the congregation singing hymn, Thy will
be DONE"
Rev. Mr.. Furness then read selections
from various portions of the Scriptures.
Rev. James Freeman Clark delivered q very
interesting address upon the life and works
of the deceased. A feeling prayer was then
offered by Rev. Howard NJ. Brown of Brook
line. This closed the exercises in the church
and over an hour was occupied by PASSING
files of friends and visitors viewing the dead
Poet. The body was robed completely in white,
| and the face bore its natural and peaceful
expression. From the church the procession
took its way to the cemetary. The grave
was made beneath tall pine aud was bor-
dered with strewings of pine bough. The
sevices at the grave were brief and the cas-
ket was soon lowered to its last resting place.
Rev. DIR. Haskins, cousin of the family, an
Episcopal clergyman. read the Episcopal
burial service and closed with the Lords
Prayer. A. Bronson Alcott read an original
poem after which DIR. Haskins pronounced
benediction. The grandchildren then passed
in turn by the open grave each throwing into
lie 1apthS houuuot IF Nnwars