The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-11-05
THE FUNERAL OF THE LATE HON,
MRS. C. R. BISHOP.
The Procession. Incidents,

The Procession, Incidents,
&C. &c, DC
TIE WATCH o'ER THE DEATH.
For fifteen days and nights the black kahilis
have been waved over the coffin of the late Hon.
Mrs Bishop. Most sad has the time been in the
house of mourning Parties of sombre-clad men
with captain in charge, have watched in turns
eichty-four men Very striking has been the solemn
change as the relief came in. Behind each kahili
bearer would stand his relief, at given signal
the kahil was passed from hand to hand the
fresh bearers depressed their kahilis, for mo-
ment, while the tired guard formed in line, and
bowed in reverence to the remains and then the
mono.onous waving was resumed and continued
without ceasine till the next relief moving
sight to see in the dim light of the fading day. ft
emblem of our own fading lives.
The wall of the native mourners has sounded
INCREASINGLY, the melancholy sound rising and
falling in rythmic cadence. Friendly hands have
brought their tribute of flowers, and around the
cofiu all the exquisite blossoms of these tropic
isles have been lovingly laid. Magnificent large
kshilis have adorned the chamber of the dead
many of them made of feathers that have been
stored away foe years. Most conspicuous of these
were those made of the glossy black plumage Of
the o. bird from under whose wing come the two
yellow feathers which are used for the royal cloak
These plumes, emblems of Havaii's royalty, have
roundings, their very brightness coming into such
strong contrast with the sombre room, the pure
white flowers, and the almost shadovy figures Of
the black robed mourners. And so for fifteen
days the dead has been watched. The very skies
have seemed TO mourn the beloved chiefess and
hardly ray of sunshine has come forth. On
Sunday the day or which the last honors we're to
be paid to her who has gone, the brilliant tropic
sun came forth in all its radiance, giving as it
were last smile upon that daughter of the land,
vho,vhen away in foreign chimes, so fondly yearned
for its brilliant beams,
MOURNING.
Sunday. November ID, all those who loved, all
those who not knowing her personally could not
love, but respected Mrs. Bishop came together to
testify by their presence to the worth of truly good
woman. How heartfelt the grief was, how thor
oughly the one who had passed away was appre-
ciated by all, can only be realized by those who
were present at the ceremony. 1t was spontane-
Gus, it came from the strong man and from the
weak woman and it testified that not only ono of
the best Of Hawaiians, but one of the best of
women had gone to her last rest
ASSEMBLING.
Long before the appointed hour, $50 o. NJ the
many mourners had begun to assemble. The
rooms were well arranged and as the many friends
came in they were conducted to their seats. On
the right hand of the coffin sat the various repre-
sentatiyes of the foreign powers and the Consuls.
in many cases with their wives, to the left were
the members of the Priyy Council and the Mobiles
| of the Kingdom, at the foot of the coffin were
| ranged many personal friends and the two choirs.
At the head, space was left for the chief mourners
| behind them sat the King and Queen, the Prin-
cesses LiliuokalRni and Likelike, the Hons John
| o. Dominis and Cleghorn. Behind these again
were the Ministers, the Hon. Godfrey Rhodes the
President of the House of Representatives, the
members of the stats of His Majesty and the
Governor of Oahu, and number of officials.
The CoEFIN.
The space left in the centre of the room was
occupied by the coffin. This was an exquisite
native woods the light koa and the dark kou.
| Not trace of metal was to be seen on the finely
polished surface, the very handles being fashioned
of mournful kou. silver plate of exquisite work
manship bore the following inscription:
| The Honorable
| BERSlCE PAUAm RIsHoP,
| daughter of the
Chiefs \. Paki and L. konia-
and wife of the Honorable
Charles r. Bishop.
| Born December 1871, 1881,
| Died OctOber I6tk, 1881.
The plate was ornamented with scroll work and
delicate fern leaves, beautiful design. Over the
| coffin was spread the royal pail, mass of dark
velvet and white silk, embroidered with the royal
coat-oi-arms, the last cloak which has enveloped
| the remains of all Hawaii's noblest and best
Around were placed numerous tables bearing floral
| emblems, crosses, wreaths, and tributes which
had been made by those who had sincerely
mourned the deceased; rising from among these
| were massive silver candelabra. On either side
| stood four kahili bearers, not now waving the
| solemn black feathers, but bearing upright bril-
| liant hued kahilis, showing the rank of the de
ceased. At the head of the coffin was placed the
| kahili of Mrs. Bishop. made of pure white feath
| ers, surmounted by three balls of white satin
| Upon the coffin were laid mass of flowers and
| ferns. n crown of yellow crysanthemums ant
roses, pillows and cushions of heliotrope white
roses plumeria and stephanotis and several crosses
feathery with the maiden hair fern.
THE SERVICE.
Exactly at half past one the solemn tones of the
/ on wifi n of
| chords improylsed by Mr.. Wray Taylor. The
| Hon. c. Il. Bishop, Queen Emma, Mrs. W. F. Allen
the chief mourners with their attendants, entered
| the room. The chords died away and changed Il
the mournful strains of funeral chant sung b,
| the choir of Kawaiahao church. The words werC
| Ittd make Re kdHdlu, ola hon aHsi oiagn Of
man die shall he live again?) Job xiv. II. Thu
voices of that choir carried thrill that no hear
| could withstand. These were the people who haC
| worshipped where Mrs. Bishop had worshipped
| and the peculiarly mournful cadence of the Ha
vailan voice suited both the words and the music
Rev. II. h. Parker Pastor of Kawaiahao church
the officiating clergyman, made the prayer, anC
| delivered a short address in native. quartettl
from the choir of the Fort Street church, consist
ing of Mrs Hanford, Mrs. A. +. Judd, Miss Lewis
| Mrs. L. Damon and Messrs. w. w. Hall, j. Water
house, ]. n. Patty and Charles Cooke, accompanied
| on the organ by Miss Carrie Castle sang thu
hymn the Homeland" After this Mr.. Parke
delivered an impressive prayer-in English, ant
the religious ceremonies at the house were con
cluded.
| THE sADDEsT AND sAcREDEsT MOMENT"
The most heartrending part Of all funeral Ger
monies had now to be gone through, the cofiI
| was to be removed. Reyereutly were the beautiful
decorations laid aside, and the coffin, resting on
| bier of wheels, was slowly drawn from its temper
airy resting place. As it began to move the melan
choly auwe {" rose in the air. The coffin passeC
through the hall, it began to descend to til,
hearse; sixty kaLlis were bent in reverence to tn
earthly remains of the departed chiefess; the mel
ancholy vail of the Hawaiian, the smothered sol
of the foreigner was heard on the bamy tropic air
and the body of the last of the Kamehameha
glided from the home which, when in life it hat
been her desire to beautify. Since the day tina
the little Prince of Hawaii. the hope of Hawaii
was taken TO his last rest, there never has beer
such genuine grief shown by the natives. 1t wa
/ a national mourning. II will be long before tina
mournful cry, that spontaneous sob will die out o
the memory of the ears that heard it As tn
coffin touched the hearse the sloped kahilis slowl,
rose and after short delay, the melancholy cor
fege passed out Of the gates, which only shor
while before had closed upon the sister of tn
kamehamehas, and the last of noble race wa
borne slowly and reverently to her tomb.
| oRDRR OF PROCESSION.
Undertaken Williams,
Platoon Of Police "a mem.
Marshal Of the Kingdom and Aides.
Band Of the RefOrmatory School.
Engineers Of the Honolulu Fire Department.
| Honolulu Engine Co. No. ], Foreman Fassett,
| Mechanic Engine Co. No. ., Foreman Hustace
| Hawaii Engine Co. No. 4, Foreman Sauza.
| Pacific Hose Co No J. Foreman Rasemann.
| China Engine Co. No. ;, Foreman Ahphat.
| Harmony Lodge, l. o. U. +.
| Excelsior Lodge, l. o. o. 7.
Polynesia Encampment, /. D. o. F.
Children OF Native Sunday Schools.
Male Members Native Churches.