Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-17

The Funeral Services OF the Late
A. 4. BrVant.


The Funeral Services OF the Late
A. J. Bryant.
Of more than ordinary impressiveness
was the funeral ceremonial performed
over the body Of A. J. Bryant in the Ma
sonic Temple Sunday. The casket, drap-
ed in pail OF white roses, bordered with
black velvet and choice ferns, rested in
the center Of King Solomons Hall. On
either side sat the cx Mayors relatives,
his personal friends and his
widow, all clothed in deepesS
mourning. On the steps Of the
dais were quantities Of rich flowers, white
roses and chrysanthemums, lilies, mar
cissus and jessamine. AT the east end OF
the hall sat the members Of Occidental
Lodge, in their white aprons and blue
ribbons, each wearing a spray Of cypress
Opposite was delegation Of insurance
men, headed by ID. j. Staples, and be-
side them sat the members Of the Grand
Jury, headed by Foreman O. j. Storey.
The pall-bearers occupied a row of
chairs underneath the organ-loft. Under
the chandelier stood the altar Of the
lodge, covered with black velvet Rest
ing on 1t was an anchor composed of
exquisite white rose-buds intermingled
with tiny sprays Of fern. The rest of the
hall was filed by the friends, male and
female, of the deceased.
Never before was there so large
crowd in King Solomon's Hall. On
either side, extending from the walls to
within few feet Of the center of the
floor, were rows of men and women, all
wearing apparel Of sombre tints. There
were many snowy heads among the men,
many pioneers. respected officials and
prominent merchants. There were few
men in the city better known, few who
had larger circle of acquaintance than
A. j. Bryant. The length Of his resi-
dence in the State, his political career
and his prominence in financial circles
made him marked man. The circum-
stances Of his death were such that all
who called him friend desired to pay
parting tribute to his memory.
Dr.. STATIONS few manly words of
panegyric, in which he spoke OF the de-
ceased's generosity, his large heart and
his loyalty, found responsive chords in
many bosoms. The assemblage, as he
spoke, stood listening silently with
bowed heads. The scene was impress
sive in the extreme. The hall was half
darkened, all the light from the opened
lattices seeming to focus on the deli
cately colored flowers at the foot of the
dais. The pale blue tints of walls and
ceilings and the stripes OF white and blue
carpet In the center Of the floor, con-
trasted strongly with the somber.hue
garb OF the mourners
1t was nearly O'Clock before the
hearse containing the casket and the
carriages OF the mourners arrived at the
Masonic Temple. A few simple cere-
haI al l. 4.
ing the residence of the deceased at 500
Suffer street. DIR. Joseph A. Wythe, of
Oakland, read the nintieth psalm, and
Dr. Stratton recited few prayers.
In the Temple the solemn services and
ceremonial prescribed by the Masonic
ritual were performed Worship
full Master G. R. Browne, from
his seat on the dias at the head
of the hall, read the prayers. the
members of the lodge responding in uni
son. The choir, consisting OF r. j.
Mould, f. l.. Goold, j. 0. Low and J. r.
Jones, sang first the chant, elbow Dark
the Road We Co." then the quartet,
Come We Disconsolate." After the
Worshipful Master had concluded the
reading of the burial services. they sang
with much expression the beautiful
hymn, Consolation.
DIR. Stratton then mounted the iais and
paid short tribute to the memory of the
deceased. A. j. Bryant was a man, he
said, notable in many ways. He was
strong and energetic and full of vitality.
He was bound to force himself to the
front. As one of the trustees of Mills
College, DIR. Stratton said he had fire.
quently come into personal contact with
the deceased, and had al ways found him
man singularly loyal and generous.
ready always to leap to the assistance of
the oppressed. He was true TO his
friends, and had always help for them
when they needed it.
"Of his religion you know more than |
do" said d.. Stratton. you can Judge
of it by the character of the services Won
have seen performed over his remains. -
In concluding, DR.. Stratton alluded to
the sad circumstances of Mr.. Bryant's
death; how he had left his home to re-
turn in few hours; OF the suddenness
of his taking off, and of the loss his
dea ii caused.
The organist, II. O. Hunt, then played
dirge, during which the assemblage
formed in lines and took farewell
glance at the face of the deceased as it
rested in the casket.
The members of Occidental Ledge
headed by Worshipful Master G. r.
Brown, Senior Warden III. A. Jones and
Junior Warden o. H. jerks. formed a
double line and marched three times
round the coffin. The pall-bearers, Geo,
s. Laid, General J. F. Houghton, Cen
eral w. H. l.. Barnes, George L. Bradley.
HI. w. Byington, Mayor Il. B. Pond,
Charles Main, Auditor Strother, ex-Gov-
ernor i. f. Low, Captain G. w. Thomas
together with E. X. Hawkins, DR.. AID.
ans, +. J. Bryant and w. X. Wander
slice, marched round the casket and
then filed out OF the room preceding the
mourners, who were headed by Frank
M. Pixley, on whose arm leant the dis
consulate widow.
The interment took place in Laurel
Hill Cemetery, where Mr.. Bryant had a
vault. Some OF the floral offerings were
exceedingly handsome. number were
from the private friends of Mr.. and Mrs.
Bryant, others we're from Insurance.
unions and political organizations. A
cross composed of white, pink and cream
roses, mingled with ferns springing from
base of ferns, moss and virginia leaves.
was the gift of the Underwriters Associ-
alton. Another cross of beautiful design
was from the Pacific Insurance Union.
A crown of marigolds resting on black
velvet cushion edged with green fern
leaves came from the pupils at Mills
College. A book of white roses inscribed
in violet lettering "a. j B., and 'Finis, :"
was from fha Sta.a Dan,ooro+;o f,I.t