The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-08
OBSEQUIES OF Mr.. HOLIDAY
Several Hundred Sorrowine Friends At
tend the Public Funeral Services.
Impressive Remarks by Mr. J. G. Blake. the
Intimate FMend of the Deceased, in
Speaking of His Last Hours.


most imposing demonstrations of sorrowine
tribute 10 the departure of private citizen ever
seen in the city. In the procession which pro-
ceeded to the church from the various lodge
i rooms which the deceased had attended were
/ many ieading citizens, comprising members of
the Board of Trade, Knights Templars. Scottish
Rite and the Grand Army of the Republic
There were over 200 Scottish Rite Mascns in
line. all wearing bouquets of Marechel Neil roses
/ and evergreen, bound with purple ribbon, the
| mourning insignia of the order. Then there
/ were about forty representatives of the Board
| of Trade, $50 members of George Fl. Thomas
| Post of ths Grand Army of the Republic, and
| fifty members of Raper Commandery, Knights
/ Templars. The latter acted as an escort. The
| pall-bearers were: VIM H. Smythe, F. Woods,
| II. Fl. McGaffey, f. O. Hawkins. Dr. P. G.. q.
| Hunt, Chalmers Brown, Charles Meyer Rufus
Syfers. S. B. Sweet. j. c. McCutcheon, Joseph
| W. Smith and John Cruft, of Terre Hauts.
The funeral services were held in Meridian
street NJ E. Church, of which the deceased was
member, and which proved entirely inadequate
for the number presenting themselves at the
door. The gallery and rear aisle were filed.
and hundreds were turned away. Rev. T. C.
Holiday, the venerable father. who is eighty
four years of age, was unable to attend, aad for
that private services were held at the
home of the deceased.
The floral tributes, which were clustered about
the casket in front of the pulpit were beautiful
in the extreme Noticeable among them was
an obelisk about four feet high. inscribed "a.
A. o. n. NJ. S., composed of carnations, rosebuis
Gala lilies; also. pillow, heart anchor and
crown. combined in one design, and composed
OF carnations. hyacinths and scarlet regina.
The latter sent by the Masonic fraternity Of
Michigan City. Other floral tributes
crescent and star, on. a stand four
feet high. with base of Gala
lilies: roll of honor. two feet, inscribed, t'Gcod
Night-Only Asleep sent by w. Fl. Schmidt
and others; cross and crown combined, of
hyacnths and roses; and Masonic emblem
(souare and compassl with &c" in the center,
composed of violets and choice flowers
quartet from the Scottish Rite Masons,
consisting OF Messrs. John G. Blake, Prof T.
w S. Belchsr, NJ d. Butler and Prof. Ora
Pearson, furnished beautiful and impressive
music, the selections being, When the Mists
have Rolled Away Child of the King" and
Some Sweet Day"
Rev DIR. j. E. Gilbert conducted the services,
assisted by Rev. DIR. Keen, pastor of Roberts
PARK Church; Rev. 7. B. Mclean, of Palestine,
and the aged DIR. Lynch. The latter pronounced
the opening prayer. in which he asked especially
for divine blessing upon the venerable father of
the deceased. who, stricken upon his couch.
was waiting the summons to join his son in the
better world
In view Of the other ceremonies that were to
follow, Rev. DR.. Gilbert made but g brief
funeral address. The deceased had, he said,
been born in Greensburg, Ind. in 1874. At the
age of fourteen years he united with the church.
AT seventeen he was preparing to enter college,
but the war broke oft, and. laying aside his
books he entered the army. serving until the
close of the war. From that time he
engaged n railroad interests in this city
until about FIVE or six years ago. when
he made assistant secretary of the Board
of Trade. and later elected secretary. He
belonged to q number of societies. and had risen
TO the thirty third degree of Masonry. He had
been universally honored and loved, account
OF his earnest work, fidelity. truthfulness, and
tenderness of spirit. He had never married,
but had given his life to the support and COM
fort of his father and sister, whom he had
treated with as much devotion as husband
and father could bestow upon a family In his
church life the deceased mad not been demon
strative, but lived in such way as to convince
his fellow-nen of his faith in Christ. He spoke
for Christ by deeds rather than by
words. Toward the close of the deceased's Ca
reer his Christian faith had trumphed in re-
markable way In order that the deceaseds
friends might know something of the triumph
of that death DIR. Gilbrt stated that he would
call on one who had been very near and dear to
Mr. Holiday during life, and by his side at
the hour of death-Mr J. G. Blake.
While Mr.. Blake describing the closing
moments of Mr.. Holidays life, many of the
ditors, mon as we'll as women, were observed TO
be weeping and Mr.. Blake himself was so az
fected as to make it difficult for him to speak.
Said he: 81 1T is only good night here. that we
may say good morning there were among
the last words, Monday morning, that
G. F. Holiday uttered to the little band of
grief-stricken friends by his bedside; but they
were words which acted balm to wounded
hearts. You can't paint q sunset, you can't de-
scribe the mutest sound and cannot. there
fore. describe the scene--a brave soul facing
eternity, staiwart brother fighting his last
battle. He could not overcome the natural de-
sire TO live little while longer Memory had
brought up the past to him. and, noble and true
a. he had been, he saw perhaps that he had NOS
done all that he might have done for the Master.
oh, that might have one
more day. he said, in which
to prepare to meet him. But he knew that ne
could not hope against the inevitable. Not |
long before the critical moment he offered
i commit myself into thy hands. oh Lord Jesus |
Christ! pray thee to take my spirit Then. |
noticing the half suppressed and agonIzed sobs |
of those about him he said almost hurriedly. |
oh, it's all right. it's all right Our brother |
has gone, but he has left the sweetest of all
memories. Brethren of the Masonic fraternity. |
it is a rich legacy TO At time I remem- |
Der he whispered, tell the boys, tell the boys |
tell them to be faithful and true
At the conclusion of MIR. BIake's address, |
Judge Elliott read a touching poem which |
friend of the deceased had requested him to |
road. The remainder of the services then |
conducted according to the ritual of the Scottish
Rite Masons. the ceremony being conducted by |
Colonel Ruckle, grand master; j. 7. Brush, |
senior warden; w. 81. Schmidt, junior warden; |
j. L. McMaster, grand aorator, and Judge Ell |
lott, chaplain. The services at the church |
then concluded with the privilege to the
dience of taking last look at the remains
After leaving the church the various organi-
cations again formed in line Meridian street |
and then marched to St Clair. the Scottish
Rite marching in the shape of small detached
triapg'es. At this point thirty forty
riages were in waiting to convey all members of
the Rite TO Crown Hill who wished to 60 On
reaching the burial place, the members formed |
a large circle around the grave and the last sad /
rites were completed in short service. led by |
Judge Byron &. Elliott, and followed by Rev.
E. Gantz and DIR. j. E. Gilbert after which
the Masons filed past the grave and deposited
on the coffin the roses and evergreens they had
carried on the lapeis of their coats.
The place of interment was in of the ex-
treme eastern pats of the cemetery. and is
marked by fine granite monument bearing the
name "Holiiday." The grave and the earth
taken from it was completely covered by mass
of evergreens interviewer with flowers, while
arge iron of choice hot-house plants stand
ing near helped to rob the chill March air of
some of its disagreeableness. TO the eye if not
to the body.