The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-11-25
THE GRAVE OF HENDRICKS
Services Commemorative of the Death
of the Distinguished Indianian.
Procession Of Clubs and Exercises at the Gene
terry in Presence Of Many Who Knew Him
Well-Judge Niblacks Address.

commemorative services at the grave of
Thomas A.. Hendricks. There was extreme
uncertainty as to weather, and the clouds
In the northwest were so dark and threat
ening, beside which a slight sprinkle of
rain had fallen, that it was about deter
mined to have the services take place at st.
PaUrs Episcopal Church. Bnt at the last
moment the sun broke through the clouds
for a few moments. and the procession
moved toward the cemetery. The order of
the procession consisted of a detachment of
police, followed by carriages with Judge
w. f.. Niblack, Rev. DR.. Jo-
seph S. Jenckes. Inc the choir who
were to take part in the ceremonies.
Also in carriages were invited guests, after
whom came Miller's Band and the Hen
bricks and Young Mems Gray Club. The
Hendricks Club made a very fine appear
ance, each member wearing a large and
handsome badge and a Marechal Mel rose.
At the head of the club, Immediately be-
hind its banner. marched Two five-year-Old
boys. twins. one bearing the name Thomas
A. Hendricks Kenworthy and the other
Grover Cleveland KenwOrthy. The line of
march was east on Washington to Pennsyl-
vania, north to New York, west to Merid-
ian. north to Seventh At this point a long
line of street-cars was in waiting for the
marcherst TO take them to the cemetery gate,
WucIc tuc pIOCcooiUu W do dkdlu OiHlCu
As the grounds were entered the chapel
bell began to toll and the band
struck up the dead march In Saul.
There were many persons upon. the
grounds awaiting the arrival OF the
procession, some having come by the
street-cars and others in carriages As the
grave. which lies but a short distance east
of the chapel, was reached, rain began to
fall and the exercises were shortened oy
the omission of a part of the music. There
are two graves upon the lot marked by the
Hendricks monument, one the grave of the
Vice-president and the other that of his
only son. an infant. born Jan; 16. 1S4s. who
died March 10, 1851. This little grave was
garlanded with ferns and white chrysan-
themums. while that of the Vice-president.
which had at its head a large and
beautiful floral emblem of gates ajar.
NUNS and smiiax. The Hendricks Club
formed a circle about the family monu-
: ment, leaving In the open space those who
were 10 take active part IN the ceremonies.
The choir, composed of Mr.. and Mrs. Nor
rison. Mrs. Lynn and Mr.. Ketcham, sung
Sweet Rest at HOme.' after which, at a
signal from Mr.. Myron King. the president
of the club, every head was reverently un-
covered and Rev. DR.. Jenckes pronounced
Judge VIM. f. Niblack than delivered
the address, In which he said that it is not
expected memorial services, however elab-
crate or impressive, will confer any real
CAfC VI COlulOl upOn tnC 0du LII h
nature of things they have only the power
of influencing and inspiring the living.
They are a pledge to those who are earnest
ly living to serve their country that their
efforts, when successful. will be apprecl-
ated. and that they will be held in grateful
remembrance by those who come after
them. To many minds such q pledge is
most encouraging. and largely productive
of good results. With most men and women
conscious of a power and disposition to do
good there is a comfort in the assurance
that their works as well astheir good names
will live after them.
1t has been reverently said" the Judge
continued, that it is good for us to pray,
even IL our prayers are not answered. Thisis
upon the theory that the condition of min
and soul which suggests a prayer is promo
tive OF good works and Indicates a reliance
upon divine power which gives hope for
the future. 1t is also upon the additional
theory&that there is a reflex action in pray
CT which benefits the person who prays. if
nothing else is accomplished at the time.
But. however that may be. there is an OBJ
vious reflex action in suitable memorial
services which confers good upon the liy-
ing and which gives character and inn
portance to that class of services whenever
appropriately. conducted. The distin-
enished dead in commemoration of whose
life and services these proceedings are de-
voted. belonged to that category
of men who are entitled to
the highest honors while living
t-Aa w AZ AAA1&o Yin
remembrance after death has taken them
from rs. By his ability and industry, aided
by gifts which nature had richly bestowed,
he attained distinction at a comparatively
early period In his life and ever afterwards
enjoyed public confidence in a most re-
markable degree. None claim for him en-
tire exemption from errors and mistakes,
or superiority In everything. Some were
more radical IN many things than he. Others
were more aggressi ye and exacting i'm their
methods of political warfare. Still others
gave more attention han he to matters of
mere organization and detail in political
our day has displayed more tact and ability
III solving difficult political problems anu in
achieving success under the most adverse
and embarrassing circumstances. He
seemed to be the man. and the only man.
for the crisis on many occasions. He had
the happy faculty, too, of keeping friends
together and bridging over unpleasant di-
lemmas and threatening political exigen-
cies. In such matters he had that strongly
magnetic influence and those peculiar per-
sonal qualifications necessary to leadership
In any public position.
VI Hendricks first came prominently TO
the front as a political leader and n recOg-
nized power in forensic debate in 1860. At
that time his party in this State was
greatly IN need OF a new leader, and a
goat opportunity was thus afforded him,
which he most ardently improved. In the
exciting and historic contest of that year
no oAcvCtCu tAC uuoob sdleui1c CApCCtd-
tons of his friends, and thereafter. until
the day of his death, he maintained a SUI
premacy in his party in Indiana which
no political friend ever thought seri-
ousiy of contesting. How hard and how
persistently his political friends In this
State tried to have him made President of
the United States has become a matter of
history. and need not now be recounted.
How gratified the same friends were when
he at last was made Vice-presldent. the of
nee next in rank to that of President, is
Within the recollection of all here to-day.
How shocked the country was at his sud-
don and unexpected death is remembered
by us all as one of the painful events of our
lives. His immediate friends felt as if n
light whlch had SIZED luster upon them had
been suddenly and almost cruelty extin-
guished-. What l have said in this general
way OF the distinguished dead recalls some
important and controlling incidents IN his
career, TO which l would ike to allude. and
which. perhaps. might be considered as
matter OF public interest, but L
fear that such a reference would
be regarded as somewhat %inappro-
pirate upon so mournful an occasion. and
would. in any event, unduly prolong these
ceremonies. / will not, therefore. now at
tempt a reference to any of those Incidents.
nor will i speak of the relations which ex-
listed between him and me during the last
twenty-five years of his life. These reia-
tons are known TO some of you, but they
lave no public interest. IL is due TO frank-
ness and to candor, however, to saw that
the death of no other public man ever
struck so hard and so close to me before or