The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-07
BURIED WITH HIGH HONOR
Seven thousand People Attend Rev.
q. = Eousron,s Funa

Q. l. Bouston's Funeral
The largest funeral that probably ever
toOk place in Savannah was that of the late
Rev. o. L. Houston, pastor OF the Bryan
Baptist church (colored), yesterday. 1t is
estimated that between 1000 ami 5000
people attended the services. Colored people
came from almost every portion Of the
state aud from Florida and South Carolina.
Between 1000 and 1900 people came in
from the dead minister's churches in Bryan
! county
The Bryan Baptist church, from which
the funeral took place, was thronged with
! people from o'clock in the morning until
noon, when the services began. The streets
near the church were crowded, and it was
almost impossible 70 pass on BRYAN street
between West Broad and Farm streets.
After viewing the remains in church
many went up to West Broad street to
await the funeral cortege. The sidewalks
were blocked the entire length Of tue
street. The funeral services did not
oegin until 1870 o'clock, owing to the alb
sence OF some of the visiting ministers. who
aid not arrive until that hour.
Inc remains of the dead pastor
rested in gl3ss-top casket in front
of tee pulpit. Every seat in the church
was taken and the aisles we're packed. The
edi1ce presented sad appearance. Tne
| columns that supported the gallery were
entWtned with black, the chandeliers were
draped, and the gallery lower walls were
covered with black cloth. The pulpit was
| clothed in mourning, and the far wall back
OF the pulpit was draped. Just over the
coif1n, suspended from each side of the
lower gallery wall, was black banner with
the inscription in white letters:
" Behold the bridegroom cometI; go We
oue to meet him. His last textn
In the pulpit were all of the ministers Of
the colored churcaes in the city and the
following visiting ministers: Rev. III.
Burke of Ogeechee, Rev. H. McDonough
OF Milledgeville, Rev. N. Perry of Bur
roughs Rev. B. o. Butler of White Bluff,
Rev. R. Mflin of Darie1, Rev. F. E.
Washington If Burroughs, Rev. A. Waddell
OF Beaufort, s. c., Rev. s. C. Roberts of
brunswick Rev. A. G. Bryan of Americus,
Rev. r. E. Spivey of Gainesville, Fla,
and Rev. w. J. White Of Augusta.
Rev. s. G. Roberts, moderator of Zion
Baptist ASS citation, presided at the serv-
IceS, which began with dirge by the
choir. Rev. Alexander Harris offered
prayer of much feeling, followed by music
and a scriptural lesson by Rev. A. Ellis
Remarks were made by Revs. S. C. Roberts,
). Z. Bryan, W. L. P. Weston, A. Waddell,
K. Mitf1in, w. j. White and R. E. Spivey.
Rev. f. K. Love, of the First African Bap-
fist church, offered PRAYER of coincidence.
After the prayer the organisG played
dirge and the aises. were cleared so
that the remains could be taken to the
aearse.
Just in front Of the church were formed
in line on each side of the street the Chat
ham Light Infantry in uniform, of which
Rev. Houston was an honorary member, the
Forest City Light Infantry in citizens dress,
and Eureka Lodge No. l, of Masons, of
which the deceased was a member.
Between tn Sc were the carriages for
The ministers and the family.
As ION as the central aisle of the church
was clear the ministers, headed by Revs.
Ellis and Roberts, filed down from the pull
pit and entered cir carriages as they
drove up The coffin came las, followed
by the aged mother and her friends
The funeral cortege proceeded up Bryan
street to West Broad street, and out West
Broad to Gwinnett, through Gwinnett and
Cuyler to the Cemetery road. Over sixty
vehicles were In the procession.
Tue people who we're unable to get inside
OF the church marched along the street
with the procession. The streets to the
cemetery were lined. Battery park pavil-
ion was crowded with people to watch the
procession as it passed into the cemetery to
the grave. The greater number
OF the people hurried on ahead
oI inc cOrtego and reached the
cemetery before the procession arrived.
For several hundred yards around the grave
colored people stood thick. The military
and the Masons marched ahead of the car
riages, and it was with difficulty tnat they
were able to clear the way 80 that the We
hicles could pass.
I e pail bearers were made up of mem
bers of the military and Masons. They
removed the casket from the hearse and
lowered itinto the grave. Rev. A. Ellis COM
mitted the remains to the earth, and PRAYER
was offered by Rev. F. j. Keyton. This
closed the service.
The city was full of visiting colored
people all day. The Central, Charleston
and Savannah and Savannah, Florida and
Western trains brought up large numbers
to attend the funeral. The dead preacher
had wide reputation, reaching over the
entire state and throughout Florida and
South Carolina. When his death was an
nounced it saddened the hearts of the col
ored people, and memorial services were
held all over the three states. The deceased
was one of the Oldest and one OF the most
notable of the southern colored ministry.