Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-07-08
A SOLEMN SERVICE.
The Funerals Of Fannie McComb and
Burt Freeman Yesterday.
MANY PRETTY FLORAL TRIBUTES.
Rev. W. F. Conner breaches on the Sad
Fourth Of July Accident
TWO OF THE BODIES STILL UNBOUND

The new Arch Street NJ. L. Church, IN
Allegheny, was crowded at the morning
service, and. several hundred people
we're unable to gain admittance. 1t
was thought that the pastor, Rev. w. f.
Conner, would preach on the drowning of
five mem bers of the congregation on the
Fourth, but he only referred to it. He con-
trasted the happy meeting week ago when
the church was dedicated and the
gloom that was cast over the
audience yesterday. His text was
PHILIPPIANS H., 8. In referring to the sad
accident he spoke of how uncertain our
best joys are, and said: Gin great crises of
life we needed to go to the best model to
study HIS conduct and behavior, to see how
He deported himself inI the midst
of great trial, and we found
in Jesus the only satisfactory
exemplar. A model in humanity, model
in patriotism and especially a model in His
resignation to the will of Cog; no repining
or fighting against what seemed to be hard
and cruel fate His spirit was shown in
the Gethsemane prayer, Thy Will Be
Donep He heard the multitude sound his
praise one day and the next day cry,
cruelty him."
VERY SAD CONTRAST.
The speaker then contrasted the meeting
last Sunday and yesterday, and said in his
knowledge he did not know of a church
that could show such contrast as this. In
speaking of the accident, he said
the Lord does not interfere with
natural law and takes no account of igro-
rance or thoughtlessness on the part of any
one whether it was His people or not. 1t
happened this time that an accident due to
natural law fell upon the best OF Gods
people.
At the close of the services the pastor an
rounced that Sunday school services would
not be held in the afternoon, in order to give
the members an opportunity to attend the
funerals of Burt Freeman, member of the
choir, and Fannie McComb, a leading
worker in the Young Peoples Union.
The funeral services over the remains of
Mr.. Freeman were held in the Fifth U. P.
Church, on Irwin avenue, and never before
in the history of the church was such large
assembly congregated there. The services
were announced to commence at 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, but as early as o'clock
A VAST PROCESSION
of people lined the streets toward the
church, and long before the hour of service
the auditorium was overcrowded to such ar
extent that chairs had to be called into
requisition.
Soon afterward, however, the party of
mourners arrived. Eight pall-bearers at
tended the coffin of the young man, and a
large quantity of suitable decorations and
floral tributes was carried behind the re-
mains. The coffin, being placed in front of
the altar, the flowers were deposited on its
lid, hiding the casket entirely from view.
After the choir had sung an appropriate
hymn, the Rev. DR.. j. w. WitherspOon
read several extracts from the Scripture
bearing upon the occasion. Then he COM
menced his address, and dweit upon the
shortness and uncertainty of life, saving:
This young man was a true and industrious
member of our church. No duty was too hard
for him. He was ever ready to devote his time
and energy tn his fellow church members and
to the Sabbath school. Yet here he is! The
ways of the Lord are very mysterious; but yet
they not accidental He has come into the
community and taken away good many of
our dearest friends and brothers lately;
but still there is one hope-we shall see
them again. One thing, my dear friends, you
must not forget: we who look upon the pale
face of death as pictured in the features of
this corpse, must not think that this is the last
time we shall see him. Mol There will be a
time when we shall all meet him again in the
glory of salvation and the life everlasting.
1t is a sorrowful thing for the friends of this
young Nan to lose HIM so soon, in the
very spring of his manhood. 1t is heartrend-
ing grief for The father; but pity the mother
most of all. She, poor lady, is too sadly affected
TO know what she has lost. Just imagine a
mother unable to realize the loss of her own
dear boy the flower of her loving heart and
the pride of her motherly love. She is truly to
TO be pitied.
Then the reverend gentleman drew illus
trations and comparisons from the Bible,
IL, I - =, c,l, 4
not let one soul be lost that is repentant.
He cited the case of the young man at Main,
who was called from his coffin bv Jesus
Christ, and the case of Lazarus, as we'll as
others He concluded by requesting all the
members of the church to take an example
by this case as to how quickly death might
approach them.
IT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE.
The words of the preacher made a very
deep impression upon the audience, and
among the ladies there were few eyes that
did not show signs of tears and sympathy
for the sorely bereaved family.
A large number of carriages were stand
ing in the front of the church, and the
burial of the young man was attended by
many of his friends and aequaintances.
The funeral services at the former home
of Miss Fannie McComb on Clifton avenue
were very impressive. Many of her friends
crowded the house, the yard surrounding it
and the avenue. Rev. DR.. Conner con-
Quoted the services and paid glowing
tribute to the dead. Although quite young,
she was an active worker in the church, and
it will be difficult to fill her place. Before
her death she had entered heartily in the
work of raising money to wipe out the
church debt and was a most valuable men,
Der of the Young Peoples Union.
The body was encased in a neat casket
covered with floral tributes. The Young
Peoples Union sent a beautiful piece-a
broken circle. At the close of the service
the body was inferred in Bellevue Gene
terry
Although over 200 men were at work
searching for the missing bodies. Misses
Burton and Cassiday, neither were recovered