Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-04-24
IT'S But THE END OF ALL
Funeral Of ex-Speaker Samuel J. Ran
dali at Washington.
Prominent People Do the Last Honors
to His Memory.
Impressive Sermon Delivered by Rev.
DR.. Chester.

MIS-. v. u. IdilCdSltI dllu MISS ICuSlS
dali, Mr.. c. Lancaster, Mr.. Randall s
brother from Philadelphia and members
of his family entered the church and were
escorted to seats on the left center aisle,
directly behind the casket. Secretary and
Mrs. Blaine entered soon afterward, fol-
lowed by Vice. President Morton,
Chief Justice Fuller and Miss Fuller.
Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. E. W. Halford.
Speaker Reed and large number of sena-
tors and representatives, many of whom
were accompanied by members of their
families. A detachment of comrades
from the department of the Potomac, G.
A. R., occupied seats to the left of the
pull pit. Shortly before ten o'clock the
house and senate committee, wearing
broad white sashes, entered the church
and were escorted to seats to the left of
the Randall family. With them came the
honorary pall-bearers, wearing black
sashes. The services were opened with
the hymn, Lead Kindly Light" by the
Shubert quartette of male singers, accom-
panied by the organ.
When the quartette had concluded Rev.
DIR. Milburn, the blind chaplain of the
house of representatives recited
verses from the fifteenth chapter of St.
Paul beginning but now is Christ risen
from the dead He concluded the selec-
ton with prayer in which he implored
divine comfort for the afflicted widow and
her family in the loss of the loving hus-
band whom he characterized as a patriot,
a statesman, lover of his country and a
servant of the people.
Rev. Dr. Chester, the pastor of the
church, then announced that the hymn,
"Just As | Am Without One Plea" ia
vorite of Mr.. Randall's, would be sung.
The congregation joined in the singing.
and when the last strains of the organ had
died away DR.. CHESTER, in a very impress
i've manner, delivered the funeral sermon.
''In this solemn hour, in this house of
God, now gather the representatives of a
great nation around the earthly remains
of one of its most honored citizens. Here
men of different political faiths, of various
religious creeds unite In tribute of respect
to one whom the nation delighted to hon
or. But it is not to public career that our
thoughts are turned In this solemn hour.
For it was wish expressed by Mr.. Ran
dali that this funeral service should be de-
void Of earthly pomp; that it should be
held in the sanctuary where the heart
alienation before its God
that the chief recognition Of
himself should be his testimony to the
grace of Jesus Christ as the blessed saviour
The expression of such a desire affords
one of the best eulogies on his character
1t reveals the honest simplicity OF his ma
ture. 1t fifty crowns life of service tc
man, a death of testimony to the grace OF
God. To the great men gathered here
today comes That voice whose utterances
carried such weight in our Legislative
halls, the magic of whose influence was
felt by whole nation, and speaks not Of
itself but of the grace and comfort which
comes to a soul through the crucifed one
of Calvary. He though dead YET
speaketh, reminding us OF the
faithful saying and worthy
of all acceptation of acceptation of the
greatest ruler and the humblest subject
by the most cultured intellect and the
humblest mind-a saying worthy of all
acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into
the world to save sinners. 1t was the ap-
probation, yet grand proposition, which
gave Mr.. Randall such comfort when he
faced that most trying ordeal-the passage
of soul to the presence of its God. Those
who knew him intimately recognized the
fact that before his last sickness his mind
had turned to serious reflection. However
men might differ from him IN
opinion, all recognized the rugged hon
esty of his character; all knew that his
hands would never be sullied by brides, OF
lis opinions swerved by favor. Like all
other men he had his temptations, but
long before his death he had completely
conquered every unlawful appetite Yet
with all this morality of life, Mr.. Randall
realized that he needed that preparation
of heart which could on y come through
the blood that cleanseth from all sin, and
by that holy spirit which can sanctify the
soul Therefore was it that after calm
reflection he made the request to be
baptized and received into the
church of Christ. This step was taken al
time, when, however anxious his friends
were about his recovery, he himself fully
expected returning to active life. 1t was
touching scene when more than three
months since he made profession of hi:
faith in Christ, was baptized and partool
of the sacrament of the Lords supper
Though Frustrated on his couch, with that
strong will which ever characterized hi
actions he made the last eff
fort of his life to rise from his couch
to receive the baptismal rite. He de
voutly partook of the emblems of the body
and blood of the Savior, the little com
pany. his family ana friends there assem-
bed heard that voice which had otter
rung through the legislative halls speak
ing in accents of grated love of thai
blessed One who had brought salvation t.
his soul. That strong resolute man bowed
as meekly as little child of grace
From that hour a great load seen
lifted off his mind He passed
| through weeks of the severest suffering t.
take the yoke of Chrisu and He whom he
delighted to honor; confessed himself tt
be a sinner, saved by bodily pain; he
fought nobly, courageously, hopefully, the
battle with disease, yet he bore his suffer
ing with beautiful Christian patience
The promises of Gods word, frequent
| meditation on the grace of Christ, the
| prayers offered at his bedside, were his
greatest comfort
A great man has fallen by the hand Of
| DEATH his name has been inscribed in ou1
countrys annals and will be honored by
the latest generation; but after all the
greatest honor that comes to his memory
the greatest comfort to those left behind
is the knowledge that his name is written
in the Lambs book of life. a useful life
a Christian faith, a Christian death
what highee eulogy can be pronounced on
any human being? These were the elG-
ments of Mr.. Randall's greatness; may
they be those of all present, so that when
death comes we may hear, as he doubtless
did, the voice of the Savior saying, well
done, coed and faithful servant: entel
thou into the JOY of thy Lord.
The anthem. ''Still. Still With Thee
was sung: the benediction was pro-