The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-18
RANDALL'S OBSEQUIES.
CEREMONIES OVER THE DEPARTED
STATESMAN.

The Services Largely Attended-An
impressive Sermon by DR.. Chester
The Dead Mans CHRISTIAN Faith-A
striking Incident Related by DR..
Millburn - The Remains Taken to
Philadelphia.
WASHINGTON, April 17-This morning at
s So'clock the coffin inclosing the remains of
the late Hon. Samuel j. Randall was borne
from his house by squad of capitol police
and deposited in thu lecture room of the
Metropolitan Presbyterian church, which
was appropriately draped- There it was
visited by many of his late associates in the
House, by Mr.. Wanamaker, and by large
number of his friends, neighbors and ad-
mirers.
About an hour afterward the caslzet was
removed to the body of church and placed
upon catafalque strewn with flowers.
Several beautiful floral decorations were
placed near it, one in the shape of an
obelsk, at the foot of which, imbedded in
red. white, and blue immortelles were the
letters ''S o. NJ A." and the figures 1888"
and '37," and another showing an arch
spanning cross The latter was the con-
tributions of the Randall Association of
Philadelphia.
About $50 o'clock carriages with the
family and immediate friends reached the
church, and as Mrs. Randall, leaning on the
arm of her husbands brother, two daugh-
ters Mrs. Lancaster and Miss Tresar), the
only son and namesake of the dead states
man, and other relatives (many of them
from Philadelphia), moved up the aisle to
the seats reserved for them on the right
center. They were preceded by DR.. Chester,
who wore long white scarf, reciting the
opening of the burial service: II am the
resurrection and the life"
THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE.
Soon afterward the members of the Joint
committee of the two houses, also wearing
white scarfs, entered the church and took
their seats in the left centre, the front row
being occupied by four of Mr.. Randalps
Oldest friends and colleagues-Messrs
O'Nelll, Carlisle. Mckinley and Holman.
A little back of the joint committee sat
MIR. and Mrs Blaine, and near them Vice
President and Mrs Morton, Mrs. Harrison,
escorted by Mr.. Halford, the Presidents
private secretary, and Chief Justice Fuller
and daughter. Mr.. Wanamaker was in
another part of the church. A large num-
ber of senators and members of the House,
including the speaker, and many ex-
members, were also present. A deputation
of about thirty uniformed members of the
G. A. R. from Philadelphia was in
the church, and afterward acted as
escort to the funeral procession.
The great bulk of the congregation was
composed of Mr. Randall's friends and fell
low-members, who loved him and sincerely
mourned his death.
THE SERVICES,
The hymn LEAD, kindly light" having
been sung by the Schubert Quartette, the
selection from ]. Cor. XIV, beginning with
the verse, But now is Christ
risen from the Dead" was
declaimed by Mr.. Millburn, who followed
with prayer in which he spoke of the
coffin that contained all that was mortal of
"a loyal and beloved husband and tender
father, steadfast friend, a stainless patriot,
an upright statesman, an impassioned lover
of his country, an unweary servant of the
people," We gave thanks and praise for
the wealth Of spotless name, the nobility
of simple character, career adorned by
uprightness and fidelity and fearlessness. :"
The hymn, "Just as l am, without one
plea," which was said to be Mr.. RandalrS
favorite hymn was sung, and the funeral
sermon was preached by DR.. Chester as fol-
lows:
THE SERMON.
In this solemn hour in this hour of God are
now gathered the representatives of great
matron, around the earthly remains of one of
the most honered citizens. Here men of differ
ent political faiths of various religious creeds,
unite in tribute of respect to one whom the
nation delighted to honor. But it is not to his
public career that our thoughts are turned in
this solemn hour, for it was the wish expressed
by Mr.. Randall that his funeral services should
be devoid of all earthly pomp, that they should
be held in the sanctuary where the heart in
stinctively bends in reverential alteration be-
fore its God, that the chief recognition of him
self should be his testimony to the grace of
Jesus Christ as the blessed Saviour. The ex-
preston of such desire affords one of the best
eulogieS on his character. 1t reveals the honest
simplicity of his nature. 1t fifty crowns a life
of service to man by a death of testimony 10
the grace of God.
GIVING TESTIMONY TO CHRIST.
To the great men gathered here to-day comes
that voice whose utterances carried such
weight in our legislative halls, the magic of
whose influence was felt by a whole nation, and
it speaks not of itself, but of the grace and COM
fort which comes to soul through
the crucified one of Calvary. He Though dead
yet speaketh) reminds us of the faithful
saying, and worthy of all acceptation. by the
greatest ruler and humbleSt subject by the
most cultured intellect and the humblest mind
Saying worthy Of all acceptation, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners" 1t
was the appreciation Of this simple yet grand
proposition which gave Mr.. Randall such COM
4piI Wu6u ne ldceQ bUtL DlOSb OIJIIS Oh OfuedtS-
the passage of a soul to the presence of its God.
Those who knew him intimately recognized the
fact that long before his last sickness his mind
had turned to serious reflections. Reared in
youth under the influence of the gospel, coming
from pious ancestry, he grew up with a re-
spact for religion, which revealed itself in his
attendance at church, in his conscientious OBJ
servance Of the sabbath, in his fidelity to his
Domestic ties, in his interest in all christian
aharities.
A MAN OF sPoTLEss CHARACTER.
However men might differ from him in opin-
.yhs, all recognized the rugged honesty OF his
character. All knew that his hands could never
.le Sullled by bribes or his opinions sweryed by
taVor Like all other men, he had mis- tempta-
lions, but long before his death he had COM
plately conquered every unlawful appetite. Yet
WIN an this morality Of life, Mr.. Randall real-
ISe9 e Lhat he needed that preparation of heart
ILnlch could only come through the blood which
0.9Stusetn from all sin, and by that holy spirit
IN. hich can sanctify the soul. Therefore was it
ma, aIter calm reflection, he made the request
"a ~ Sp aptlzed and be received iato the church
n1IS1, This step was taken at q time when,
n,ytwever anxious his friends were about his re.
ost y; ne himself fully expected returning to
tss atss'Ee We ME He once remarked to his family:
o,oW nLoW that God has given me influence
@aot Is my fellow men, and as / have no pros
iGa,ioe iS y, recovery want henceforth TO use the
anity.n Dipio oli 'no Sii' VI 0iii i0'i
A TOUCHING SCENE.
,,orthe was touching scene when more than three
faitb is since he made his profession of his
IN Chrlst was baptized and partook of the
O hA