Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-18
RANDALL,
THE SIMPLE BUT IMPRESSIVE oess-
oUIEs OF THE GREAT MAN.
A sermon from His rastor--An Address
from Chaplain Miiburn of the House,
"The Blind Man Eloquent"
rnr ,slerrnpn 70 ~. plspntchl

so'csock tho coffin enclosing the remain,
~ MIR. Randall was borne from his hons,
Nv A squad OF Capitol police aud deposited
IN the leciure-room Of the METROPOLITAN
Presbyterian church, which was appropri
o,elv draped. There II was visited Nv man,
~ his late associates in the House. bv Mr.
Wauamaker. and hy q large number II hi,
friends. neighbors, and admirers. About
an hour afterwards u was removed To ths
hti, ~ the church and placed upon a cata.
elsue strcwn with flowers. Several beau
fml floral decorations were placed near il
ore IN the shape Of an obelisk. at the foot
of which, imbedded in red. white, and blue
,nm0YtelleS were the letters =. O. NJ. A.
and the figures % and 81 and another
showing sn arch spanning across. The lat.
trr was the contribution Of the Randall
Association OF Philadelphia. About half
pas, tho carriages with the family and
Immediate friends reached the church. and
a. Mrs Randall. leaning on the arm OF her
husbands brother, his two daughters (Mrs
Lancaster and Miss Susan, the only son
And namesake of the dead statesman, and
delphia. moved up the aisle 10 the
seats reserved for them on the right
centre. they were preceded by Or. Chester.
wearing a long scarf and reclting the open
ING ~ the burial service: Il am the resur-
icction and the life" Soon afterwards
the members Of the joint committee o. the
two houses, also wearing white scarfs en-
tered the church and took their seats in
the left centre, the front row being occu-
pied by four of Mr.. Randall's oldest friends
and colleagues. Messrs. Mckinley, O'Neill.
Carlisle. and Holman. little back of the
lout committee sat Mr.. and Mrs. Blaine.
and near them Vice-President and Mrs.
Morton. Mrs. Harrison escorted by Mr..
Halford the Presidents private secretary,
e I.,i -
Mr. ManamRker was in another part of the
church. 4 large number of senators and
members of the House, including tho
speaker. and many ex-members were also
present. A deputRtion of about thirty
uniformed members Of the Grand Army Of
the Republic, from Philadelphia, was in
the church. and afterwards acted as escort
q the funeral procession. The great bulk
of the congregation was composed OF MIR.
Randalrs friends and members Of Congress
who loved him and sincerely mOurned his
death.
The hymn LEAD. Kindly Light, " having
been sung by the Schubert Quartette, the
selection from the fifteenth chapter Of
First corinthians, beginning with the
verse But now Is Christ risen from the
dead" was acclaimed by Mr.. Milburn,
who followed with prayer, in which he
spoke of the coffin that contained all that
was mortal Of "a loyal and beloved hus-
band. a revered and tender father, stead
last friend. n stainless patriot, an upright
statesman, nm impassioned lover of his
country, and an unwCaried servant of the
people," He gave thanks and praise " for
the wealth Of spotless name. the nobility
Of a simple character. a career adorned by
uprightness and fidelity and fearlessness."
THE FUNERAL SERMON.
The hymn Just as ] am, without one
plea" which was said 10 be Mr.. Randalps
favorito hymn, was sung; and then the fu-
neral sermon was preached by Dr. chester
IA follows:
In this solemn hour, in this house of God,
arc now gathered the representatives, of a
great nation around the earthly remains of
ono of the most honored citizens. Here
men Of different political faith, Of various
religious creeds. unite IN tribute OF re-
spect 70 one whom the nation delighted TO
honor. But il is not to his public career
that our thoughts are turned in this solemn
hour. For il was a 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 instinctively bends in reverential de
votion before its God that the chlefrecog-
milton of himself should be his testimony
10 the grace of Jesus Christ as the blessed
Saviour. Tho expression of such q desire
racter. IL reveals the honest simplicity of
his nature IL fifty crowns life of service
TO man 10y a death of testimony to the
grace IF God.
To the great men gathered here TO-DAY
comes that voice whose utterances carried
such weight ia our legislative balls: the
magic Of whose influence was felt by n
whole nation. and IL speaks not of itself
but Of tho grace and comfort which comes
% soul through the Crucihed One of
Calvary. He, Though dead. yet speak
eth. " reminding us of the faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptation by the great
est 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. Ii was appreciation OF this
simple yet grand proposition which gave
Mr.. Randall such comfort when he faced
that most trying of ordeals-th passage of
a soul to the presence Of its God.
Those who knew him intimately recog
MED the fact that long before bis last
sickness his mind had turnedto serious re-
fcctions Reared IL youth under the in
1uence of the Gospel, coming from pious
ancestry, he grew no with a respect for re-
ligion which revealed itself in his attend
Bncc on church, in his conscientious OBJ
geryance Of the Sabbath. in his fidelity TO
his domestic ties. and in his interest in all
Christian charities. However men might
differ from him in opinion. all recognized
the rugged honesty of his character, all
knew that his hands could never be sui
lied by brides or his opinions sercd by IA
vor. Like all other men he had his temp;
tatious. but long before his death he had
completely conquered every unlawful appe-
tito.
Yet with all this morality Of life, Mr..
Randall realized that be needed that pre-
paration of heart which cOuld only come
through the blood which cleanseth from
all SIN" aud by that Holy Spirit which can
eanCtify the soul, Therefore was IL that
utter calm reflection he made the request
a. be baptized and be received into the
Church of Christ. This step was taken at
time when. however anxious his friends
were about his recovery, he himself fully
expected returning to active life. He once
remarked TO his family: Il know that God
has gwen me influence among my fellow
inon. and as have now q prospect OF re-
covery / want henceforth 70 use the in
Huenco Of my example on the side Of Chris
rGnitv.r
Ii was a touching scene when, more than
three months since, he made profession
uf his faith in Christ, was baptized, and
pertook Of the sacrament of the Lords
supper. Though Frustrated on his couch,
With that strong will which ever charac-
ieriZeu MS actions no mace the ihSt eHoiS
of his life 20 rise from his couch to receive
the baptismal rite. He devoutly partOok
ut the emblems of the body and blood of
the Saviour. The little company of his
Family and friends who were assembled
heard that voice which had often rung
through the legislative halls speaking in
accents of grateful love of the blessed
Saviour who had brought salvation to his
soul That strong, resolute man bowed as
meekly as little child to take. the yoke of
Christ, and be whom men delighted to
honor confessed himself TO be sinner
saved by grace. Truly in his case the
promise was fulfilled" Take my yoke
and learn Of me and We shall find
rest for your soui.n In that hour
great load seemed lifted of his
mind. He passed through, weeks of the
seyerest bodily pain he fought nobly,
couraeeously, hopefully the battle with
disease; yet no bore his suffering 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. For