The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-09
THE LAST SAD RITES.
ALL THAT IS MORTAL OF DIR.
HOLMES AT REST.

a
State at the Church Viewed By Thou
sands - The Coffin Laden With
Flowers - The Escort to the Body
From the Parsonage - The Funeral
Services DIR. Burrows' Discourse.
The Last Bites at the Tomb.
The body Of the late Rev. DR.. J. E. L.
Holmes was laid to rest in Laurel Grove
cemetery yesterday afternoon. The funeral
was one Of the largest ever seen in Savan>
nab.
At II o'clock the body was removed from
the parsonage at Jones and Drsyton streets
and was placed In front of the pulpit in the
main aisle of the church. The deacons
acted as an escort Of honor, and the body
was followed to the church by number Of
friends.
Hundreds Of people visited the church
during the morning and early afternoon TO
take a last look at one who was respected
aud. 1t might almost be said, loved by all
The visitors we're Of all denominations aud
beliefs and of both races. Many were the
heartfelt tributes paid to the worth and
virtues of the dead pastor. The pulpit was
draped in black, very simply but effect
lively.
The stands and chandeliers were wound
with Grape and two black streamers reached
from the pulpit TO the cap of the Above In
the rear Of the pulpit, which was also
draped in mourning.
The floral tributes were very beautiful.
At the foot of the coffin was a pillow
of roses and white japonicas from the
pastor aud deacons of the Duffy Street
Baptist church. On the foot of the coffin
lay large heart and on the center a crown
Of white flowers. On the right Of the pulpit
was an anchor from the deacons OF the
church and next to 1t harp from the
Duffy Street Sunday school, On the left
was a cross of roses and japonicas from the
Savannah Baptist Sunday school. There
were various other designs Of anchors,
crowns, crosses, harps and stars, chiefly of
white rosebuds, white camellias and tube
roses.
There was almost q constant stream Of
visitors In and out of the church up to the
hour for the services TO begin. The appear
ence of the dead minister was unchanged,
being calm, natural and peaceful.
SCENES AT THE CHURCH.
At O'Clock, the hour set for the funeral
service, the church was filled and the GAL
leries as well and only standing room was
left. The ministers Of the city met in the
Sunday school room in the basement and
shortly after o'clock entered the church
headed by Rev. DR.. Burrows Of Augusta
and Rev. z. P. Jones of the Duffy Street
church. The ministers were met at the
door Of the church by the deacons
who were ranged on each side Of
the entrance and who followed them into
the church. Next came the members and
immediate friends OF the family of the de-
ceased. The choir sang, Asleep in jesus
In the pulpit besides DR.. Burrows and
Mr.. Jones, were Rev. DR.. bowman of the
Wesley Monumental church, Rev. A. J.
,Yarrall of Trinity church Rav Rohh W h{fa
OF Christ church. Rev. O. H. Strong of St.
Johns church, Rev. DR.. Dripps Of the indie
pendent Presbyterian church. Rev. DR..
Vass Of the First Presbyterian church, Rev.
R Q. Way Of the Second Presbyterian
church, Rev. T. H. Blenus, of the Christian
church, Rev. g. s. Johnston of the New
Houston Street Methodist church, Rev. Mr..
Hurt Of Guyton, Rev. Richard Webb and
Rev. Mr.. Blount.
On tue right of the pulpit were the
children Of the Savannah Female Orphan
Asylum, many of whom were in tears. On
the left OF the pulpit were the pastors of the
colored Baptist churches of the city, who
evinced deep interest in the service. The
gallery on the left of the pulpit was entirely
filed with colored people.
THE FUNERAL SERVICES.
Rev. Mr.. Jones of the Duffy Street
church opened the services with reading
selected portions of the scripture from Reve-
lations and elsewhere appropriate to the oc-
casion.
Rev. DR.. Dripps then led in prayer. BE
thanked God for the life of whom they
mourned and that he had been permitted
so long to give them the benefit Of his pre-
cept and example, and for the confidence of
his entry into peace and rest.
Rev. Mr.. White announced the first hymn
FEATHER Whate'er of Earthly Bliss
DIR. Burrows before beginning his sermon
stated that he would preface it BY a re-
hearsal Of the action of some of
the churches of the city, with reference
10 Dr. Holmes death. He read 8 com
munioation from DR.. Dripps, pastor of the
Independent Presbyterian church, to
the Savannah Baptist church, expressing
in behalf Of his church its deep sympathy
In the sorrow which had come upon the
church, Sharing in their sorrow" as it was
expressed.
A communication was read from the
First African Baptist church conveying its
sympathy aud grief ct the loss Of one whom
the church had learned to esteem 81 highly
and whom it regarded las a truly great
and good man and the friend of the poor
and unlearned."
DR.. Burrows selected as the text of his
discourse Romans xiv, s.
For whether we live we live unto the Lord
and whether we die. we die unto the Lord,
whether we live therefore or die, we are the
Lords.
DIR. BURROWS DISCOURSE.
Upon this most appropriate text Dr. Bur.
rows delivered a beautiful and touching
sermon upon the life and death of the
Christian generally aud upon the one to
whom they came to pay the last sad rites
more especially. He said that be
might speak Of himself as an
almost lifelong friend of the
deceased. They had been reared
amid the same surroundings. They had
had the same instructors and they were
drawn more closely together by their ad-
berence to the same belief. Consequently
TO him the shock had been great.
"But even through the realities of grief
can be heard the strains of victory,D he
said.
DR.. Burrows discussed the pastors life
and compared 1t with Paups, who was
beaten and buffeted about, thrown into
prison, tossed upon the seas, and suffered in
many ways for his teachings. "The pastors
OF to-day have an easy time. Their lines
are cast in pleasant places and theirs is q
goodly heritage.
"rhere was no trouble in understanding
that living we are his" he said. DIR. Bur
rows commented further upon the ministe
rial Office, and upon the sad spectacle. some
times seen, of a secularized ministry.
perhaps the nobIest thing we can do Il
to die for him." he continued. ITO lie dowI
to die with every line Of the face depictin,
tha frluunh On si,nh a had itfu MT IN.