The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-23
FUNERAL OF JOHN CHALMERS.
Attended With Solemn and Inn
pressive Services.
The Remnins Followed to tho Last Rest
Ever Seen In Salem-Many Beautiful
Floral Tributes-The Services Con-
Quoted by Rev. j. w. Duffy.


Quoted by Rev. j. w. Duffy.
SALEM, Dec. 22.-ISpeciall-At 2:t5
p m. to-day nearly every seat in tho
Methodist Church was occupied by the
friends and acquaintance of the late
John Chalmers, who had come to pay
their last respects to the honored dead.
A few minutes before o'clock the
funeral procession arrived at the
church and was mot at tho door by
Revs. j. s. Hutchinson and j. w. Duff
~, who then reading the solemn SEN
tences from the opening of the burial
service OF the Methodist church, led the
way down the main isle, followed by
tho pall-bearers, Messrs. w. L. Brand,
Lewis Snead, S. T. Clements, ]. S. Baer,
l.. c. Hansbrough, w. G. Evans, G. l..
Stevens and r. C. Williams.
After these came DR.. Dreher and
Messrs. Jud. Evans, Charles R. Evans
and G. +. Kuykendal bearing tho superb
floral decorations, followed bv the
heavy and richly finished metal casket,
which was covered with wreaths of
roses, hyacnths and jasmine, and on
account OF its great weight was wheeled
down the church on n specially con-
structed truck to it's place before tho
pulpit, around which were then do
posted the floral design.
The family and relatives of deceased
then entered und were seated on the
right OF the church, whilst the delega-
tions from Lakeland and Peasants
Lodges occupied seats on the left, near
the organ. In tho rear of the pulpit
were seated Rev. DR.. Whissner, and
Revs. j. w. Duffy, j. S. Hutchinson
and w. e. Hammer.
A few minutes elapsed when with a
rafting of swords against the bright
steel chains the knights Templar of
Bayard Commandery, with their plumed
hats resting on their shoulders, marched
In by twos, and took their position to
the right of tho coffin.
Following tho Knights came quar-
te tie composed of Mrs. DR.. Hodgson,
Mrs. Rabbit, and Messrs. Wood and
Neal from the Trinity Church choir of
Roanoke, Of which the deceased was a
member. This quartette then sang
most touchingly those comforting words
Come 70 Disconsolate," at the conclu-
sion OF Which Rev. DR.. Whissner offered
| Np All prdycT.
Rev. j. w. Duffy next read the first
lesson, and Rev. W. f. Hammer tho sec
ond lesson, after which Mrs. Dr. Hodg-
son, in rich, sweet voice, clear as a
bell, poured forth in a grand burst of
melody Phoebe CarY's exquisite hymn,
"Onc Sweetly Solemn Thought"
Then when all was still, Row. j. w.
Duffy arose. and reading few extracts
from letter just received from Row. j
IL. BOYD, lamenting on tho loss of ono
whom the writer loved as brother,
ne delivered Il beautiful and touching
eulogy upon the many Christian virtues
and truly manly characteristics of the
late John Chalmers.
Rev. j. 5. Hutchinson followed in q
pathetic discourse, in which he drew
several lessons from the life and death
OF tho deceased, and urged those
present to follow his example and give
! themselves wholly and thoroughly to
the work of the Master. His voice
trembled and broke several times as he
endeavored to tell about mis- friend,
and he was compelled to admit that he
felt so bereaved and stricken with grief
as to DO unable to dwell at length upon
this subject.
The services at the church were brought
to a close by the singing of "Abide
With Me-" by the choir, after which
the large congregation filed out and the
procession to the grave was formed.
First came the Knight Templals with
drawn swords, then tho Masonic dele
CATION followed by the hearse, after
which walked the pail bearers. and
then between forty and fifty carriages
atives of the deceased, whilst q large
crowd followed on foot. The process
sion was the longest ever seen in Sa-
lem, and some ideeof its length may be
formed when it is stated that at the
time the first Knight Templar was
abreast OF the entrance to the cemetery,
the last carriage was coming over the
East End bridge.
At the grave the Knights and Masons
formed in double ranks, and all were
bareheaded as the coffin was borne to it's
last resting place. Gently it was placed
in the large white box and carefully
| lowered into tho dark and silent grave.
| Then, when all were gathered around,
the pastor or Trinity Church concluded
the services Of tho Methodist Church,
and Rev. j. S. Hutchinson, with Grand
| Master Peasants on his right, pro-
ceeded to read part of the solemn burial
ritual Of the Free Masons, and tho lamb
| skin apron, the white glove and the
evergreen were dropped in the grave. to
be followed by the earth, sadly thrown
in by the hands of friends.
When the grave had been filed, the
mound above was covered with flowers.
A lady, chilly dressed and heavily
yelled, knee]ed. and with gentle and
trembling hands received the different
floral designs and arranged them so that
the red clay mound was transferred into
bank Of flowers.
At tho head sha nj q cod tho snnara q nd