The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1891-05-02
GONE UP HIGHER. ]
Minnesota's Foremost Afro-American
Called from Labor to Refreshment.,
The Funeral Obsequies Over the Earthl!
Remains of the Late James Kidd Hill
yard the Most imposing Ever
Witnessed in the Northwest.

Remains OF the Late James Kidd Hill
yard the Most imposing Ever
Witnessed in the Northwest.
The sincerest, the most profound,
the most general sorrow that has been
known among the Afro-American citi-
zens of the Twin Cities, was called
forth by the sudden death of St. Paul's
most highly revered citizen in Phila-
delphia last week. The news of his
death reached the city on the day of his
death, and, as bad news always travels
fast, was soon known by every one in
the city. The deceased was one of the
earliest settlers and was known and
loved by all who knew him. When the
remains reached the city last Friday
morning there was large number of
St. Paul's best citizens at the depot to
meet the scrrow-stricken widow and
her precious charge. The delegation
escorted the remains to the undertake
ing establishment of Mr., Dampier,
where the casket was opened and the
corpse found to be in perfect condi-
ton. The body was at once taken to
the late residence of the deceased, No.
1853 Robert street, where it laid in state
until Sunday afternoon, being viewed
by hundreds of sad friends in the mean
while. The deceased was high mason,
having taken the 33rd degree, and was
at one time Grand Master of the iuris-
diction of Iowa and Minnesota, and his
masonic brethren at once set about
giving him a masonic burial. Meetings
were held by the lodges of both cities
and arrangements were made for all to
take part in the funeral ceremonies.
At o'clock Sunday afternoon the
various masonic bodies met at Odd Eel
lows Hall, corner Of Third and Cedar
streets, and the citizens Assem- bled in
the streets at the same time. Shortly
after 2 o'clock the procession was
formed from the representations from
j. X. Hilyard Lodge No. 6, and Anchor
Lodge No. ID, of Minneapolis; Pho
neer Lodge No. ~, Stevens Lodge No.
Al, and as escort to the blue lodges,
Pioneer Commandery K. T., No. g., of
St. Paul. The citizens joined in the
procession also and the whole, headed
by the First Regiment Band playing
solemn dirge, marched to the late resi-
dence of the deceased, thence to st.
Pauls Episcopal Church.. The process
sion was the largest and most imposing
ever witnessed in this city. When the
cortege arrived at the church it was
completely filed with the friends of
the deceased of all nationalities who
had come to pay their last tributes of
respect to the memory of the deceased,
excepting that portion which had been
reserved by the ushers for the family
and the masonic bodies. A special
choir composed of Mesdames w. Hamp-
ton, John Thompson, J. H. Hickman,
Miss Maud Conway, Messrs. j. w. Luca,
j. H. Hickman and John Thompson
chanted the service: Mrs. F. M. Will
liams presided at the organ. The beau
tiful Episcopal burial service was then
read by Rev. W. c. Pope, rector of the
church of the Good Shepherd, of which
the deceased was member, assisted by
Rev. DR.. John Wright, rector of ST.
Paul's. Bishop Gilbert was to have
been present, but owing to duties out
of the city, could not be there. During
the service by especial request of the
deceased, the choir sang: 'Jesus Lover
of my soul, SIT is Well With my Soul''
and Beyond the River At the close
of the ritual burial service, Rev. Pope
| paid glowing tribute to the worth and
character Of the deceased. He then
called in Rev. L. C. Sheafe, of Pilgrim
Baptist Church, who made the follow
ing remarks: 5z
'Howoften we have feltthe pang caus-
ed bv the breaking Of these feeble ties of
mortality, which prolonQ our desires
and retard our hopes, the day of our
grief is the day Of his glory and.triumph,
and as Jonathan said to David: s'Thou
shalt be missed because thy seat will be
empty" q Sam 20, 49, Death causes an
absence more complete than that to
which he feared, an absence that lasts
with time, and whose silence is profound.
The seat empty indeed who can fill the
place of Mr.. Jas. x. Hilyard as citizen,
as friend, and as husband and father?
Surely he will be missed by, those that
knew and loved him, and if We can
judge by this crowded sanctuary Of the
number that knew and loved him, how
greatly he will be missed. Shall we
not all miss him for his manly bearing,
his aggressive and progressive spirit, his
heroic self-made character and his abili-
ty to graphic with the difficult problems
Of his day. Has he not proved conclu-
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