Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-02-03
THEY laid Him AWAY.
MORTAL REMAINS OF JAMES
GILLESPIE BLAINE
Carried to Oak Hin Cemetery, Washington.
impressive yet Simple Services
Mrs. Blaine Overcome by Grief.

1t was the expressed desire of Hon.
James q. Blaine that his funeral be
private; that there should be no show
or ostentations display. However a
private funeral for SO distinguished
and beloved u man was impossible and
the Americans citizens would not have
1t so. The parlor of the Washington
residence in which Mr.. Blaines body
was placed was literally filed with
flowers of all kinds and designs. The
casket itself rested on huge bed of
roses, violets, palm leaves and ferns,
sent by Mrs. Emmons Blaine, nine feet
long by four feet wide, the flowers
artistically giving the combination of
colors and design of an oriental rug.
A large ship of state sent by the
Knights of Reciprocity was near by,
and around the pedestals on which the
coffin rested and upon the coffin itself
were wreath of orchids and roses
from President Harrison. These were
the most prominent. Services were
| first held in the residence. The presi-
dent entered, accompanied by Mrs.
Mckee and Private Secretary Halford
and Lieutenant Parker. The vice
president was accompanied by Mrs.
and Miss Morton. Then came the
members of the cabinet and their
| families, the Chief Justice of the
United States, just arrived from the
funeral of late Associate Justice Lamar
accompanied by Mrs. and Miss Fuller,
and followed by large number COM
prised of foreign diplomats, Senators,
| representatives, governors and many
prominent ladies. Outside long line
of carriages contained those who were
enable TO get into the house. Thou
sands of people occupied Lafayette
| square facing the Blaine residence and
the streets were crowded. The SER
vices were very simple. Rev. DIR. Ham
lin, of the Church of the Covenant,
delivered the Presbyterian service for
the departed soul; Walter Damrosch,
Mr.. Blaine's son-in-law touched the
piano keys TO a slow dirge, and Dr.
Hamlin delivered a simple prayer
The scene was then transferred to
the Church of the Covenant where the
second service was held. The same
people were present and larger crowds
outside. Mrs. Blaine had been over
come with grief and could not attend
the church service. AS the sad process
sion moved up the aisle, Mr.. Walter
Damrosch, who was at the organ, played
an Improvisation made up of several
themes of hymns which Mr.. Blaine
loved. DIR. Hamlin, walked at the
head of the mourners, reading from the
ritual of Presbyterian worship. Be
hind him came the honorary pallbear-
ers, two abreast, Senators Hale and
Frye, the representatives Of the dead
mans state, leading the way. The
body bearers moved at measured pace
toward the chancel rail where they
deposited the casket amid the profusion
of flowers. The family followed and
| took the front seat. When all were
seated the deep peals of .he organ
ceased and DIR. Hamlin began the
church services with the reading of
selections from the scriptures. He
followed with prayer.
At its conclusion the Lords PRAYER"
was repeated by the pastor and a part
of the congregation, and the benedic-
ton was invoked upon all present and
the casket was raised and placed once
more in the hearse, and borne to it's
final resting place at Oak Hill ceme-
terry. Five wagons of flowers were
also conveyed thither to decorate the
grave. Here DR.. Hamlin read the
simple burial service OF thu Presbyter-
ian church. This was followed by an
extemporaneous prayer. Then came
the bepediction and all that was NOR
tai of James Gillespie Blaine was con-
| signed to earth.