St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-01-31
Church Decorations.

The decorations at the church were
very rich and effective. The terrace
formed by the pulpit and the rail sep
araung the organ gallery from the plat
form afforded background for striK-
ing maSSing Of plants and cut flowers.
On the edge of the pulpit cut flowers
were ranged in a ribbon ten or twelve
inches III width. The blooms COM
prised roses, lilies of the valley, carna-
tons and hyacinths. Below this ribbon
and suSpeuding from it across the front
and the curved sides of the pulpit were
short fest0Ons Of smilaX. The baptismal
font at the right Of the pulpit was
twned with smilaX rope and bore in its
bowl bunch of harriSi lilies. Over
the cut flowers were foliage plants, in
Guiding dracenaS, CrOtOnS, monster
palms and marantas intermiXed with
Gala lilies. A similar ribbon of cut
flowers, including also narciSsuS and
jonquits, rah along the upper edge of the
rail of the organ loft, which was
massed in ferns and asparagus. At
either end of the rail against the wall
stood an immense rubber tree, and tow
ering over all, Immediately behind the
reading desk, were two kentiaS palms.
The front of the organ was covered with
curtains of SmllaX ropes, draped from
the apex Of the instrument to the can
delaUra on the side walls of the organ
loft. This decoration was made under
the direction of the public gardener. and
has never been surpassed here in either
profusion or effective ensemble. The
space in front of the pulpit, in which
the coffin lay, was entirely covered with
the floral embemS which accompanied
the remains from the house. These
were disposed in such way as to
helghten the effect of TIE stationary
decorations. All the seats of the church
are artistically finished in hard woods
and are Of the modern open fashion.
Several handsome stained windows sub
dued the light.
Arrival at the Church.
1t was exactly 1880 when the slow
and solemn music announced the arrival
of the funeral party at the door of the
church AS the sad procession moved
up the aisle, Walter Damrosh, Mr..
Blaine's son-in-law, was at the organ,
playing an improvisation made up OF
several themes of hymns which Mr..
Blaine loved. ALI present rose and re-
NAMED standing as the funeral party
moved down the aisle. DR.. Hamlin, the
pastor, walked at the head of the
mourners, reading from the ritual of
the Presbyterian worship. Behind him
came the honorary pallbearers, two
abreast, Senators Hale and Frye, the
representatives of the dead mans state,
leading the way. The bodybearers
moved at measured pace toward the
| chancel rail, where they deposited the
casket amid the profuson of flowers.
| The family followed the body and took
| the front seat on the lett of the remains.
| More distant kinsfoll!, relatives, init
| mate friends, the president and his
| cabinet and the other members of the
funeral party. who were at the house,
| came in after the family were seated in
| the pews reserved for them. When all
were seated, the deep pealS OF the organ
ceased. and Dr.. Hamlin, from his place
in the pulpit, began the church services
with the reading of selections from thu
| SCRIPTURES. The reading finished, prayer
was offered up by Dr.. Hamlin. DR.
iamlin's prayer WAS the only approach
to funeral discourse that marked the
ceremonies OF the day. At its conclu
sion the Lord's prayer was repeated by
The pastor ard Il part of the congrega
ton. and tie beuediction was invoked
upon all present, and at l2:43 O'Clock
the church services closed; The cdoke
was raised and placed once more Ill The
hearse, all the distinguished cOncOurS,
standing as it was Dornc from TIT