Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1893-02-01

preSSeu desires OF MS Ialnuy III IHlS To
gard, but the surging wave of public
interest swept over the barriers i'm
posed and made his private funeral one
of the most impressive of public demon
stration in honor of the dead. The most
eminent men in the nation stood around
| his bier. All business in the nation
Capitol was suspended during the period
when the funeral services We're in prog
ress The presence of president and
cabinet. supreme judges and high Off
cials of congress and of the diplomatic
corps, was not more significant than
the homage of the waiting crowds who
in respectful silence lined the streets
through which the funeral cOrtege
passed The floral tributes We're many
and beautiful, the casket itself resting
on a bed of roses.
Grand in Simplicity.
Eleven o'clock was the hour named
for the simple service of prayer which
was to precede the removal of the body
to the church for the more public rites.
1t was only few minutes after that
hour when the mourners entered and
the president and all the distinguished
concourse rose to pay fitting honor and
sympathy to the sorrow of the de-
ceased statesman's relatives.
The family was followed by the Rev.
DR.. Hamlin, of the Church of the Cow
enant, who, standing beside the casket,
in low tone delivered the Presbyterian
prayer for the departed soul. AS he did
SO Mr.. Walter Damrosch touched the
keys of the piano to a slow dirge and
the scene was an impressive one. DR..
Hamlin returned thanks to God that by
His power this life was ended only that
the life Of Immortality might be begun.
He beseeched the Almighty that COM
fort might come to every member cf the
stricken household, because the one that
had gone out of this life had gone to
Immortality. Let the consolation that
came from above fall tenderly and
sweetly upon them.
''Speak to them words of comfort such
as Thou alone can teach. This we ask
in the name of our Savior. Amen
This completed the brief and impress
sive services and the casket was closed
and tenderly borne to the hearse.
Solemnly and in silence the family and
the mourning guests left the house
which has been so frequently invaded
by the angel of death, and the sad pro-
ctssion wound its way slowly to the,
church.
At tho Church.
1t was exactly II o'clock when the
slow and solemn organ music announced |
the arrival OF the funeral party at the
door of the church. AS the sad process
sion moved up the aisle, Mr.. Walter |
Damrosch, Mr., Blaines son-in-law, who |
was at the organ, played an improyisa-
ton made up of several tunes of hymns |
which Mr.. Blaine loved. All present
rose and remained standing as the frl-
neral party moved down the aisle. DR..
Hamlin, the pastor. walked at the head of
the mourners and holding in his hand !
an open book containing the ritual of
the Presbyterian worship, as he ad-
vanced read selections from the scrip
lures. Behind him came the pail bear
ers, two abreast, Senators Hale and
Frye, the representatives oe the dead
mans beloved state, leading the way
Scripture and Prayer.
When all were seated the deep peals
of the organ ceased and DR.. Hamlin, |
rising from his place on the pulpit,
began the church services with
reading of selections from the
The reading finished.
prayer was offered up by DR..
Hamlin. At the close Of the prayer the
funeral procession once more formed
and the body was conveyed to Oak Hill
cemetery. At the grave DR.. Hamlin
,ead the simple burial service of the
Presbyterian church and this was fol-
owed by an extemporaneous prayer;
5hen came the benediction and all that
was mortal of James Gillespie Blaine
was consigned to earth.