Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-02-04
THE GRAVE.

| SCSTSD nt the Nestdence, church ana
Grave.
| WASHINGTON. Jan. 3l.--Mr. Blaine
could not have private funeral.
Every effort was made to comply with
his own understood wishes and with
the expressed desires of his family in
this regard, but the surging wave of
public interest swept over the barriers
imposed, and made his private funeral
one of the most impressive of public
demonstrations in honor of the dead
The most eminent men in the nation
stood around his bier All business in
the nations capital was suspended
during the period when the funeral
services were in progress. The pres,
ence of the president and cabinet and
supreme judges and high officials 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 ceremonies inside the house were
impressively simple Before the hour
of 10 the invited guests began to ar
rive and take their seats in the front
part of the mansion. There were no
chairs reserved except for the presi-
dent and for the immediate family of
the deceased.
1t was only a few minutes after II
O'clock 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 Rev. DIR.
Hamlin, of the Church of the
Covenant, who, standing beside the
casket, in low tone delivered
the Presbyterian service for the de-
parted soul. AS he did so, Walter
Damrosch touched the keys of the
piano to slow dirge, and the scene
was an impressive one. DIR. Hamlin
returned thanks to God that by His
power this life was ended only
that the life of Immortality might
be begun. He besought the AL
mighty that comfort might come
to every member of the stricken
household, because the one that had
gone out of this life had gone to inn
mortality. 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 Saviour, Amen"
This completed the brief and inn
pressive services, and the casket was
closed and tenderly borne to the
hearse.
1t was exactly 12 o'clock when the
slow and solemn organ music an
| nn,naal fha arrival Of hn fnnn,,1
party at the door Of the church. AS the
sad procession moved up the aisle Wall
ter Damrosch, Mr.. Blaine's son-in-law,
who was at the organ, played an impro-
visation made up of several themes
of hymns which Mr.. Blaine loved. All
present rose and remained 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 Presbyterian worship.
, AS soon as all were seated the
deep peals of the organ ceased, and
DIR. Hamlin, raising from his place in
.. the pulpit, began the church service
,, with the reading of selections from
! the scriptures. The reading finished,
prayer was offered by Dr. Hamlin.
Dr. Hamlin's prayer was the only ap-
proach to a funeral discourse that
marked the ceremonies of the day. At
its conclusion the Lords Prayer was
repeated by the pastor and a part of
the congregation, and the benediction
was invoked upon all present, and at
12:45 o'clock the church services closed.
The masses of people in the vicinity
of the church, kept from too close APP
| 10 la ali NV Iatn al, 4
. of policemen, pressed closer as the stir
:, about the main doorway told them that
: the services were over. The process
1 sion was soon moving and, passing
through Georgetown, entered Oak Hill
!, cemetery through the east gate.
3 On the successive terraces that Dor.
$ der the winding pathway leading to
9 the grave scores of spectators were
= standing. Many pressed forward to
+ pluck flower from a wreath or a
column that adorned the dead mans
! bier. The floral tributes, so numerous
y that five wagons We're necessary to
convey them to the cemetery, were ar.
ranged artistically back of the grave
on huge strip of canvas.
Mud and melting snow We're every.
where under foot, and temporary plank
walks had been placed near the grave.
On these the family, friends and official
associates of Mr.. Blaine stood during
the last ceremony. Overhead the sky
was hidden by leaden clouds
that foreshadowed rain. With
the exception of Mrs. Blaine al
. the family and the relatives were
. there. Behind them stood the presi
], dent of the United States, the distin
q guished pall-bearers, members of the
r cabinet, Vice President Morton anG
many intimate friends and political as
Z sociates. DR.. Hamlin read the simple
D. burial service of the Presby yteriar
II church. This was followed by an eX
y temporaneous prayer Then came the
q q benediction, and all that was mortal o
d James Gillespie Blaine was consigned
IS to earth.