The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-20
RUSSIA'S CAR IN HIS TOMB,
An Imposing Ceremony in The Cathedral
al st Petersburg.

guished Personages-An Impressive
Appearance Made by the Assembled
Body of Ecclesiastics-Th Firing Of
Three Guns the Signal for the Services
to Begin-A Magnificent Effect When
All Within the Edifoe Lighted Tapers.
Beautiful Singing by Male Choir
Without Accompaniment.
St Petersburg Nov. 19-The entomb-
ment Of the remains of the late Car Alex
ander III took place to-day in the cathe-
dral of st, Peter and St Paul.
A thick fog enveloped the city. but the
populace was astir at the earliest pos
sible hour and at the same time the troops
detailed to take part in the funeral cere-
monies commenced moving toward the po-
sitions assigned to them.
The cathedral was packed with distin-
guished personages, including representa-
tives Of all the imperial and royal fami-
lies of Europe.
The funeral services were conducted by
the Metropolitan of St. Petersburg and
the Metropolitan Of Moscow They began
this morning at 1O:3O o'clock.
Prominent among the assembled thou
sands were the splendidly robed members
of the holy synod the metropoltans of
St. Petersburg and Novgorod, the czar's
confessor, the clergy of St. Petersburg
and vicinity and the court dignitares
all robed in deep black Besides these
there were serried masses of officials, min
listers, field marshals, generals, admirals,
secretaries of state, etc, all In full uni
form and displaying many decorations;
the czarina's suite, the members Of the
state council, the members of the Senate,
and all of the foreign ambassadors, in
cludinE Mr.. Breckinridge, ambassador of
the United States.
The signal for the services to begin
was the firing of three guns from the for
tress. Just as the third gun was fired
Emperor Nicholas ii and the imperial
family appeared at the west door Of the
cathedral, and, preceded by the metropol-
itan of St. Petersburg, robed in Vestments
of black and silver, passed through the
body of the edifice toward the catafalque.
The metropolitan Of st. Petersburg car
ried the great crucifiX as the chief of the
holy synod, and as the procession passed
toward the catafalque, sprinkled holy
water upon those about him, at the same
time audibly repeating a prayer.
After the car and the imperial family
and the holy synod had taken their places
the metropolitan the oiergy, standing in
a semi-cirCe around the head of the cof-
fin, began the mortuary mass, which
with the exception of the elaborate music
and the general splendor Of the occasion,
was the same as the service for the dead
which is said for any other faithful mem
Der of the orthodox church.
At noon the air inside the church was
heavy with incense, and the dim light
within was starred with thousands Of
tapers, each mourner and visitor holding
one. The first taper was lighted by the
Czar. When the other tapers were lighted
it was a scene of beauty, the sanctuary
and the body of the edifice sparkling as
though jeweled with emeralds, sapphires
opals. etc All present were standing, the
ear with the imperial family and the
visiting royalties on the right side Of the
coffin. The cZarina. pale and fragile and
looking much affected, stood by the side
of the car. With these were the Princess
of Wales, the Duchess OF Coburg, King
Christians of Denmark, the Prince Of
Wales, in the blue orange and gold uni
form of the new Russian dragoOns the
Duke of York, the Duke of Coburg, a num-
Der of naval officers and the ambassadors
with their suites.
on the left Of the coffin were a number
of clergymen and in front a number Of
military and other dignitaries
Behind the altar all the available space
was crowded, two persons being crowded
into the space that should be occupied by
one. A large number of Russian generals
were grouped i'm the fortress yard. there
being no room for them within the cathe-
dral.
The harmony of the male choir, which
sang without instrumental accompanl-
ment, was perfect. Their voices We're Of
marvellous richness and purity, and the ef-
feet throughout the solemn, service was
deeply impressive.
After the general mass for the dead with
its elaborate ceremony, the special ser
vice for a dead czar was begun. The SER
vice began with brief prayer, after which
Psalm 81 was sung by an unseen male
choir. Then followed the singing Of Psalm
ll9, which was divided into three stations.
with an anthem after each part The first
anthem was the Gloria Alleluia the sec
ond Have Mercy Upon My Soul" and
the third, blessed Art Thou, o Lord,
Teach Me Thy Judgments"
At the end of the second station. be-
fore the anthem, was the prayer. 'God
Of all spirits and all flesh, who has des-
troyed death, trodden down Satan and
given hope in Thy word, grant. o Lord
that the soul Of Thy servant. our EN-
peror, rest In happy pleasant and peace
full places, from which grief and sighine
shall fee away. Forgive, O Lord tho
sins he hath committed In thought, word
and deed, for there rs no man who ltyetb
that slnneth not Thou only art without
sin. Thy righteousness is everlasting
righteousness and thy word rs truth"
Six litauies were then sung by the
metropolitan and the choir. each one hav-
ing the refrain, Lord. Teach me Thy
Judgments"
A beautifully rendered Gloria in Ex-
celsis Del" followed the litanies. which
was succeeded by an intonaton by the
metropolitan Lord, make thy servant
rest with the righteous. and cause him
TO dwell IN thy court. as Il is written.
Mercifully forgive his Sins, voluntary
and involuntary. ana all onenscs. know
ingly and unknOwingly committed. q.
thou lover Of mankind
The misere and Psalm "a foloWed
this, and then an ancient acrostic cauop.
q mystical composition. By Theophranos.
"a priest Of the early church, was pro-
uOunCcd
After this came aiE hymns and an lp-
tonation. "Al ~ vanity. lie is "a shadow.
ana "a dream. every earth born creature
diaquieteth himself iu vain, 40 if b. writ
ten. when We have heaped % riches in
the world we lie dOwu lu the grave where
kings ana begRars sleep together. Thrfe-
fore. christ our LORD. az the lover Of man.
al