The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-06
FUNERAL OF A. G. PORTER
MANY FRIENDS PAY RESPECT TO
THE Ex-GOVERNOR's MEMORY.
Sermon of Rev. DIR. Sims at the Home
ON North Capitol Ayenue-Inter-
ment at Crown Hill.

CLOCK yesterday afternoon. The services,
which were conducted by Rev. DIR. c. n.
Sims of the Meridian-street Methodist
Church, We're attended by several hundred
friends of the late Ex-Governor. 1t was the
wish of the family that there be no I'M
necessary display to the funeral, and all
who attended did so as individuals.
At Y o'clock the doors of the house were
opened for those of his friends who desired
to take a last look at his remains, and
from that hour until 100 o'clock friends
passed in to pay their last respects. Dur
ing the time the casSet was open to the
view of the public carriages and pedestrians
thronged the avenue on their way to the
Porter home. When the hour set for the
services arrived carriages lined the street
at either curb and many pedestrians had
gathered IN groups on either sidewalk,
watching the friends as they entered the
house The intimate friends, who began
to arrive shortly before o'clock, after
viewing the remains were conducted to one
of the rear parlors, where they We're seat
ed until after the services. Quite a num-
Der of the members OF the Marion county
bar We're present, and shortly before 2
O'Clock General Benjamin Harrison ar
rived, having walked over from his home
on Delaware street A few minutes before
the hour the state officers, headed by Gov
ernor Mount marched up to the home in a
body, and following them came about forty
members of the Indianapolis Literary Club
All of the friends who attended were seat
ed in the four parlors of the house until aft
er the services were concluded. The family
of the Ex-Governor remained upstairs until
! after the services and the friends had left
the house.
no Gas lxaf tod Iaie -, mid 1Io
OF the front parlor on the north side 1t
was of plain black, with silver handles
The casket and the dais upon which it
rested were nearly covered with the floral
tributes which had been sent in. The man
tel back of the casket also supported many
floral designs, and, with those which were
arranged beneath, formed a beautiful floral
background. There were many symbolical
designs and numerous bouquets. One of
the largest designs, which was accompanied
by words of coincidence, was sent by the
indianapolis Italian Society, and among
others was one from the Marion County
Bar Association, one from the state officers
and one from the Indianapolis Literary
Club
REV. DIR. SINS'S SERMON.
Rev. Dr. c. N. Sims, while delivering his
sermon, stood in the front hall, within hear
ing of all present. The sermon, which was
preceded and followed by an impressive
prayer, was, in part, as follows:
The people of our city and of our State
are to-day conscious of a bereavement
Which throws its shadow over them all in
the death of Albert G. Porter. He had be-
come a friend to US all by the faithfulness
ana efficiency with which he performed
public duties that affected the welfare of
every citizen of the Commonwealth. He
mad become personally known to multitudes
of people throughout the State by his con-
tact with them in his public services eX-
tending through a period of many years.
In our city, where he resided so long, un-
counted numbers became strongly attached
TO him because of his kindly spirit and no
Die manhood So these services to-day are
in behalf of the whole community as well
friend
"Snce his DEATH last Monday morning.
the city press has published with great full
ness the story of his life and eminent men
have given US appreciatlve estimates of his
character and work. 1t therefore remains
for me rather to present the lessons we
may learn from his career and to express
the obligations we owe to them than TO re-
peat what has been so well and so fully
spoken by others.
His life was long one For more than
fifty years he was before the public in re-
lationS constantly widening in extent and
rising in honor and responsibility. His
boyhood was familiar with rugged physi-
cal labor and wholesome economy. He
passed from the farm to the college, where
mental industry succeeded muscular toll,
and where careful economy was a con-
tinued necessity His graduation from AS
bury University, in 1S43, was followed by
two years of legal study at Lawrenceburg
and in 1916 he came to this city for the
practice of his chosen profession. and his
home continued here until the close of his
life.
HIS PUBLIC SERVICE.
'Of the hfty-two years of his residence
in Indianapolis, more than twenty-five were
given in some form to public service He
was, successfully, city attorney, reporter Of
the Supreme Court, member of the City
Council, congressman, first controller of
the national treasury, Governor of the
State, minister to Italy Surely, there were
occasions enough in these various positions
of honor and responsibility to test the fiber
of his manhood. And now in this presence
of the end-the last chapter of the history
completed-I voice a unanimous judg-
ment when l declare that he never failed,
either in capacity or fidelity. No interest
confided to his care ever suffered in his
hands.
God enriched him with unusual natural
intellectual gifts. He had a clear analyti-
cal mind, and comprehensive grasp of
large and complicated questions He had
great skill and responsiveness of utterance.
l recall now with great Vividness the first
time | ever saw and heard him. He was
only thirty-two years old, and was making
a political speech in Greencastle in the
Fremont campaign of 1856. His voice and
manner We're charming; his diction classi-
persuasive l admired him then l learned
to love him in the long years of personal
acquaintance and friendship which came
afterward.
Gle possessed the talent of close and
continued application to work. He was
methodical for the purpose of practical re-
suits and no hour for duty found him I'M
prepared. He pressed all preparation to
completeness. Every detail was carefully
worked out. and he did his best on every
occasion. His intellectual force and untir-
ing industry were buttressed by incorrupt-
undervalue this element of character. Moral
integrity has the quality of genius in it
and contributes greatly to the discovery of
truth and the finding of practical wisdom.
His Sympathies were with the best things
everywhere. They placed him on the right
side of controverted questions; they allied
him with the regeneratiVe agencies of So
ciety: they made him steady and reliable
friend and supporter of the church; they
made him a friend of the common people,
we review his career, which lies open
to the world, and find no occasion for
apology or concealment, ! say of him to-
day. as he said of Judge David Mcdonald
nearly thirty years ago: He stood four
square to every wind that blows.
The services We're concluded an 2:45 o clock
and by o'clock. all the friends had filed
out into the yard, while the family was
taking its last farewell of their dead. A
few minutes after o'clock the honorary
pallbearers, headed by General Benjamin
Harrison and Governor Mount passed out
of the front door. The other honorary pail
liday. Volney T. Malott Noble c. Butler
and Judge James b. Black. Following this
escort came John l. Griffiths. Gen James
r. Carnahan, Henry l.. Brown William L.
Elder, Frank II. Rlackledge and Elmer e
Stevenson. bearing in their midst the cas-
bot A- fhaNy nf11n from tba