The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-25
HAD A GREAT FUNERAL.
THOUSANDS or COLORED PEOPLE
HONOR REV. BROWNE'S MEMORY
The Church Literally Psoke'i--rhere were
Many Addresses Made and the Hher-
cises Took UP three and Half Hours

Tic funeral that Is likely TO go down
in history as the largest one ever held
over The remains Of a colorcd man In
Richmond. wns that OF yesterday when
Rev W. ". Browne, the late president
Of tho Grand Fountain, United order OF
True Rclorhers. was eulogzed by promi-
nent men Of his race and his body was
Inferred I'm Sycl more Cemetery.
In point Of the number OF people VINO
turned ont the variety and beauty or
the floral designs. and the tributes palu
ir a1dressss. the funeral Of Rev. Browne
Was somewhat unique and altogether IN
tercstinE -, a.
buried WAS one OF the finest and most
costly ever used ln Richmond. III WIS
purch4acd IN Washington ana IS salu 10
hay. been ah almost exact duplicate on
ihe one in which President G"rheld
body was inferred.
An ALL-DAY AFFAIR.
As carly as q O'Clock a crowd began 10
rItht about the hal Of the iF1c re
formers ON north Second street ~ was
after dark iciofc ihoae VIZ io-'o" =. ~
tho remains 60 the cemetery ie'uIhSu 10
Ths Rcformcrs Hall was drapcd in
mourning The body Of Rev Browne lald
IN state Boa one of The hall rooms on the
first floor This apartment was elegantly
dr.pcl and more than "a score Of hand
some floral offerings. some OF mem from
distant cities were banked up around the
CasFct.
40 MAS after n O'Clock before the pro-
cosslon moved. Paul G.. E1slcy was the
chief marshal and had numerous ald,s,
The marshal and his assistants Ied the
way. followed hy the llrst Batai'op
BAND Of seventeen pieces. the male mem
lcrs OF the True RefOrmcrs on 1907. me
pall-beaIers in carriages. members OF the
fIa. H. af
members of King Solomon Fountain TO
which the deceased belonged.
DRAWN 10y -FOUR HORSES. ?.
The hoarse brought up the rear -
was drawn by four sulcnoid hlack nor 80.
There was "a guard Of honor win 'he
hcarss. 49,.
INC procession moved up Baker street
so Brook avenue. thence 10 leleh' 10
Third and TO the Thrd-Strect Methodist
church An along the route the slde-
walks were crowded with people, there
loug "a large sprnklIng of whites among
the spectators.
II was o'clock before the church
was reached. The services here took up
fhree and "a half hours All of the first
floor of the church was reserved Tor tnosc
who tool. part in The parade. Not lVh@
after the galleries were opened thcy were
filled with people. mostly femdles' Mem,
beers Of tho True Roiormers coulu nor an
De- given seats on the first floor ana many
had TO remain iu the street. inc cnutcn
Was literally packed and thousands of
people were on the outside anxious TO get
THE SERMON.
Revs johnson Of the Episcopal church
and Holmes Of the Methodist wearing
their ministerial robes. met the remains
az the door and read that part ot me
Episcopal service beginning with am
tho resurrection and the lie. ana the
casket was borne 90 the altar
The service. while very lengthy. ala
not appear To- weary the audience. ne
hymns sung were those selected by Rev
Browne on his death bed.
Rev j. r. Rawhns in his PRAYER re-
ferrcd 10 tho dead man as patriot ana
public hcnefactor.
The sermon was preached by Rev. 4.
a Holmes. the pastor Of this church. IFS
subject was "A Great Man and he had
much 20 say about Rev. Browne ca
rcef He told of his humble birth ana
OF his rise in lfe lic said Luther. Wes-
lev aud other great men had white faces
in their favor while Browne was born
with black face and his boyhood days
were spent among those who thought the
negro had mo- rights which the whites
wcro bound 10 respect He did not say
Browne was greater than Luther or Wes-
ley but considering his advantages
Browne made record Boo life that en-
titled him to hc ranked among the great
mon OF the world IS history.
THE EUlOGlES.
After various letters and resolutions of
coincidence bad been read oulOgics on the
lifo and character ot Rev. Browne were
pronounced hy Revs Richards Wells.
James w. Holmes. Johnson. j. T.. Jones.
] T.. Thomas and A. s. Thomas Some OF
the cuioclcs were beautiful! I'm sentiment
and well delivered
Rev. Johnson said ne admired Rev.
Browne because hc knew his position i'm
NE and went about attending 10 his own
husincee. Tie had no use for those who
tried 20 stir mp bad feeling between the
races
Professor j. y. Jones said tho fun name
81 The deceased was William Washington
Browne and his life combined many Of
Tho sterling qualities that made William
tho COnqueror George Washington and
John Brown groat men
After fho scryiccos. which concluded
with the burial crcmOnv Of tho Grand
Fountain the body was taken to the
cemetery and buried