Iron County register., 1898-06-02


As the coffin emerged from the hall
every hat was doffed and silence fell
upon the bareheaded gathering. More
than an hour before service, every place
in the abbey except those assigned to
the processionists was taken. The en-
tire congregation rose Rt 1o:15 when
Mrs Gladstone, supported by two of
her sons, entered, and the same COM
pliment was paid to the princess OF
Wales few minutes later. 1t was
by no means q weary wait for
the arrival of the procession.
For nearly an hour the great
organ, supplemented by q large or
chestra, filed the grand old cloisters
with Beethoven's magnificent funeral
music. Four trombones placed far uD
in the triforium added sad wall to the
notes of the organ with an effect that
was almost weird. Then followed
Schubert's and Beethoven's familiar
funeral marches. By this time the
head of the procession arrived, and
those forming it slowly fled to their
places A great surpliced choir COM
prising the wonderful boys voices from
st. sPaul's and st. Margaret's as well
as those of Westminster, entered sing
ing: Il Am the Resurrection and tho
Life"
An Imposing Scene.
The coffin was placed upon high
catafalque under the lantern in the
center of the church, the pall-bearers
remaining on each side. The lords, the
members of the last Gladstone cabinet,
and other high dignitaries, occupied
the north transept Immediately over
looking the central portion of the
church. The mourners, including the
family, sat in the center.
Soon after IL o'clock, when the church
was hushed to silence that was almost
oppressive, the choir began to sing
Lord, Thou hast been our refuge"
and never was cathedral music more
sweetly or more impressively sung. As
the amen" died family away Dean
Bradley, his spare, thin figure almost
spiritual in his robes, read the lesson,
in voice low and solemn, yet which
carried with wonderful distinctness to
the farthest auditorium, and then came
the true solemnity and true pathos Of
that memorable hour.
Rock of Ages. Cleft For Me-"
1t was tribute which all could pay.
Lords and commoners, judges, the
clergy and all the assembly of the
great men of England sang the favor
ite hymn of the man they mourned.
They sang Rock of Ages as perhaps
it never was sung before. The ma
jestic harmony rose in gathering
volume until the instrumental &C
compartment was unheard 1t spread
beyond the walls of the grand old alb
hey until the waiting thousands out
side heard it, caught it up and sent the
sweet refrain echoing the neighboring
streets. 1t was appropriate, also, to
the next song, sang by the choir and
congregation as the body was being
conveyed to the grave. Neuman's
Praise to the Holiest" was the hymn.
The grave, around which the nearest
mourners now gathered, was in the
very center of the north transept. 1t
was at the foot of the statue of Mr..
consfeld, and it seemed as if the mar
bic figure, which was in the attitude of
looking into the grave, wore an express
sion of scornful triumph.
Mrs. Gladstone, leaning on the arm of
her son, slowly followed the process
sion. When Earth to Earth" was re-
cited and the body was slowly lowered
into the gave, then came the glorious
refrain, sung with almost joyful voices,
beginning: Il heard voice from HeaV-
en- and the most sorrowful moment
seemed robbed of its sadness.
The Lords Prayer
was chanted and spoken and the service
closed with the reading of the collect
by the archbishop of Canterbury. The
most beautiful music of the service was
the rendering of Handels THE Bodies
Are Burid in Peace, which was followed
by Strainer's grand Amen, which was
sung by the choir before the archbishop
of Canterbury pronounced the benedie-
ton, and finally there was that splendid
tribute in which all could join, the
mighty voice of the assembled thou
sands once more drowning the full or
gan, the blaring of trumpets and the
of cymbals with the hymn,
''Oh, God, Our Help in Ages Past.
Then the funeral of the great En-
glishInan was past.