The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-31
IN Westminster ABBEY
The Last Funeral Rites Over the Re.
mains of the Late William e. Glad.

London. May 2.-In the northern tran
sept of Westminster abbey, where Eng
lands greatest rest, the body of the late
William Ewart Gladstone was entombed
today with the ceremonies of the nation
he had served and of the church he had
loved.
His grave is beside that of his life
long adversary, Benjamin DiSraeli (Lord
Beaconstield), whose marble effigy looks
down upon it decked with the regalia
which Gladstone had refused. Two pos
sible future kings of Great Britain walk
ed beside the great commoner's coffin
and all the nobility and learning of the
state surrounded it, though the wish Of
the deceased had been for simplicity.
This official funeral, the first since Lord
Palmerston, was rendered an imposing
aspect by the magnificence of the build
ing in which it was solemnized. The cof-
fin rested on an elevator bier, before the
altar, its plainnesS hidden beneath a pail
of white and gold, ~embroidered with the
text, "RequieSat in Pace"
Six tall candles were beside it, and on
either side stood the supporters Of the
pail. The prince of Wales and the duke
of York We're at the head of the coffin
and ranging behind them were the mar
quis Of Salisbury, the earl of Kimberly,
A. J. Ba1four, Sir William Vernon Har-
court, the duke of Rutland, Lord Rose
berry, and Mr.. Gladstone's two old time
friends, Baron Rendel and George Armis-
tead.
Within the chancel stood the dean of
Westminster and behind him were gath
cred the cathedral clergy, the archbishop
of Canterbury and the scarlet and white
surpliced choir filling the chapel.
The mourners. who sat in the stalls
nearest to the bier, were Mrs. Gladstone,
her sons-Herbert and Stephen-and 9TH
er members of the family, with little
Dorothy Drew. Mr.. Gladstone's favorite
grandchild. The princess of Wales and
the duchess Of York occupied the leans
pew, opposite.
In tiers of temporary seats in the
oLA,>+h pon1 cn1rt tro pcart vrrnra
bled the members of the two houses of
parliament, the mayOr of principal
cities, delegates from liberal organiZa-
lions and representatives of other civic
and political organizations, while the long
nave was crowded with thousands of men
and women among them being most OF
the celebrities in all branches of Eng
lish life, and every gallery, balcony and
niche high up among the ~rafters, held
a cluster of deeply interested spectators.
In all 200 persons were assembled in the
abbey, all clothed in the deepest mourn
ing save a few officials whose regalia
doomed brilliantly from this sombre
background.
The procession that accompanied the
remains to the grave was compOSed of
most of the notable people in London,
and the funeral services were full of pa
thos. The bishop of London officiated
and the archbishop of Canterbury pro-
nOunced the benediction.
Mrs. Gladstone stood bravely, with
great composure, Throughout the service.
| Her face was lifted upward, her lips
| were moving as though repeating the
lines of the services.
The prince of Wales, the duke of York
and the other pallbearers shook hands
with Mrs. Gladstone, the mOurners defiled
| past the grave, taking a last view Of the
| coffin, and when they had been escorted
| down the nave, to the entrance, the peo-
| pie slowly departed.
Memorial services in honor of Mr..
! Gladstone were held today all over Eng
land.