The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-17
Impressive Ceremonies in
House Of Representatives.

Washington, Jan. 16.-An impressive
state funeral was given the late Rep
resentative Nelson Dfngley at noon to-
day in the House of Representatives
where he had so long been such a COM
manding figure.
The president. his cabinet, disting-
uishsd members of the diplomatic corps.
members of the supreme court. Senate
end House, and distinguished men in
military and civil life, We're ranged
about his bier on the floor of the hall
while the galleries, to which admission
could be obtained only by card, were
occupied by the families of those who
sat upon the floor and other prominent
personages invited to be present.
some OF them, including a delegation
from the New York Chamber of Com
merce, had come from a distance to
pay their last tribute of respect to the
dead statesman.
Not since the late William D. Kelly
OF pennsylvania, was given a state
funeral in the House during the 5Ist
congress, when President Mckinley
was chairman of the ways and means
committee, has such an honor been ac-
corded member of the House. The
body was taken from the hotel Hamil-
ton to the capitol this morning at 10
o'clock, and was borne into the hall of
Representatives by a squad of capitol
ponce, under the direction of Sergeant
alarms Russell.
The oasket was placed on a bier in
tho area in front of the marble rostrum
OF the speaker. and for an hour the
public, which would have no oppor-
tunity to witness the official care-
monies later, was allowed to view the
BODY as 1t lay in state. Thousands of
people Streamed through the main door
past the easlxet, and gazed upon the
features of the dead during that hour
Some could with difficulty be induced
by the police to move away from the
casket
The House pages and other emplov-
ess Of the House entered the line and
took last view of Mr. Dingley. The
congressman was well beloved by the
employees of the House, and there
Were tears in many eyes. The decora-
tons of the hall were simple, but strik-
ingly beautiful Palms relieved the rig
ia corners and palm leaves arranged
In the form of a trefoil, planted in
wreaths of galax leaves, tied with long
streamers of purple, adorned the walls.
A cluster Of roses and palm leaves were
arranged on each section of the brass
railing about the rear of the hall. This
simple scheme of decoration culminat-
ed about the rostrum, beneath which
the body lay.
Great palms all about the rostrum
alf1ost concealed the beautiful silk flag
behind the speakers chair and made
a dense background of green. Above.
across the front of the press gallery,
Ealax leaves were festooned, while just
above the clock was a white dove with
outspread wings. Below, Immediately
IN front of the white marble rostrum.
the casket lay, banked with flowers.
winch completely concealed the marble
About the edge of the casket were pur-
pie Vlolets in bed of maiden hair
ferns. The only floral piece on the cas-
ket was cluster of orchids, the gift of
Mrs. Blaine. At the head of the casket
was a wreath of orchids and lilies of
the valley, tied with a deep purple rib
bon, which had been sent by the presi-
dent. A simple basket of green elder
stood n either end of the decoration.
Mr.. Dingley's desk was wrapped in
black and covered with roses and
lilies.
As the hands of the clock pointed to
noon, Speaker Reed assembled the ros-
trum and called the House to order.
The members arose to listen to the
brief and simple prayer of the chaplain
The clerk read in full the resolutions
adopted on Saturday after the an
nouncement of Mr.. Dingley's death.
and the clerk of the Senate announced
the passage of similar resolutions by
the Senate.
Immediately the vice president and
the Senate were announced, and the
senators entered the chamber in a
body, preceded by their officers, tax
ing seats on the right of the speaker
Senator Ross of Vermont, who sue
ceeds the late Senator Morrill,. made
his first public appearance on this oc-
casion. The senators We're followed
by the diplomatic corps. With the dip
lomats came the members of the An
glo-American commission, of which
Mr, Dingley had been member. Then
followed the chief justice and assistant
justices OF the supreme court and thew
in turn were followed by the president
and his cabinet, who took places imme-
diately to the right of the casket. The
honorary pall-bearers, with white
sashes across their breasts, sat on the
left. They were Senators Hale, Aid
rich. Burrows, Fairbanks, Pritchard.
Berry, Faulkner, Rawlins and McI,au
rim. and Representatives Boutelle.
Payne. Dolliver, Tawney, Evans. Hid,
bern, Clarke IN. H), Bailey, Doc1zer-v.
Ball and Mclean.
Directly in front of them and across
the aisle from the presidential party
and in front Of the casket, sat the
bereaved family.
The services began with singing bv a
quartet the selection being, Crossing
the bar" It was the first time music
had ever been heard in the House.
The services were conducted by Rev.
s. NJ. Newman Of the First Congrega-
Iional Church of this city, assisted nv
Rev. DR.. Couden, chaplain of the
House Rev. Mr.. Newman read the
14th chapter of St John. He then
spoke of the deep solemnity Of the oc-
casion and the great lesson which
might be drawn from the life which
had been finished
Rev. Mr.. Couden, the blind chaplain
of the House. made q prayer, and the
exercises were concluded with the
quartet singing, Jesus, lover of my
soul" When Mr.. Newman delivered
the benediction, the entire assemblage
arose.
The company departed in the order
In which they had come. President
Mckinley paused while he gazed at the
features of his dead friend.
When all had departed save the mem
bers Of the House, Mr. Boutelle (Me) !
moved that the House adjourn as a
further mark Of respect. The motion
was adopted, and accordingly. at 1855
p. m the speaker declared the House
adjourned