Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-12-14
The troops. with arms reversed.

The troops, with arms reversed.
Music.
The clergy-namely, the Rev. Messrs. Davis Muir,
Moffat and Addison
The generals horse, with his saddle, holsters and
pistols, led by two grooms.
The body, borne by the Masons and officers
Principal mourners- namely, Mrs Stuart and Mrs.
Law, Misses Nancy and Sally Stuart,
Miss Fairfax and Miss Dennison.
Mr.. Law and Mr.. P&er, Mr. Lear and Dr. Craik,
Lord Fairfax and Fernando Fairfax.
Lodge No. %.
Corporation of Alexandria.
All other persons, preceded by Mr.. Anderson and
the oyerseers
"When the body arrived near the
vault, at the bottom of the lawn, on
the high bank of the Potomac, the
cavalry halted The infantry moved
forward and formed the in-lining The
Masonic brethren and citizens descend
ed to the vault, and the funeral serv-
ices of the church were read by the
Rev. Mr.. Davis. He also pronounced
a short discourse. The Masons then
performed their peculiar ceremonies,
and the body was deposited in the
vault Three general discharges of
arms We're given by the infantry and
the cavalry. and IL pieces of artillery,
which were ranged back of the vault
and simultaneously discharged, paid
the last tribute to the entombed com
mander in chief of the armies of the
United States'
News of Washington's death reached
the assembled congress in Philadelphia
the morning of Dec. IS, the day Of the
funeral, having been brought by a
stage passenger. John Marshall of
Virginia announced it and moved an
adjournment, which was taken until
the 10Th. When congress reassembled,
a message from President Adams ar
rived announcing that information of
Washingtons death had been commu-
nicated through his secretary. The
resolutions, which had been prepared
by General Henry Lee, were then read.
The army and navy were ordered to
wear mourning, and a funeral was ar
ranged in memory Of Washington Dec.
26 The people of the country were
recommended to wear Grape for 30
days General Lee pronounced the fu-
neral grafton, and it was then that be
used the famous phrase, first in war.
first in peace and first in the hearts of
his countrymen."
Both houses of congress assembled
in the German Lutheran church to lis
ten to the grafton. At the next session
congress resolved "that it be recon-
mended to the people of the United
States to assemble on the 22d of Feb
ruary next, in such numbers and man
ner as may be convenient, publicly to
testify their grief for the death of
General George Washington by suita-
bic eulogies, orations and discourses
and by public prayers" Thus the first
national celebration of Washington's
birthday was an occasion of profound
mourning.
When Washington died. the country
was at peace. The last warcloud had
disappeared shortly before. the inn
broglio with France, and the ceremo-
nies of Installing Napoleon as first CON
sui were postponed for period of
mourning for the memory of Washing
ton. The commander of the British
feet ordered every ship to lower her
flag to half mast
At home many of Washington's chief
contemporaries In the struggle for in
dependence had preceded him to the
grave Out of 81 sIgners OF the Decla-
ration but 10 survived. OF the generals
all but Gates, Morgan and Stark were
gone. John Adams was president, JEFF
ferson bIding his time, Hamilton secre-
tary of war. Patrick Henry was dead.
and so also were the other great ora
tors Of the Revolution. Otis and Josiah
Quincy. American literature was at a
standstill. Charles Brockden Brown
was its chief light Jonathan Edwards
was perhaps the brainiest man outside
of politics
Abroad Washington's old enemy,
Clinton, was dead, but Howe and Corn
wallis survived. Burke and Lord North
had passed away. but Fox and Pitt
lived to glory IN the triumph of human
independence.
In the world of letters abroad when
Washington died Moore and Byron