The Washington times., 1901-10-16
FUNERAL OF NJ. G. EMERY
An Eloquent EulOgy Pronounced
by the Rev. DR. Bristol.
A Distinguished Attendance nt the
Church Ccrcmonies-Remni In
TERED Mt Rock Creek Cemetery
Resolutions of HOnrd of Trustees.

With simple but impressive ceremonie:
the remains of Matthew Gault Emery
citizen, financier. and the last of the city
| of Washington's eX-Mayors. were placeC
in a vault at Rock Creek Cemetery yes.
terday afternoon The funeral service
was held in the Metropolitan Church
-Four and a-half and c Streets northwest
of which Mr.. Emery had been lifelong
member. having served as President OF
its Board of Trustees for a score or more
Of years. The Rev. DR.. Frank Bristol,
pastor of the church, officiated.
Long before the hour set for the open
ing Of the solemn exercises the pews of
the edifce were all occupied. The Com
missiOners of District of Columbia at
tended the services in a body. Many
prominent and influential citizens were
present. as were also Mr.. Emery's house
hold servants. all of whom had gathered
to pay their last duty of respect to the
memory of their late employer.
| Numerous floral tributes were banked
on either side of the casket The forward
pews of the church were reserved for
| members Of the family and persons espe-
cially invited. Every seat on the first
! tlOor Of the edifice was taken, and a score
or more OF persons were standing The
/
| upper galleries.
| The services We're opened with the sing
| ing Of a psalm by the church choir 7 he
Rev. DR.. ". w. Pitzer, pastor Of the
! Third Presbyterian Church, an intimate
| friend of Mr.. Emery, delivered brief but
| impressive sermon, in which he paid trib-
Ute to the character of the dead citizen
The funeral eulogy was delivered by Dr.
Bristol whose voice tIembIcd with emo
ton as he spoke of the many noble quail
| tiles of MIR. Emery. and recited many acts
of charity performed by him during his
life. In part he spoke as follows.
Such men as Matthew Gault Emery
are not common. Our own burdens seem
heavy, but it is hard to realize how much
OF a burden this good Christian man
bore, and was willing to bear, for the
sake of family and church. We do not
come to grieve over this good man leav-
ing us, like a tired and wornout pilgrim
going to rest after long and tiresome
journey
When the citizens of Washington. call
ed him into the high office of mayor it
was because Of his integrity. honesty,
and loyalty No good cause was ever ap-
pealed to him in vain. He numbered
among his friends the people OF all
churches. He never had a word to say
against any mans creed. On the con-
trary. he was the man to point out to
their accusers their different good points
In all Matthew Gault Emery was a gen
tleman of the old school.
LAS a member of this church he was
strong pillar, and l say that it could
never be here today had it not been for
his generosity. We shall never forget his
work as a Christian. Mr.. Emery was
our pride. our joy, and glory; strong
and beautiful pillar in our temple of God.
He always found time for religion in his
busy. active, and useful life, and is to
young business men of this city a model
of example.
at is to the glory of this country and
its institutions that such man as
Matthew Gault Emery has succeeded.
For sixty years he has come in and gone
out in all stations as citizen, fnancier,
and city ruler, a man whom we were al
ways proud to point to and say, There is
an American citizen. 1t was joy for
him to contribute toward the beautifying
of the city of Washington. and he was
one of the men who helped to make the
National Capital one of the finest cities
in the world today
DR.. Bristol then read a letter he had
received from Bishop Hurst expressing
his regret at being unable to attend the
funeral of Mr. Emery, with whom he was
ultimately acquainted. lie also read the
resolutions adopted bv the Metropolitan
Church Board OF Trustees, OF which Mr.
Emery was president.
The services concluded with the singing
OF psalm by the choir. The casket was
borne slowly from the church, placed ia
the sombre draped hearse, and the iolr-
hgu1ln he r4l
cortege was one Of the largest seen in tnis
city for some time.
The resolutions adopted by the Church
board were follows:
Resolved, by the official board of the
Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal Church
OF the City of Washington. u. c., this
18th day OF October, 1901 that the follow
Ing be entered upon the records of the
board:
This Church today mourns the loss OF
its most beloved member a prince and
leader in Israel has fallen
The name Of Matthew Gault Emery is
a household word in the civic and religious
life Of this community. where for more
than half a century he has been one of
its foremost citizens.
Di!igent in business, fervent in spir-
H. ne was one Of the masterful factors
IN the upbuilding and prosperity OF our
city; with enduring faith in It's future he
toiled and planned for its welfare. adding
TO its material Improvement, organizing
and directing large commercial enter
n
the spirit of the times, he kept abreast
of modern and progressive effort: his
character and integrity We're recognized
by his fellow-citizens, ana they contin-
ually delighted in honoring him by calling
him to conspicuous places Of trust and
responsibility.
AT a period of great difficulty in our
municipal affairs, he was elected to the
mayoralty OF our city; and it was his dis
tnction TO be the last Mayor of the old
municipality.
No deserving charity failed Of recog-
milton at his liberal hand; for the estab- |
lishment of every church in the District |
of Columbia, regardless of denomination |
or creed, it was his pleasure to give sub |
stantial aid. But all these things, and
more, are well known; they are the com
mon property Of the community.
'Methodism recognized him as her most |
distinguished representative in this local |
ity, and when her hosts from far and |
near gathered in this church in 1891 on |
the occasion of the second ecumcnlcal
conference it was eminently fit and proper |
that he should throw open his hospitable |
home for n public reception to these IN |
ternational delegates Of the church OF his |
choice.
The Metropolitan Methodist Episcopal |
Church acknowledges to Matthew c. |
Emery "A debt beyond adequate express
sion. He was the last survivor Of that |
heroic and devoted Board Of Trustees |
who, under the call of the denomination
undertook to build this church as a |
memorial to Methodism, exceptional in its |
origin and unique in its purpose, the en- |
terprise would have failed except for the |
incessant labors and the steadfast faith |
OF these men; among the largest and |
most notable contributions to the building
fund were those of Matthew G. Emery |
and during those long years Of doubt |
and struggle for existence his forceftn |
personality as President of the Board of |
trustees was ytritaple tower of |
strength. This church viii ever continue |
to cherish with increasing fyratftuda IL