The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-29
LAST EARTHLY RITES
Imposing Funeral Services
Over VIM. A. Harris Remains.
LARGE ASSEMBLY PRESENT
Bruce Griffith of Reformed
Church and MaSonS in Charge

South Lawrence avenue, at the hour of
10 o'clock, the last offices Of friends.
brethren and loved ones were paid to the
memory Of VIM. A. Hart. who could no
longer speak for himself, or know that
tear-stained faces. swollen eyes, and fast
throbbing hearts were mutely serving
those final ceremonial functions which
the quick pay to the dead.
The house services were conducted by
the Rev. Bruce Griffith of the Re
formed church, assisted by chosen
chorus from the organized choir of the
church, of which body Mr.. Hart had
been faithfully serving as its vice presl-
dent. The pastor, who also had been
his int innate and confidential friend took
as his theme the words Of the ancient
Hebrew singer who, mourning over the
pitiable condition of the Holy City cried
out in the anguish of his heart, "Oh.
comfort ye. comfort ye my people, Israel,
and speak kindly unto Jerusale lem The
emphatic and SO fitting theme of the elo-
quent discourse was comfort ye" In
part the speaker said: 1.-THE most loved
and respected man is he who brings com
fort and consolation into the world; who
sheds a ray of life-giving sunshine where
were sombre clouds OF woe. 1t is a trait
of the Better side of humanity and hu-
man nature, to want to relieve where
there is pain, to assuaeye grief, and to
uplift the stricken. Cries of the afflicted
fall upon our ears daily, yes, hourly,
and our sympathetic hearts so out to
relieve and to comfort. 1t is one phase
Of the Fathers infinite wisdom to send
ministrations o. comfort to the distress
ed, and the highest and the best form of
this mlnistration was exemp lifed in His.
Son, whose lie was one long ideal ser
mon on comforting, be it in healing the
sick, making the blind see, the lame
walk, the deaf to hear, or raising the
dead. In the hearts Of all here present
today there is, 1 hope. only pity, and
the warmly ardent desire to comfort, and
Doe it far from me to believe that there
can possibly be among us any whose
only debasing impulse is carping curl
osity or hystericaI emotonalism. To
desecrate the house of sorrow with such
motives is Satanic. Humanity is fran
and there is no perfection. and none but
the hypocrte takes TO pride in his own
morality. Tt is great remember only the
good and the noble in our friends when
They are gone and TO put aside and forget
all imperfections and shortcomings. We
are an frail and we should remember
the good and the joy the departed
brought into the world As we recall
Brother Harris walk in our midst, we
all remember him as a man of warmest
impulses A sensitive, always courte-
Gus. refined and polished gentleman. A
nature fun of warm affections and last
ing friendships; man naturally gifted
beyond the ordinary, and possessed Of
intellectual culture. He had rare quail
lily of putting ell about him into cor
dial sympathy and harmony. His heart
was ever fun Of charity toward every
one. In him there was no stain of
treacheFy or deception or guile. He was
true TO his friends He loved his home.
his family. He helped the needy, he en-
couraged the downcast ard aided the UNI
fortunate. No man in this community
was there who was not stricken with
grief at learning of his untimely death.
Men who knew him well knew the ma
ture and spirI. and character Of Brother
Hart VIII always recall him as true.
manly man. a steadfast friend, an hon
orable. upright career"
The order Of burial service of the Re
formed church was followed. The min
lister read the service and the choir re-
spondcd from the goth psalm Then the
pastor read the celebrated letter of St
Paul to the church of Corinth regarding
the Resurrection. Then the choir chant
cd the kyrie. Prayer followed this and
then the choir sang ABIDE With Me-"
The sermon followed and this by prayer.
Hart was a member. sang sun of My
Soul The benedicton followed and
during the former part of the solemn
service the choir again sang There's a
Calm for Those Who Weep"
During the first part Of the services.
Albert Pike Lodge No. 303. A. f. and A.
N. OF which the deceased was an hon
ored member was i'm special solemn con-
clave over in the Scottish Rite Cathe-
dral. and having organized and formed.
marched 20 the residence with the fol-
lowing officers in charge WorshipfuI
Master W. S. Grant Senior Warden. J
Il Reynolds; Junior Warden. Isaac
Golusmith Senior Deacon. J. +. Bennett:
Junior Deacon. Junius Z. Luling. Senior
Steward, Harry Piper; Junior Steward.
J. ". Green. Tyler Fred Pierce. Bearer
Of Sacred Lights, AIR. Clark; Treasurer,
l. L. Newcomb Secretary. Charlie Bige-
low: Marshal. Frank PAYNE. At the
house they were Joined by Wichita com
pany No. % Uniformed Rank Knights
of Pythias. i'm fun uniform. I'm command
OF Captain r.. D. Turner. The Modern
Woodmen of America. the A. @. L. w.
the odd Fellows and the Elzs were an
well represented
At the close Of the ceremony the