The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-18
SERVICES AT THE CHURCH.


The funeral services in the First Presby-
terian Church were attended by one of the
largest congregations that even gathered
in local church. Long before the party
from the Harrison home entered the edi-
flee the seats left open to the holders of
cards of admission were occupied and
scores of people ranged themselves about
the walls. More than half of the center
section and a considerable part of each
OF the side sections were reserved for the
funeral party, consisting of the family.
near relatives, intimate friends and distn-
guished people from outside the State who
came here to pay their last sad tribute of
respect to the ex-President. The steps
leading to the platform and the choir were
invaded by eager spectators of the cere-
monies, and the resultant crowding togeth-
er OF many people in a small space oc-
casioned an unfortunate accident. Just as
the funeral cortege was moving slowly
up the aisles and had progressed about
midway of the auditorium the pushing of
the people in the front of the church TO
see what was taking place caused several
of the large pots containing palms to top
pie and fall from their insecure resting
places with a most distressing noise De-
spite the warning thus given. the specta-
tors continued their craning to observe
all the details and second accident of
a similar nature was narrowly averted.
The procession moved up the aisles in a
solemn manner, preceded by the deacons
of the church. At the head of the line in
the right aisle were the twelve honorary
and twelve active paIlbearers. Closely sue
ceeding them came the casket. which was
placed on a movable car and pushed by the
undertakers to its position just in front of
the platform on which stood the ministers.
The family and friends followed and were
quietly shown their seats.
APPROPRIATELY DECORATED.
The church was beautifully and appro-
priately draped and decorated in honor OF
the great occasion. Flags were literally
employed in the drapings over doors and
about the platform. The main entrances
through which the funeral party passed
were tastefuly hung with black crepe
edged with white. The balcony railing was
obscured entirely from view by a covering
of black crepe. double-sttched with white
presenting a unique and pleasing appear
ance The platform that was occupied by
Drs Haines and NiccolIs. the officiating
ministers. was a bower of natural beauty
constructed from palms and potted flower
ing plants. A splendid background for the
casket was formed by the floral tributes
such of them as could be provided with
places in the limited space. Scarcely half
of the floral designs presented by friends
could be taken into the church. lack of
room necessitating leaving them in the
vestibule until the services were concluded.
Before the procession entered the church
and during its progress through the aisles
Organist Charles +. Hansen played Cho-
pins wonderful March Funebre." with an
admirable soft effect.
A touch OF unusual pathos was given the
scene by the placing on either side OF the
casket of a basket of immense American
Beauty roses. mounted pretty pedestal
tributes of affection f 'om local school chill
dren.
President Mckinley and Governor and
Mrs. Durbin occupied seats near the front
of the church and little TO the right of
the immediate family of the deceased
a SOLEMN HUSH.
There a solemn hush when the re-
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