Evening star., 1902-07-31

afternoon. Accompanied by the family, the
remains were taken at $3.50 o'clock, over
the Pennsylvania railroad to Mr. Ross old
home and birthplace, Lewiston ILL., where
his aged mother awaits the sad coming.
The church services were conducted by
Rev. Albert Parker Fitch, who paid q
glowing tribute to Mr.. Ross as man and
a public official.
The Large Congregation.
The congregation, which ultimately filed
the church, was early in arriving. In the
right section of pews the officials and
employees Of the District government were
seated. Among the earlier delegations to
come into the church was that represent
ing the board of directors Of the Board of
Trade. Among some of those present were
Mr.. Thomas w. Smith, president of the
Board of Trade; Mr.. John Joy Edison, Mr..
John B. Larner, Mr.. William G.. Hender-
son, Mr.. s. w. Woodward, Prof. B. T. jan
ney A. T. Stuart. superintendent of
schools; Mr.. W. V. Cox, Mr.. W. P. Van
Wtckle. Mr.. VIM. F. Hart of the Wash
ington Gas Light Company, Mr.. A E. Ran
die; Mr.. Frank Campbell, assistant secre-
tary OF the interior; Rev Frederick Power,
Rev. ]. G. Butler and many others All
of the heads of District departments were
present. F. Fanciulli, former leader of the
United States Marine Band, and personal
friend of the late Commissioner also at
tended the services.
Mrs. Ross, wife of the Commissioner, was
escorted by Mr.. Pike C. Ross, brother of
the dead official The Misses Ross were
accompanied by Lieutenant Tenney Ross
completed the immediate family circle
The body upon reaching the church from
the house, was preceded up the aisle by
the minister and the honorary pallbearers,
the latter being Commissioners Macfarland
and Biddle, Mr.. John w. Douglass, former
Commissioner; Mr.. E. G. Davis, collector
OF taxes; Mr.. j. ]. Darlington, DIR. William
Tindall, Mr.. Chaplin Brown and Mr.. A. B.
Duvall, the corporation counsel.
Next came the active pall-bearers
Messrs. H. H. DarneiIle the District a as, ;,
SCISSOR; Charles G. Rogers, disbursing
officer; Warner Stutler, superintendent Of
street cleaning; Francis Nye Of the board
Of assistant assessors and former secra-
tary to Mr.. Ross, Robert Howard and DR..
William G. Woodward, the health officer.
The ushers at the church were Messrs.
Moncure Burke, Waldo G. Hibbs, Louis c.
Wilson, Daniel Garges and Mills Dean
AS the casket was placed in position at
the altar quartet, composed Of Mrs. Nellie
Wilson Shir-Cliff, Mrs. Margaret Nolan
Martin, ]. Walter Humphrey and Douglass
Miller sang Thy Will Be Done" The song
was an impressive one. Rev. Mr.. Fitch
read from the Bible at some length and
then Mrs. ShirCliff sang with beautiful
effect. Sometime We VIII Understand"
Rev. Mr.. Fitch's Address.
Mr.. Fitch then, addressing the congrega-
ton, said:
On Tuesday. the Goth day Of July, 1902,
died John Wesley Ross, for the last twelve
years Commissioner Of the District Of Co.
lumbia, and for two years preceding these
postmaster Of the city of Washington. Dur
Ing these fourteen years he has been liv-
ing epistle. known and read Of all men,
and, under the scrutiny Of that fierce light
which beats upon public servant, he has
proven himself unsparing in his devotion
to our service; generous in benefactions;
wise counsellor, an honest man, a true
friend, knightly gentleman, patriot We
are gathered here to do honor to his men,
ory, to bear witness to our love and graft
tude for him, our remembrances and pray-
ers for those whom he has left behind, and
to commend his spirit to Almighty God
Ihis Is, therefore, an hour Of grief. AS
you passed this morning. beneath the trees
which everywhere overland our public
walks, you may well have noticed many a
cluster of tender leaves, broken by the
storms OF yesterday from some bending
branch, lying crushed and withered at your
feet. So from time to time, in the solemn
exigences OF God, are the youngest and
fairest blossoms Of home removed from
the parent stem, and in such cases the loss
and bitterness are hard to bear
But, today, 1t Is the oak itself which lies
prostrate before US. The full-grown man,
the man OF comprehension, Of vigor. Of
executive 1orce- The wise and prudent
man. upon whose sagacious counsels Others
relied; II Is he who this day enters his mar
row house, and We have cause for grief
Also an Hour of Triumph.
But this is also an hour Of triumph. A
strong man. whenever he dies, seems to de-
part before his time, and the hands of man,
crossed one above the other in eternal help
| lessness, are ever a sad and solemn sight.
| But these have been busy hands, strong
| and efficient, generous and gentle, as few
are privileged to be. His brain no longer
throbs. but 1t has been q masters brain,
swift and tireless. comprehending and dis
eliminating with an insight that few of us
will ever possess. His heart has ceased
| its beating, but as long as it's pulses flowed
1t was with the red and hearty tides OF
generosity, honor and truth. The oak did
not fall until 1t had grown to honor and
beauty in the sight OF men and had spread
generous gifts OF protection and shade for
the wayfarers beneath Commissioner Ross