Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-10
THE FUNERAL
Of Late Ex-Speaker Thomas B.
Reed at Portland.
Large Gathering to Pay Honor to
Names Distinguished Son.
Services Brief and Simple But Touch
ing and Impressive.

|
country, the funeral of Hon. Thomas
b. Reed, in the First Parish Unitarian
church. today, was remarkably simple.
A few strains of the organ. a score
of comforting passages from Scripture,
a fervent prayer, a brief but eloquent
eulogy and the benediction. 1t was
| practically commital service. al
| though held over the body of one who
had thrice been speaker of the Nation
al House of Representatives..
| But the strains of music, and the
spoken word. passed over the body ly-
ing so silently on the pulpit platform,
to most notable gathering of Ameri-
can citizens from walks of life, al
though principally from those with
| which the great statesman had been
for many years so closely identified.
The distinguished assembly COM
pletely filed the church, but in an ad
| joining room, which opened into it sat
| the bereaved widow and daughter, sur
rounded by consoling friends, but en-
tirely unobserved by the greater
crowd in the main edfice.
1t was a service of but few min
utes, and after the words of the min
lister We're still, and the organ hushed.
there came in the crisp December all
the long toll of the city bells, which
note by note struck off the eXentful
years of the life of Portland's great
est son.
AS the darkness gathered. the short
funeral procession wended it's way to
the cemetery where the body was
tenderly laid away in the receiving
tomb. to await final burial in the
spring.
The day was one of mourning
throughout the city. even the busy
holiday tide being checked, while all
the public buildings as well as many
places of business were completely
closed during the afternoon.
The services in the church were held
at 2 o'clock, but for some hours pre-
vious, the body was allowed to lie in
state in the Parish house. where it was
viewed by many hundreds of people
who could justly claim to be Mr.. Reeds
neighbors. The Parish house was
finally closed shortly after one
O'Clock, and then the casket was re-
moved to the pulpit platform of the
church.
This larger editce was completely
reserved for the visiting delegations
and distinguished men, who began to
= arrive some minutes before O'Clock.
During the assembly, Mr.. Walter
Smith played several appropriate Sc
Iections on the organ, which lent much
/ to the impressiveness of the occasion.
! The display of flowers was beautl-
full. including the following: bouquet OF
| white roses, Gen. Frances Fessenden;
| bououet of red roses. Gen. Thomas h.
, Hubbard. New York: circle of roses
and pinks. "A magnificent standing
piece. John b. Reed: bouquet of white
roses Gen. and Mrs. c. p. Mattocks;
cross of red roses with a base of yell
! low roses New York Life ms. Co.:
bo,,ouet of roses, Cumberland Club:
| bouoi,ot of roses. Cumberland Bar;
vioIets. Mrs. Malcolm ID. Barrows:
hououet of roses, George Z. Bird and
VIM. NJ. Bradley: palms. j. Hopkins
Smith: bouquet of American beauty
roses, Jos w. Symonds: wreath OF or
| chids, palms and roses. MIS-. l. D.
Reed: wreath of pink and white roses
and maidenhair ferns. Lincoln Cluo'
/ American Beauty roses. club triends III
New York Congressional delegation;
F; mink and white roses with asparagus
vine. Lemuel II. Cobb: wreath vi
white roses. white hyacintns anu
laurel James Selden McCobb: bouquet
of American Beauty roses, MI. anu
Mrs Asher c. Kinds; bouquet of pinks
and white roses Hon. Amos L. Aileil
and Miss Laura f. Allen: bouquet OF
American Beauty roses. DR.. ana MIS-
II Weeks and Miss Weeks
I The main portion of the church was
soon filed. In the front pews were the
nall hearers Hon. Joseph w. Symohos'
ucp .John c. Small. George f. Bro
Attorney General George M. seiuers.
Judge Clarence Hale of the unlteo
states district court. Robinson VIII
rams William Bradley and William
wood. There also sat Gov. John
nan with his staff and Council ana
na,r him was Gov Crane of Massacnu-
; satts Collector George II. Lyiha" %
pos,on and several members OF the
uo,ne Market Club of that city. be-
] h,nd was practically the full strength
ar IN. cumberland county bar. wnicr
oar,;er in the day had spread upo'
their records fitting resolutions upo'
- aa.tb Of so notable member o.
. their organization.
!: Then came the Loyal Legion. sese ,s,
:: Grand Array Posts. members OF IN
I cumberland Club. members OIL M
!. pa.,.,s class at Bowdoin College. TN
/; s,;ra citv government OF fortIan'
; BEADED by Mayor Boothby and dele
= 80 from nearly every political or
]. ,,nization in the State OF Maine
!; sa While the company was assembling .'n in
: w" ohurch Mrs. Reed. with he
!; slaughter. Miss Catherine Reed. Reed, co g,
!. Augustus G. Payne. an OLD ir,e ssa,, :" =
= q d. Barrows. favorl.e "1 pou.,
s Ar Reed. and his sister. Miss barrows
8 49, = Kinds. Mr.. Reeds privat
I: s As~e and several of Mrs; Reed :,
!; sec rrenai friends. quietly took thei
8 psa.s near the ooen door leading int
Looking over the great body o"
might have noticed the to''o~'"s'