Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1903-01-23
THE LAST TRIBUTE
ENTIRE STATE ATTENDS FUNERAL OF
THOMAS H. TONGUE.

Floral Offerings Completely Covered the
Coffin Many Societies to Which He
Belonged Took Part in the Last Sad
Rites-Hillsboro Almost Too Small to
Hold ALI Who Attended.
Hillsboro, Jan. 19.-Thomas H.
Tongue went to his grave yesterday
with all the honor that his state could
give him. Neraly all Oregon attended
his funeral at Hillsboro, and at the last
impressive services, the preacher said
most fttingly: cit is Oregon that is
mourning today. for it is Oregon that
has lost son. A committee from
congress, made up of men who repre-
sented every part of the nation, was
present, but the funeral ceremony was
Oregon's own tribute to the dead.
Hillsboro was not big enough to hold
in comfort all who wanted to attend
Mr.. Tongues obsequies. A special
train from Portland carried down a
multitude, and hundreds poured into
the town from all parts of the state.
Nearly all the state officials were pres
ent, and SO was majority of the legis
lature. And from others who could
not attend. came a wealth of floral
offerings that were piled mountain high
over the alter of the little Hillsboro
Methodist church. The coffin was fair
ly buried in flowers, and they, too,
came from all parts of Oregon.
Committees representing the various
societies to which Mr.. Tongue belonged,
were at the depot to meet the party,
and they acted as an escort when the
at Hillbsoro.
At the court house, which had been
draped in mourning from tower to base
ment, the coffin was placed in the main
corridor, and all yesterday morning
line of people with uncovered heads
passed by it.
The special train from Portland
reached Hiilsboro at 2 O'Clock in the
afternoon. It brought the committee
of congressman appointed by Speaker
Henderson to attend the funeral. Six
cars were needed to contain the others
who went down from Portland ON the
same mission.
The guests were received by so men,
bers of the Knights of Pythias in full
uniform. The Knights formed line
with drawn swords, through which the
visitors passed from the street into the
court house, aud acted as ushers during
the ceremonies there. They were in
charge of Mr.. Tongues body while il
lay in state, and they mounted a strict
military guard which contributed much
to the im pressiveness of the days SER
vices.
They surrendered the body to the
Odd Fellows, who took it to the church,
where Mr.. Tongue and his family have
worshipped for years.
The distinguished aszemblage simply
packed the church auditorium until it
was impossible for nybody in the aud
ience to listen to the ceremonies in
comfort. The escort of Knights kept
the aisles open until the Odd Fellows
carried the coffin in, but after that
every man struggled for the best place
he could get.
The services in the church were short.
The pastor introduced DR.. G. E. Kline
to make the opening prayer, and there
were many damp eyes in the audience
when DR.. Kline concluded. He was for
great many years the pastor of the |
congree alton to which Representative
Tongue belonged, and his prayer took a |
wider range than is usual for this rea-
son. His eloquent appeal was, per-
haps, the best verbal tribute paid to
Mr.. Tongue during the day. Then a
passage of scripture was read by Rev. |
R. Fl. Kennedy, of the Hillsboro Con-
gregational church, and Rev. DR.. L. E.
Rockwell, presiding elder of the Metho-
dist church in Northern Oregon, then
preached the funeral sermon.
During the services the Portland |
quartet sang number of hymns, and
were heard to special advantage in the
beautiful s'Lead, Kindly Light"
When the church ceremonies were
concluded the body was turned over to
the Hillsboro Masonic body, which es-
corted it to the cemetery and inferred
it with their own picturesque ritual.
Worshipful Grand Master W. F.
Butcher conducting the services. Over
the grave Mr.. Butcher paid one Last
eloquent tribute to Mr.. Tongues men,
ory, and the whole cemetery was filed
with those who listened to him.
The congressional delegation will re-
turn to Washington at once, and Mr..
Moody left last evening, to resume his
work there. For the present he will be
Oregon's sole member of the national
house of representatives.
Castro Must Pay First.
Berlin Ian 2O-En the negotiations