The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-28
LAST WORD SAID.
Over 5000 People Attend Fu-
neral of Mother Florence.
Governor HOch Delivers
Touching Address.
TO FOUND A HOME.
Salvation Army Building as a
Florence Memorial.
Officers of the Army Tell of Her
Noble Work.

That Mother Florence held a warm
place in the affections of the people of
this city was evidenced Sunday when
more than three thousand persons
PAID silent tribute to her memory in
viewing her remains and participating
IN the funeral services over them
These were held in the Auditorium
and for three hours, from noon until
8 o'clock. continuous stream of peo-
pie passed by the casket and took a
last look at the earthly remains of the
woman who has devoted the best
years of her life to the succor of the
weak and suffering. There were all
sorts and conditions of men and wo-
men in the crowd. from the governor
of the state, ministers of the gospel,
and those prominent in the life of the
city, to the waits of the street. And
in the hands of many of the latter
class there were small sprays of
flowers which were reverently laid on
the mass of more pretentious blooms
and floral offerings that had been sent
| from all over the city.
Impressive to a degree and unique
in character were the funeral services
| in the Auditorium, the march to the
cemetery and the services at the
grave. They were conducted exclu-
workers in the Salvation Arm !, al
though others participated in them,
and were along the lines followed by
all Salvation Army posts when a
Throughout all the services there was
of course personal feeling of regret
at the untimely end of Mother Flor
ence, but the note that sounded
than Of grief, that the good woman
had quickly and quietly passed on to
! her well earned reward. Indeed, the
march to the cemetery was more like
a triumphal procession to victory than
a funeral to the grave.
Governor Hoch paid a splendid trib-
ute to the deceased and suggested
that instead of erecting a monument
to the memory of Mother Florence
the citizens of Topeka could provide
q more fitting memorial by subscrib-
ing for the erection of a permanent
4 home for the Salvation Army here.
/ Mother Florence'S remains, incased
I in an unpretentious casket covered
i with black cloth and mounted with
silver handles and a silver plate bear
ing the simple inscription, Mother
Florence were removed from Pen
wells undertaking rooms to the Au-
ditorium shortly before noon. There
were only couple of Salvation Army
men on hand and the coffin was car
ried into the building by the f1remen
attached. to fire station No. 2. The
casket was placed in the center of
the big room directly in front of the
pipe organ console The body was
Ired jersey with sfThe world for Cod's
worked in letters of gold across the
breast. Resting in her folded hands
Florence looked as though she had
fallen into a deep sleep and around
the corners of her mouth were the
faintest traces of the smile that was
on
draped with an American flag and on
it were Mother Florence's hat, her
Bible and copy of the War Cry. All
these, with the exception OF the flag,
casket.
Many Floral Tributes
From the floor at the foot Of the
coffin, up over the large console, and
left of it, were banked the floral offer
ings. They were many and beau
tiful, consisting of set pieces and
bouquets. One noticeable piece was
cratic F1ambeau club. other pieces
were from the E1ks, the Eagles, the
fremen of station No. 2, the Y M. c.
A, Mayor Davis, Charles Blood Smith.
Whitteker Bros, and John Waters.
As the people fled in to view the re-
mains they took seats and when the
services were opened at 3 O'Clock
there was not a vacant seat on the
gallery was more than half filed.
Many women and not few men
shed tears as they stopped at the
| coffin to take last look at their
able husband of the deceased, was
escorted into the building by two of
his sons accompanied by their wives.
They took seats to the right of the
coffin and when the services started
; the husband took seat on the stage.
where sat the other members of the
Salvation Army present. All of these
wore their uniforms and around their
right coat sleeve was band of broad
; white ribbon inscribed with the letter
: sS'' in red. Col. T. w. Scott, of the
army post at Kansas City, conducted
: the services. From Kansas City with
him were his wife, who is also
worker, and Capt Frank Reasenor.
Capt. Charles La Shon, of Beatrice,
Neb was also on the stage. Prior to
listers of the gospel present were in
vited to the stage, and two or three
responded.
? The services were opened with the
army and the audience. Prayer was
delivered by the Rev. Andrew H.
Kelso, pastor of the First Cumberland
Presbyterian church. This was fol-
! Prayer by the audience and Mrs
George Parkhurst then sang for a
solo zone Sweetly Solemn Thought"
She was accompanied on the piano by
! Miss Tracy.
Captain Charles Parr of the local
post spoke next. Among other things
!. he said "I am glad to have the op-
portunity to testify that Mother Flor
: ence's life was one of great self sacri-
flee. Never was the. night too dark
and stormy for Mother to go on her
errands of mercy. She has labored
here for many years and never knew