Evening star., 1909-06-10
Senator Cranes Praise.
Chaplain of the Senate
For the Past Five Years

DIR. Hale was appointed chaplain of the
Senate by a resolution which was pre-
sented by the late Senator Allison of
Iowa, chairman of the republican caucus,
December IA. 1903. The appointment took
effect January 1, 1904. 1t was made upon
the request of the late Senator Hoar of
Massachusetts, DIR. Hale's fitness for the
position was recognized by everybody in
the Senate. and when Senator Hoar an
nounced that he had persuaded him to
accept the Office there was general salts
faction.
He succeeded Rev. William II. Milburn.
the blind chaplain, who was appointed
-,pril 8. 1893. at the beginning of the
Fifty-third Congress, and died in the fall
of 1858 in California.
Notwithstanding his advanced age-he
was eighty-one years old VIII he became
chaplain of the Senate-Dr. Hale was sell
dom absent from the chamber at the
opening of a daily session of the Senate.
During the past year his health was not
so good as il might have been. and he
showed signs of feebleness. Never, how
ever, were his mental faculties bit in-
paired. At noon each day he read a pas
sage of Scripture and offered an extern
poraneous prayer in a steady, convincing
voice. without once hesitating for word.
Failing Health Since April.
Not until last April did his physical con-
dition become poor that he found it diff
ficult to fulfill the duties of his office His
friends persuaded him to go to his home
in Massachusetts. and permit Rev. Dr. L.
G.. h. Pierce. pastor of All Souls Uni
tartan Church of this city, to take his
place.
DIR. Hale was like brother to DR.
Pierce for the last three or four years of
his life Every Sunday morning he oc-
cupied the pulpit of All Souls Church
with him. and took some part in the serv-
Ice. This is President Tafts church.
The Senate does not provide an assist
ant chaplain. and II has always been the
custom for the chaplain TO arrange for
his own assistant DIR. Pierce has been
onering the opening prayer al the be-
ginning of each session of the Senate
since the middle of April. This morning
he expressed the keenest regret on ac-
count of DIR. Hales death.
Yet" he added, lit was the way man
should die"
DIR. Pierce recalled that only once did
DIR. Hale permit any one to accompany
him TO the rostrum of the Senate and
that was the last time he appeared there
On that occasion he asked DR. Pierce to
90 with him. realizing that he was very
weak and fearing that he might not be
able to finish the PRAYER. They stood side
by side. but DIR. Hale pronounced every
word In a strong voice, and stepped firm
~, though slowly, down the steps. unas-
sisted.
DR.. Hale's Daily Practice.
His secretary, Miss Clark, always ac-
eompanied him TO the Capitol and went
with him to the Vice Presidents cham
ber in the rear of the Senate chamber
There he donned the black robe that he
always wore when officiating in the SEN
ate. y minute before the Senate was to
be called 10 order he would proceed across
the lobby ahead of the Vice President or
the president pro tempore. Standing be-
side the desk the presiding officer would
rap once for the senator's to rise in their
seats while the opening prayer was Of
fered by DR.. Hale.
1t was his habit TO repeat the Lord s
Prayer. and for many years after he as
sumed his office he would ask the SEN
ators to join with him in doing so. On
account. however. of repeated failures to
obtain a response he at last desisted In
his practice, but he never himself ceased
the repetition Of that prayer as d part OF
his own Offering
He was always deeply interested in
what was going on in the Senate. and
would seldom leave the chamber until a
half hour or hour after the session started.
He would go around to the rear, sit down
on one of the comfortable leather couches
along the wall and listen intently to what
was transDiring. Sometimes he would
spend fifteen or twenty minutes talking
earnestly with senator.
A Familiar Figure.
No figure had been more familiar about
the precincts of the Senate than that OF
the venerable chaplain, and no person
was more respected or beloved. BY his
nnassuminS manner and genial disposi-
tion he had become general favorte
with the senators and employees. while
his distinction in tle world af Stters ana