The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-30
GREAT GATHERING PAYS
TRIBUTE TO JUDGE WITT
CONTINUED from First page)

white and red roses ana or soft lilies
of the valley and fowery designs em-
blematic of the Masonic order COW
cred the open spaces The delicate per-
fume of the mingled flowers was watt
| ed through the church like q spirit
| passing through the void into its own.
A soft light from the westering sun
stole through the painted windows and
added to the sweet solemnity Of the
occasion.
Funeral Party at Church.
At 8 o'clock the funeral process
sion, consisting OF the bereaved family
and close relatives and long line
OF distinguished honorary pallbearers.
| arrived at the church entrance, and the
| slow task of removing the heavy cas-
ket was begun. The honorary pail
bearers and the members of Temple
Lodge stood In line on either side Of
| the stairway to the center aisle. Just
| in front stood crossed at their upper,
ends, two slender shafts emblematic of
| the Masonic order. Bneath them the
| f1ower-laden casket was borne. the
| family following and being followed
In turn by master Masons and the
honorary pallbearers The vast crowd
drew closer and watched In a silence
that seemed Itself prayer for the
good man.
The congregation arose, and the
magnificent organ, touched gently by
Shepherd Webb pealed forth hushed
and solemn strain. The three pastors
arose in front OF the bier and waited
until the pallbearers had deposited
their burden.
The Rev Ryland Knight read the
funeral service OF the Baptist church,
and men and women Of every creed
and position in life listened with
absorbed attention. Then the choir
of the First Baptist church. accompa-
MED by Mr.. Webb, sang softly that
solemn hymn of resignation and trust.
my Faith az n, Looks UR to Thee, Tho y,
were stirred to new note of sym
pathy, creeping out to those waiting
on the street. A prayer Of invocation
was uttered by DR.. Hutson. and the
choir sang. How Firm e. Foundation"
swelling out into the notes of eternal
hope.
DIR. Hatcher Pays Fine Tribute.
Dr. Hatcher. veteran, grey-haired
minister of the Gospel and lifelong
friend OF Judge witt, delivered the
memorial address. He made personal
allusion to the departed Judge whom
he had known so Intimately. and talk
ed reminiscently OF his early life
and OF his later years. He compared
him as q man who had had like
struggle to center his faith on ~ God
OF all things to Joseph of Arimathea,
who finally learned to lean upon his
Savior. He told Of how Just a Judge
he was OF how true he had always
balanced the scales Of justice SO that
there was not a hairs breadth be-
tween the false and the true. In
trembling voice he alluded to the
greatness Of Judge Wits heart and
told Of that sweetness Of character
which made all men love him He
was man Of boundIess sympathy. the
preacher went on; OF heart so great
that the sorrows of others were his
own and their Joys his joys. He re-
lated an incident In which Judge Witt
had given the money with which he
had planned to buy Christmas pres
ents for his wife and children to one
who would have had no Christmas but
for his ready aid.
And then the preacher told of Judge
Wits latter years and of how he had
learned to lean with simple trust on
the bosom Of his God. A few days
before he went West on tho journey
which to be his last in HE he had
summoned Dr. Hatcher and told him
that two Of his younger children had
been converted. And I want you to
baptize them, DOCTOR" he said, and
won't you postpone 1t until I can
come back and be present 30
Men and women" said the preach
er, you didn't know Judge witt He
had more qualities of grace than you