The Washington herald., 1912-11-28
NOTADLEs ATTEND
RAYNER FUNERAL
President Taft and Admiral Schley's
Widow Among the
Mourners.
EULoGY BY THE REV. DIR. PIERCE

In the presence Of the President OF the
United States, members Of the Senate
and House, and others high in the official
life of this and other nations. the fu-
neral services for the late Senator Isa-
der Rayner OF Maryland, were read yes
tsrday afternoon and afterward the same
notable body OF mourners stood with
bowed and barred heads as the body was
laid to rest In the vault OF Rock Creek
Cemetery.
Throughout the ceremony was simple
and dignified, and as the casket, loaded
with flowers, was placed in the vault.
strangers, men and women who had
come TO the cemetery in honor Of the
memory of the departed Senator. wept.
The funeral was from the Rayner
home, 1870 Eighteenth Street Northwest.
and was held on the second floor. the
library, drawing-room, dining-room, and
hall being thrown together. The body
lay in a casket completely disclosed
from view by flowers, and on both sides
were banked floral tributes. A huge
bouquet had come from the White
House cOnservatores by the order OF
President and Mrs. Taft; a great wreath
Of roses. orchids, and lilies OF the VAL
ley was in testimony OF the esteem
of the United States Senate; a standing
design OF white flowers from the Jap
anese Embassy. and another large floral
piece from Mrs. Annie r. Schley. widow
OF Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley.
DIR. Piercc's EuIoEy.
The sefvices were opened by prayer
led by Dr. Charles Wood. OF the Church
of the Covenant. DR.. L. G. B. Pierce.
chaplain Of the Senate and pastor of
All Souls Unitarian Church. pronounced
an eulogy OF Senator Rayner.
Our own deep sense Of loss is the
highest tribute we can pay to him who
has gone from us said DR.. Pierce.
who does not feel that his loss is
personal? Not to every one is 1t given
thus to endear himself to all who knew
him. And our own sense of personal loss
is a true measure OF his greatness.
rs not death also the great revealer?
And now that the long and honorable
career of public service and private life
is brought 10 a close, we realize. as never
before, how blessed we have been. and
how great Is the loss we now suffer.
with the true man public service and
private life grow from the same root
of faithful devotion to duty. No wonder.
then, that when we are called to part
with such a man home and city and
State and nation should each feel its
own loss to be supreme. The larger fam
lily Of the public mourns him as an hon
ored and faithful servant of the common
good: the family circle mourn for him
as husband and father, and mourn as
they only can who were privileged to
share with him the sanctities OF the
home. And yet, as was said. here are
not two lives. but one life. Public serv-
ira ND 70 ha
divine root. Faithfulness to duty, de-
pendence upon God, there is no fruitage
of the spirit that cannot grow from this.
1t is for ourselves that We mourn, know
ing our great loss; while he has ascended
to his Father and TO our Father, to
his God and to our God.
Was Richly Endowed.
And. indeed. when one has come into
the world richly endowed. when he has
trained and disciplined his mind and has
submitted all to the Father of our spirits,
when a man has unsparlngly given him
self for others and has counted not his
own life dear unto himself II only he
may work the work of Him who sent
him while Il is called day, and when,
at the last. his every thought has been.
not for himself, but for others. why
should not such q soul be able to say,
with the Apostle. have fought the
good fight, I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith; henceforth, there
Is laid up for me the crown of righteous
ness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, shall give me at that day1 And
can we doubt that even now the liberated
spirit of such a man has heard the APP
proving words. well done, good and
faithful servant; enter thou into the JOY
OF thy Lord?'
At the cemetery DR.. Pierce read the
Psalm and DR.. Wood pro- |
nounced a short prayer.
The funeral was in charge of the United |
States Senate, and committees from both |
the Senate and House had been named |
TO attend the services. but several out |
side the committees were present, and !
the attending bodies comprised practi- |
eally all of the Congressman in WASH |
Ington at this time. There were besides |
these several public men from Baltimore, |
Intimate and business friends OF Senator |
Rayner.
Right Hon. James Bryce, Ambassador |
from England, was one of the first to |
arrive at the Rayner home. He was fol- |
lowed by Viscount Sutemi Chinda, Am
bassador from Japan, and NJ. ]. ]. JUS |
serand, Ambassador from France. Mrs. |
Annie r. Schley was among the promi- |
nent women who came to pay their re- |
spects to the memory Of Senator Rayner. |
Besides the committee from Congress- |
there were ex-senator Hale of Maine, |
Senator Burton of Ohio, Secretary OF
Commerce and Labor Nagel, Attorney |
General wickersham. Justice McRenna, |
of the supreme Court, and Senator Gore
OF Oklahoma.
President Taft was the last OF the
official mourners TO enter the house. He
was preceded by Maj. Rhoads, military |
aid, and took his seat near the door
into the hall and facing the members OF |
Congress, who had formed a serni-circie |
about the casket, ana behind the ON
ciattng ministers. Each wore the mourn