Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25
THOUSANDS BOW
HEADS IN GRIEF
Seventh-Day Adventists Pay
Last Tributes t0sEIder
G. A. Irwin.
SERVICES CONDUCTED
TENTED.PAVILION
Clergymen of Church Conduct Rites
Over the Body Of Leader Who
Died Suddenly.


Nothing has so profoundly stirred the
big encampment at Takoma Park.
where the world conference of Seventh
day Adventists is convened in TWEEN
ty-four day session. as the death OF
Elder G. A. Irwin of California, whose
funeral service took place yesterday in
the big canvas pavilion in (which the
conference Is meeting.
Four thousand people gathered from
every state in the country and from
nearly every nation on the earth united
in the solemn and impressive funeral
service in the afternoon.
Elder Irwin, whose home was in
Iona Linda, Cal. had held many posi-
tions Of great influence in the denom-
nation. He died Friday at the Wash
.nrton Sanitarium at Takoma Park of
heart disease.
Paying their last respects to their
fallen leader thousands or persons
passed by his coffin as 1t rested, pre-
ceding the funeral service, Just In
front of the great platform Oh the pis
After the body had been viewed the
members Of the general conference
committee. the governing board OF the
denomination. Of which Elder Irwln
had been a member for years. proceed
ed to the seats reserved for them, &C
companied by Mrs. Irwin and ProI =.
w. Irwin, the SON Of the deceased, VINO
is president of the racine Union COL
lege at st. Helena, Cal.
Clergymen Conduct Rites.
The funeral service was directed by
clerRymen who had been closely asso-
.iated with Elder Irwin. The Scripture
reading was conducted by Elder J. o.
EuIOR1eS
of the deceased were given by Elder
". r. Andres of Los Angeles, the presi-
dent Of the Pacific Union Conference
Of Seventh-day Adventists. who sue
ceeded Elder Irwin in this posltlon
Elder A. G. Daniels OF Takoma farh
the president of the General Conference
who also succeeded Elder Irwin In that
position: Elder j. n. Loughborougn OF
Lodi Cal, long associated In the minis
try with Elder Irwin, and Elder a, ~
Olsen of Chicago. former president
of the General Conference. A choir
nnder the direction Of Prof. Clemen
Hamer the musical director OF the
Washington Foreign Mission Seminary
rendered two selections.
After the service. as the Iunera
cortege began it's journey to Rock
Creek cemetery. where interment was
made, thousands of persons gathered
on the banks of the roadway. and. witf
bowed heads. as the procession passed
between tnelF RANKS, pdiu tucH AeAo
measure Of devotion to their leader.
Served During Civil War.
In addition to being prominent in the
affairs of the Seventh-day Adventis
denomination. Elder Irwin also served
throughout the civil war.
At the beginning of the war he joined
Company / of the Goth Regiment o.
-, Int upft ND
engaged in at least seventeen battle.
and engagements. He was captured ant
spent seven months in captivity, beins
in both Andersonyille and LIB,
prisons.
At the close of the war he participat
ed in the grand review in Washington
and then was mustered out Return
ing to his home near Mount vernon
Ohio, he Joined the prohibition cause
September II 1867. he was married Z
Miss Nettie Johnson, who survives
him One son was born 70 them.
Later Elder Irwin became master o
the county grange of Knox county
Ohio He became a Sevehth-day Ad
ventist in 1885. and shortly after wa
elected treasurer of the Ohio Confer
ence, of which he later became presi
dent. In 1895 he was made director o
the southern missionary operations o
the denomination.
Headed General Conference.
In 1897 the highest honor in the gift o
the denomination was conferred upol
him he being elected as president of tn
general conference. This office he file
for four years. IN 1901 he was electe'
president of the Australaslan UniO
Conference and went out TO Australia
He returned in 1907 and was elected vic
president of the General Conference. Thi
Office he filled for six years.
During this time he lived at Takom
Park and also served chaplain Q
the Washington Sanitarium. of whic
he was president OF the board OF trus
tees.
In 1911 he was elected to the presi
dency of the Pacific Union CONFERENCE
and removed TO Iona Linda. On retir
ing from this Office he was made tn
the College of Medical Evangelists a
Iona Linda which Office he filed at tn
time of his death.
The pallbearers at the funeral wer
close associates of Elder irwin in tn
ministry. They were Elder o. \. Disc
of Chicago former president of tn
General Conference. and now secretar
OF the North American foreign depart
ment of the General Conference, Eide
w. e. White of California. Elder Allie
Moon of Chicago, president of the LAX
Union Conference: Elder T.. W. Earns
worth OF Oakland. Ca, president of TN
California Conferences: Elder l.. TX. Cor
radf Of Hamburg Germany, the pres
dent OF the European Division Confer
ence and the vice president OF the Ger
eral Conference. and Elder l. Ii. Evan
OF Shanghai. China. the vice presiden
of the general conference for the Asia.i