The Washington herald., 1913-05-25
THRONGS attend
IRWIN FUNERAL
Four Thousand Seventh-D
Adventists Pay Respects
to Dead Elder.
SERVICES IMPRESSIVE
PreIate Had Distinguished Record
in Civil War and Also
in Church.

Four thousand people. gathered from
every State in the country and from
nearly every nation on the earth, united
in solemn and impressive funeral serv-
ice yesterday afternoon at the great en-
campment where the world conference
of Seventh-day Adventists is in session
in Takoma Park.
One of the most prominent leaders of
the denomination had died the day be-
fore, after coming from California to
attend this conference. Elder G. A.
Irwin, of Iona Linda, Cal, had held
many positions of great influence in the
denomination. He died Friday at the
Washington Sanatorium at Takoma Park
Of heart failure, undoubtedly brought on
from mis- long trip across the continent.
He was sixty-nine years of age.
Paying their last respects to their dead
leader, thousands of people formed in
line, and for an hour passed by his cof-
fin as it rested. preceding the funeral
service, just in front of the great plat
form of the big canvas pavilion in which
the conference is holding its meetings.
After the remains had been viewed
by the thousands on the ground, the
members of the General Conference COM
mittee, the governing board of the de-
nomination, of which Elder Irwin had
the seats reserved for them, accompanied
by Mrs Irwin and Prof. C. w. Irwin,
the president of the Pacific Union Col
lege, at st. Helena, Cal, the son of the
deceased.
Buried in Rock Creek.
The funeral service was directed by
clergymen who had been closely asso-
ciated with Elder Irwin. The Scripture
reading was conducted by Elder J. q.
CorIiss, of Mountain View Cal. Eulo-
gies of the deceased were made by Elder
f. f. Andross, of Los Angeles, the presi-
dent of the Pacific Union Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists, who succeeded
Elder Irwin in this position; Elder A.
G. Daniels, OF Takoma Park. the presi
dent of the General Conference, who also
succeeded Elder Irwin in that position;
Elder J. n. Loughborough, of Lodi, cal.
4 long associate in the ministry of Elder
Irwin, and Elder A. q. Olsen, or chi
cago. former president of the General
Conference. A choir under the direction
of Prof. CIemen Hamer. the musical
director OF the Washington Foreign Mis-
sion Seminary, rendered two impressive
selections.
After the funeral service as the flu
neral cortege began its journey TO Rock
Creek Cemetery, where interment was
made, the thousands of people gathered
on each side of the road, and with
bowed heads, as the procession passed
between their ranks, they paid their last
measure of devotion to their honored
leader.
In addition TO being prominent in the
affairs of the Seventh-day Adventist de-
nomination. Elder Irwin also served
throughout the civil war, spending
months in such prisons as AndersonviIIe
and Libby.
Elder Irwin became a Seventh-day Aa-
ventist in 1885. and shortly after was elect
ed treasurer of the Ohio conference, Of
which he later became president. IN 1895
he was made director of the Southern mis-
sionary operations of the denomination.
In 1897 the highest honor in the gift of
the denominatiC was conferred upon him,
he being elected as president of the Gen
eral Conference. This Office he filled for
-four years. In 1901 ne was elected presl-
lent of the Australasian Union Confer
ence and went out 10 Australia He re-
turned in 1905 and was elected vice presl !
lent Of the General Conference. This Of !
ice he filled for six years.