Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-02-17
SENATE RITES FOR
BACON IMPRESSIVE
Simplicity Marks Funeral Ser
vices Conducted Before Late
Senator's Colleagues.


WASHINGTON, Feb 17.-Funeral
services for Senator Bacon. of Geor-
ria. were held today in the Senate
chamber. There were no speeches OF
e,,logy. no music and no flowers ex-
cenf one desig1l-the tribute Of the
Senate itself-w hich rested on the
coffin. The ceremonies were inspiring
in their simplicity. and the place in
which they were held, with the dig.
nity of those assembled to do honor to
the dead. lent intpressiveness.
Two hours before the body was
taken with tender reverence into the
Senate chamber, it lay in the adjoin-
ine marble room, where colleagues
and associates of the dead senator
viewed it for the last time. The pup
lie was excluded. Later the body was
taken into the Senate chamber ana
placed upon the craped bier, directly
in front of the Vice-President's desk.
Seats upon the floor were reserved
for the President of the United
states, members of his cabinet, the
chief Justice and associate justices OF
the Supreme Court, members of the
diplomatic corps, members of the
House of Representatives, the ad-
miral of the navy, the chief or stan
of the army and the regents and sec
rotary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. Members of the dead senator's
family and the officiating clergymen
remained in the Vice-Presidents
room until time for the services, when
they were conducted to the seats re-
served for them on the floor
Hundreds Turned Away.
Admission to the galleries was by
card, extended only to the members
Of the House and the more intimate
friends of the dead statesman. One
gallery was reserved for the use OF
those invited by the President and
Vice-President Hundreds of those
who came to pay homage to the dead
statesman's memory were turned
away.
When Vice-President Marshall
walked slowly to his seat and called
the Senate to order the short and
simple services began. Departing
from the customary form, Mr.. Mar
shall, in a voice full of feeling and
lowered almost whispered:
Senators, the hour has arrived at
which in accordance with the orders
of the Senate, the final ceremonies
over the body of Augustus Octavius
Bacon. late a senator from Georgia,
and an unusually distinguished mem
Der of this body, are to be observed.
In conformity to custom and in token
Of our common faith the chaplain of
the Senate will offer a prayer to God,
the Father; God, the Redeemer and
God, the Comforter.
Chaplain Offers Prayer.
Rev. Forest J. Prettyman. chaplain |
of the Senate offered prayer
1--WE bless Thee for the life and
work of this great man. We praise !
Thee that the hand of death was not |
laid upon him until he had spoken
his message to the world and had sent
forth the influence of a devoted life
into the soul of our nation" he said. |
"Blest with a physical form which
was animated by a presence, full OF
the repose of self mastery. confident
through rich and varied scholarship,
infiexible by reason of a consecrated
will, dominant with a purpose of
lofty aim, he faced and fulfilled the
great demands of faithful senator"
The Episcopal burial service was
pronounced by Bishop Alfred Harding,
of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and a benediction followed by the
chaplain. After the lapse of prob
ably a minute the Vice-President
spoke again:
MarshalPs Short Tribute.
Into the loving hands of the COM
mittees of Congress and the officers |
of the Senate" he said, I'VE consign |
the mortal body of our well beloved !
senator, to be by them conveyed to |
his home in the State of Georgia, |
there to be deposited in it's final rest |
ing place. May his labors in the |
cause of constitutional liberty long |
bless the republic"
Members of the capitol police force !
bore the body back to the marble |
room. where it remained until es-
corted to the railway station for the |
journey to Atlanta, where it will lie |
in state at the Georgia capitol until |
taken to Macon for interment.
The funeral party that accompanied |
the body South included the commit |
tees appointed by the two Houses of |
Congress, Sergeant-at-Arms Higgins, I
the secretary of the Senate, Senators |
Smith, of Georgia; Tillman, Overman, |
Chiffon. Fletcher, Pomerene, Thomas, !
O'Gorman, Vardaman, Gallinger /
Root. Nelson, Brandegee and Page, |
Representatives Ferris, Willis, Mann, |
Payne, Gardner Anthony, Dyer and |
Prouty, and the Georgia delegation,
including Representatives Edwards, |
Park. Crisp, Adamson, Howard, Bart
lett. Lee, Tribble. Bell, Hardwick, /
Nc1I I'd