The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-01-05
MANY ATTEND
FUNERAL LATE
WALLACE BRUCE
SERVICES WERE HELD AT De
yuNIAk. WHERE DECEASED
HAD LIVED FOR MANY SEA-
SONS. AND WHERE he SPENT
HAPPY PERIODS WITH RELA-
TIVES.
spTcIAI, TO THE JOURNAL.

SPECIAL IL JoO1h4S|AL@s
DeFuniak. Jan 4.--The funeral serV-
Ice of Hon. wallace Bruce, VINO pass
ed away at DeFuniak Springs home
Friday. Jan. 2 was held yesterday
at D. m, in the Chautauqua audi
toriunn 1t was felt by the people or
DeFuniak Springs that there could De
no more fitting place for the holding or
the last sad rites of Mr.. Bruce than
this auditorium. which was erected by
him and, as 1T were, given to the peo-
pie of DeFuniak Springs and the tlor-
ida Chautauqua- Therefore. the pus-
mess league officials of the town ana
the entire community wishing TO pay
the last honors and tributes to the
one who has so long loved 1t ana rs
people, through a committee appointed,
requested the family that IL 1t met
with their approval, the service Would
he held in this auditorium In order
that all might attend the funeral and
thus show in a measure, their love
and respect for the honored dead.
The body, embarked in magnificent
floral tributes, lay in state on the
auditorium platform under a Masonic
guard of six, from II m. to p. m,
the hour of the funeral Wehre it was
viewed by many Of his sorrowing
friends. AT this hour the service was
conducted by Rev. A. G. T. Smythe,
rector Of the Episcopal church, others
of the local churches taking pert. At
this service, MY Ain Countrie," a
HYMN loved by Mr.. Bruce, was sung
by Mrs. Emma Dawdy Seasons Of
Eoniray, Fla, whose voice was SO
much appreciated by Mr.. Bruce in his
life time Lead kindly Light" and
Nearer My God 10 Thee two Of his
favorite hymns. were sung by a union
choir of the various churches or the
town. The interment was had at the
city cemetery, the vast concourse OF
people, led by the Masonic Lodge. of
DeFuniak Springs, marching from the
auditorium to the strains of C;hopins
funeral march. to the cemetery where
the impressive Masonic ceremonies
were held al the grave
WAS a GREAT MAN.
Probably there are few of our
people who really know what a great
man cast his lot among us when Hon.
Wallace Bruce came to Western flori-
ia, more than quarter of a century
ago. We would speak first of his
work for Western Florida and De-
F'uniak Springs. All acquainted with
the work of the Florida Chautauqua,
of which he was for many years the
honored president realize the great
uplift this institution has been to the
people of Western Florida. 1t has
given them a broader view of life and
= higher culture. 1t has prepared them
to appreciate many of the bea utles In
literature. art and nature. than they
would have except for the Chautauqua
environment. Hon. wallace Bruce
saved the Florida Chautauqua to
Western Florida and DeFuniak Strings
wears ago. When a financial crisis
had to come in the institution he
shouldered the burden and now he has
borne the burden through the years
and how he has sacrieic his own
interests in the building up and main :
tanning Of this Florida ChaUtauqua-
shows the worth and greatness of the
man rroba bly, more than the seeming
greater privileges that he had, to which
we shall refer later.
Mr.. Bruce was great in the literary
world. His poems are among the
most popular of any American author
Ills literary greatnes was recognized
at home and abroad He was invited
by congress to write and deli a
poem at the centennial of tn dis
banding of the army under Washington
ut Newmurgh. also at the cen tennials
OF the battles of Yorktown, Saratoga
and Bennington, and at many reunions
lie gave the poem at the Vnveiling
of the Burns monument at Ayr. Scot
land. He was the Poet Laureate oil
the Masonic Lodge No. 2. in Edin-
Robert Burns. He was a correspond
ent and member from the United
States OF the Shakespeaean society OF
Great Britain, having been appointed
to succeed John GreenIeaf Whittier
who was his personal friend
POWER ON LECTURE PLATFORM
Not only had he met a great literary
career. but from the year 1870 he ha:
been power upon the lecture plat
form During these years the message,
carried by him over the ienFth ant
breadth OF our coutry have been al
uplift and inspiration to many, ant
there are those Of today woh poin
back TO having heard this noted lee,
turer as the source OF their inspiration
for greater things which they have &C
compiished.
In this wide and useful career hi
formed the intimate friendship Of man!
noted men at home and abroad, amonl