Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-04

SAN FRANCISCO. August AIRS.
President, standing between Mr.. and
Mrs. George B. Christian. jr., as the
Rev. lanes S. West read the prayer
over her late husbands body here
yesterday. nodded her head slightly
as the pastor raised his hand and
said:
God is our refuge and strength"
AS the minister ended his prayer.
Mrs. Harding said, Amen
The widow stood and watched the
hak-hundred persons as they filed
out. waiting for the room to clear
In order that she might have a few
minutes alone with her dead before
the body was taken to the train
for transportation to the National
Capital
The body OF the dead reposed in
a drab brown steel coffin, lined with
white silk The only inscription,
engraved on a silver plate was War
rem Gamaliel Harding"
Many Floral Tributes.
The coffin was banked with flowers
and floral tributes from citizens and
conEuls general of many nations
filled the sitting room of the presl-
dental suite where the simple rell-
gious ceremony was conducted.
The setting sun poured through the
lower portion of the windows and flood
ed the flower bower with sunlight, which
gave the room the appearance OF an
outdoor flower garden. Mrs. +. f.. Rems-
berg. sister of the late President, and
A 10
were the only persons in the room who
were seated during the ceremony. The
Attorney General was helped into the
room by Lieut.. Commander Joel T.
Boone, one of the late Presidents ply
sicians and was assisted from the room
by Commander Boone after the cere-
mony.
Mrs. Harding was the last TO enter
the room. She was holding the arm OF
Secretary Christian and continued to
hold his arm as she stood in the center
of the room. directly in front OF the
glass covered coffin.
When Rev West concluded his Bible
text and bowed his head for prayer.
Mrs. Christian stepped from the side Of
the room and stood on Mrs. Harding S
right. Both Mr.. and Mrs. Christian
| held the widows arms throughout the
entire ceremony.
Prayer for President.
. s.
ing with d black cape reaching to her
shoe tops, was yelled. She held her gaze
OH the minister while he read his text,
but bowed her head as he raised his
hand for the following prayer:
Almighty God, our Heavenly
Father, Thou art the Supreme Ruler
of the nation and of the world. the
loving Heavenly Father of all Thy
children. almighty in Thy strength
and infinite in Thy tenderness
Oh h,,t hi a ~
reverently. but boldly and eXpectant-
ly in this hour. when our hearts are
wrung with sorrow. the nation is
bowed in grief and the eyes and
heart svmrathies Of the world are
turned toward this place.
The great and beloved chief
magistrate Of our nation has sud
denly fallen at the moment when
we most brightly hoped that our
earnest prayers for his speedy and
ciously answered when his grea II
work. as II seemed to us, had only
well begun. Our hearts are broken.
we arc sore stricken with the sense
of loss to his family, loved ones,
friends. the nation and the world.
Our hope is in Thee. and Thee
only. We !,umbly bescech Thee that
Thine infinite grace and comfort may
this hour of our supreme need, as
individuals and as a nation.
we thank Thee out of the depths
| of our hearts for the noble. Christian
character. lofty principles and not
| able service of him whom Thou hast
called from sacrifcial service 10 rest
eternal. We bless Thee for his un-
| shrinking courage. his stalwart
strength. his radiant Kindness and
| ecntleness. for his self-forg ettine e
| devotion to the cause Of justice
| brotherhood and peace for the indi-
vidual. the nation and the world, in
! the propagation Of which he sacri-
| feed his life. and as martyr &c
which he is lovingly enshrined for
! ever in the hearts of the grief
| stricken but grateful people.
| I'VE fondly hope and earnestly pray
! that we do what he wished and sought
| to accomplish by his life may now he
accomplish by the death. To raise VI
/ others, we beseech Thee, who shall
carry forward and complete the great
| work which he began.
1 I'VE beSeech to bless with wisdom
! poise and strength. ali those who were
| associated with him in the great af-
| fairs of the nation. and upon whom
/ with his going there rests so great a
| burden OF responsibility.
| I'VE beseech Thee, especially. tC
bless him. who by this providence Is
/ called to the chief magistrate of the
republic.
| Let Thy tenderest bendiction of com.