, 1923-08-08
Continued from Pase One,

o
in sf1ence. The slow march Of the
dead vent forward to the catafalque
and the casket, with a single great
wreath resting on the flag that
wrapped It about, was set gently in
place while the five sentries. with
grounded muskets and bayonets fixed.
took up their watch. a soldier and a
marine at the head, q soldier and a
sailor at the foot
Side by ! al the head of the
casket the aides of the president took
their positions. Then from the SEN
ate corridor Mrs. Harding came in on
Secretary Christians arm and with
General Sawyer close beside her. She
took her place and about her were
grouped the others of the Borrowing
family and the close friends of the
dead whose official duties did not call
them to outer posts in the funeral
chamber.
There was some dslsy as TIT high
officers Of the guard OF honor found
their places and as the group of hon.
orary palIbearrers. each n noted fig
ure in the nations life. came in fol-
lowed by h diplomatic corps. The
diplomats were in tho formal cere-
monial dress. zach nation prescrfbes
for the occasions Of state. Tho scar
let or gray or blue of their state uni
forms lent a new touch of color to
the scene.
Then came President Coolidge with
bowed head. He stepped to his place
with eyes misty with sadness. Then
came Chief Justice Taft In his black
robes and leading his comrades Of the
supreme court; then tho cabinet OIL
GERS. senators and representatives and
General Pershing with his staff.
As the confusion Of the seating
ended n the last scraps Of chair on
stone floor broke the silence, DR..
A Freeman Anderson. assiBtnnt pas
tor Of tho Calvary Baptist church,
where President Harding woruh,pped.
stepped forward with raised hands to
open the religious services.
His words were audible in tho inter
twining echoes OF h hugo chamber
hardly a dozen feet away. Only the
slow tones Of his voice reached the
ears of the hundreds grouped about
until he began the lords prayer. Lip
by lip It was taken up and a g
murmur ose to the veulted roof.
Over against the side wall toward
the senate. the little group of singers
stood beneath the heroic head of Lin
coin. sculptured from his death mask.
Their voices rose softly in the hymn
Mr.. Harding. like the martyred Nc
Kinley. most loved. Lead Kindly
Light. Amid Encircling Gloom" they
sang n the blending of male voices
rose and fell under the high nrched
roof like the tonas Of an organ, played
softly. They san without accom-
panyin6 instruments. There WIS
stifed cough hero and thsre as a sob
ehohed back.
As they sans. q brn6 sc,dsa shaft
Of light swept In from the opsn east
doors to battle Q csskst and the
mournss about in soft. reflected
light. 1t lighted up the tanned.
solemn young facss Of the motionless
sentr1es and brought out the glow
ing keys of the nag that covered the
casket, ON almost hidden beneath a
mass of blooms. Attorney General
Dausherty, with head bowed to his
hand. shielding his eyes. sat motion
less. Senator Lodges yes caught tho
CLEAN of hishlisht hat came from
a single opening above the row of
windows at tho base of the dome. He
sat looking up at It as the Ginning
voice died away in a last. long held
chord of the hymn.
Again DR.. Anderson rnised his
voice in quiet reading OF tho scrip
tures-the 23rd Psalm with its prom
Use and comfort. Revelations. 22nd
chapter. first TO Nth verses. the ia
vorite passages OF the dead president.
He read. too. Micah, sixth chapter.
eighth verse. It was on this verse
that President Harding's lips fell out
beyond there at his Inauguration
when he kissed the open Billie as
token Of the high pledge he CAV
He hath showed thee. o man,
what is good; and what doth the Lord
require OF thee but to do Justly. and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with thy God"
Surely there was prophecy In that
moment two years ago.
DR.. James Shera Montgomery.
chaplain of tho house. took his place
at the bier TO plead in low voiced
prayer hat men should profit from
the example OF high service this dead
president had given His words,
spoken in the center of the chamber.
where many echoes meet and blend.
carried only a little way; but many
Of those about were themselves in
silent prayer for the dead.
Again the singers voices rose softly
in the hymn that a assuaged the
grief Of men all over the world.
Nearer My God TO Thee" they
sang. Zen though 1t DO a cross that
raiseth me-"
DR.. Anderson closed the service.
the audience standing, at tho benedio-
ton. and the simple religious cere-
mon that befts the death OF a kind
ly. simple. upright gentleman. wa