The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-06

t for the dead to draw tneSe
e busy thoroughfares of the
the short funeral procession
sad spectacle without martial
at bands.
They could not hear the private
services at the home and only few
could catch the echoes of the funeral
ceremony at the chapel where the
body of the fallen leader would be
cntombed. Yet they came to stand
hour by hour just to watch in silence
as the casket was carried swiftly by.
Many On Streets
Even before the small gathering
of those who would JOIN with the
family in the home service f7d be-
gun to assemble the lines were form
ing where the carriages and meters
waited to bear them on later to the
chapel. For a wide area about the
S street home and either side of the
way, Massachusetts, Avenue to
Mount St. Albans, where the Cathe-
dral stands police regulations closed
off all vehicular traffic except such
as was necessary for the funeral
party. Others Of the distinguished
company destined to witness the
chapel ceremony were carried by
roundabout ways to the Cathedral
and all were in their places in the
dim chapel before the funeral party
arrived. There was only standing
space for those behind the few chairs
set for the family and for President
Coolidge and his cabinet.
Await President Coolidge
On the south side of S street even
pedestrian traffic had been closed of
to keep the way clear for the entire
block Opposite where through the
long hours of Mr.. Wilson's last i'll
ness had stood waiting line thac
sometimes kneeled in prayer those q
foot could find place. Many lined
the high banked earth beyond the
sidewalk to wait for brief glimpse
of the President and Mrs. Coolidge
and Of the other distinguished PEI
sons who were admitted to the pr
vate services.
No Music There
There was no music in that simple
service, no sound to reach the wait
ing people in the streets. The lib
rary where the service was held is
at the back Of the house and no win
dow glimpse rewarded the patient
watchers in the streets.
Most of those in the streets al
! ready knew almost word for word
what was to be said within. They
knew that three clergymen would
make fellowship Of simple mourn
ing and devotional utterance beside
the bier. The Episcopal Bishop of
| Washington and two Presbyterian
pastors with which Mr.. Wilson had
worshiped in Washington or in
Princeton. There were many out
there who could have repeated with
DR.. Taylor the encouraging words
Of faith and comfort voiced in the
twenty-third psalm, who could have
foretold the appeal of DR.. Beach
would make that heavenly compass
sion would encompass the bereaved
household. 1t was for Bishop Free
man to employ that even more init
mate page from the devout life of
the dead man taken from the worn
book of religious comfort it had
been his nightly custom to read.
Service Men Arrive
Arrival before the home Of the
squad of non-commissioned men
from the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps was the one touch of color fol-
which the simple rites provided
There were eight men from each ser
vice, especially selected for theii
records of duty to the flag. Their
task was to carry the casket under
it's shrouding flag and to lift it tx
the hearse, then to fall in about the
hearse as the funeral train moved
off down the hill to swing right intt
the avenue and 60 slowly up ths
gradual climb to the Cathedral above
Again at the chapel there were th'
hands commissioned to bear thei
honored burden into the low stepped
dimly lighted room where the, fina
service would be made. The distan
. dirge marked their slow progress.
Share Service
Bishop Freeman had arranged will
his Presbyterian colleagues the or
der in which the burial service woul'
be shared. While the printed service
prepared that the company gatheret
in the chapel to do honor to th
dead might take part in the exercise
9 followed the Episcopal ritual, parti
5 cipation by the clergymen Of MI
! Wilson's own faith in his ministr,
Continued on page 81