Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-04
TEMPORARY TOMB
FOR EX-PRE:S|DEN7
At MT. ST. ALbAN'S
War Veterans to Carry Cas-
ket-WidoW'S Wish Obeyed,
State Rites Banned.

Woodrow Wilson is to be buried as
he preferred to spend the last few
years Of his life-as a private citizen.
At $3.50 o'clock Wednesday after
noon, after short service at his late
residence In S street, his mortal re-
of Saints Peter and Paul, there to be
laid at rest in the vaulted crypt atop
verdant Mount st. Alban.
1t was the wish of Mrs. Wilson that
the pomp and panoply of state flu
neral be dispensed with. His active
pallbearers will be veterans of the
world war. perhaps the only touch
reminiscent of his service and final
supreme sacrifice in that conflict
The services at the S street resi-
dence will be private, and only a few
close friends and members of the i'm
mediate families will attend They
will begin at 3 o'clock, and immedi-
ately after they are over the last
short trip to the heights of Mount St.
Alban will begin.
Bishop to Conduct Rites.
There the Rt. Rev. James Edward
Freeman. Episcopal Bishop of Wash
ington. assisted by Rev. DR.. Sylvester
w. Beach, pastor of the former Presi-
dents church at Princeton, and Rev.
James H. Taylor, pastor of Central
Presbyterian Church here, where Mr..
Wilson worshiped, will recite the last
rites.
On the short journey to Mount st.
Alban the casket will be carried in a
hearse instead Of upon a f1ag-draped
artillery caisson. custom heretofore
always followed at the funerals of
men in high public positions. The
military escore of eight privates,
drawn from the Army, Navy and Ma
rine Corps, will march beside it,
The services there will be held in
the beautiful little Bethlehem Chapel
of the Cathedral of SIS. Peter and
war President will finally be con-
signed to it's waiting vault in the
high. arched crypt. there to sleep
away time in the same sanctuary
with the Ri. Rev. Alfred Harding,
the second Episcopal Bishop of
Washington.
Resting Place Undecided.
Whether the Cathedral of IS
Peter and Paul will be the permanent
sepulchre of Woodrow Wilson has
not definitely been decided Rear
Admiral Cary T. Grayson, in an
nouncing the incompleted plans for
Mrs. Wilson. said a later statement
would clear that question, but it was
understood that the former President
would not be disturbed for some time,
at least.
The list of honorary pallbearers
had not been completed at noon to-
day, but Admiral Grayson fntimated
It would be of considerable length.
He said it would be announced as
soon as 1t had been completed, but
that the active pallbearers would be
veterans of the world war. The men
who suffered with their commander
in-chief through that memorable
struggle will be permitted to bear
his body to its tomb.
Widows Wish Obeyed.
So sure were officials that Mr..
Wilson would lie in state beneath
the dome of the Capitol for a day, at
least, that workmen were put to
work early this morning clearing it
out and arranging it for the services.
1t was Mrs. Wilson's belief, however.
that Mr.. Wilson would prefer that
this worlds last view Of him should
be that of a private citizen of the
nation he had loved and served.
When Mr.. Wilson left the White
House he announced that he wouid
live as private citizen, and only
once or twice in the four years that
have elapsed since then has he
emerged from the secluded retirement
OF his quiet home in street, It was
said that he disliked being referred
to as the former President" pre-
ferring to be plain Woodrow Wilson
or Mr.. Wilson.
1t is probable that cancellation of
preparations for state funeral will
prevent the public from passing by
his bier, a custom in state funerals.
All through today there was a
steady procession of silent, bowed
men and women walking quietly
down s street. Passing the house,
the saddened pilgrims stopped mo-
mentarily. Men stood with hats in
their hands and many of the women
heads in prayer before moving on.
Every few minutes the cars of high
government officials, members of the
diplomatic corps and men high in
the nations unofficial life stopped at
the door. Some left cards, others
spent few minutes in the house.
When Admiral Grayson called at the
White House today with Secretary of
War Weeks, to make known Mrs.
Wilson's wishes for a private funeral,
President Coolidge offered him every
facility of the government on the day
of the burial. The President and Mrs.
Coolidge, 1t was announced, will at
tend the services both at the house
and at the church.