New Britain herald., 1925-07-31
Reunited Family, Called From All Parts of Land, Gather
 at Bier Today
PRESIDENT AND WIFE
 SEND FLORAL TRIBUTE


 Look at Great Commoner-Bir.
 mingham Clergyman Says PrsTr
 at Grave.
 Washington, July S1 Pt-In the half light of drab, sunless day. destiny wrought today the final episode in tho colorful earthly ca- reer of William Jennings Bryan.
 The church held his body for ye. a little time for the simple service of the faith in which he lived and died. Then the government which he had served in war and in peace claimed him for burial among the great company that sleeps at Ar lington.
 Reunited Family
 Gathered around his bier at last was reunited family called from distant parts of the land. The widow. who has borne so bravely this sorrow heaped upon her own affliction, was joined early Ia the day by her only son, William Jen- nings Bryan, Jr,, from Los Angeles and another daughter, Mrs. Grace B. Hargreaves of Beverly Hills. Cel.
 Arriving here with the son ard daughter to complete the family circle from which the commoner parted so suddenly last Sunday were Mir. Bryan's two sisters. Mrs. T, S. Allen and Mrs, J. w. Baird Of Lincoln Neb; r. Millson of IinS coin, Mir Bryan's nephew. and Colonel P. H. O'Bannou of Sherry vile, Vt., a cousin,
 To Have Last Farewell
 After the last of the thousands who moved with solemn tread through the New York Avenue Presbyterian church for d last look upon the face of the crusader had gone their way little span of time was set aside so that the last of the members of the family to ar rive here could visit the church and say farewell.
 Mrs. Bryan herself decided not to join the circle, She preferred 10 preserve the memory of her c.sn- panion of many crowded years as he was in life and not in death,
 Many View Remains
 The near approach of the hour fixed for closing the portalssof the sanctuary 10 all but his dear ones, saw no slackening in the procession of those who filed solemnly by to look upon him in death. From noon yesterday until late last night the throngs had come and gone in an unbroken line, and from the moment the doors were opened this morning the sad march went steadily on. Many waited long in the soft rain outside for the privilege of a last tribute. Meantime the mound of floral offerings grew momentarily until 1t almost buried the littls chanrel in a bower of fragrance.
 Among them was a spray of roses from the President and Mrs Cool idge. Mrs. Ruth Owen, daughter of the commoner. went 10 the church ahead of other members of the fam fly to arrange the floral pieces In preparation for the funeral.
 Dr. Joseph F. Sizoo, pastor of the church. and long a friend of the dead man. was chosen to conduct the religious service, and at the re- ]. quest of Mrs. Bryan, Dr, George Stuart of Birmingham, Ala, was asked 10 say henediction at the grave at Arlington.
 Still bearing up hravely under the double burden of her great and sud den grief and the hnavy afflictions Bryan found the strength 10 ar- range with her religious comforters and the circle of close friends of her dead husband the last details of the services. IL was by her wish that the brief Presbyterian funeral serv- ices arranged by the Rev, nr. Jos- eph R. Sizzo, pastor of the church, were expanded to include Bible pas sages that the dead man had prlzed above all others. It was she who told Of the hymns that had brought him comfort and peare in the long arduous years of their companion. ship.
 "Lesd kindly light amid the encir-
 cling gloom.
 Head thou me on "The night Is dark and I am far
 from home,
 Lead thou me on"
 Like President Mckinley
 Mr. Bryan, also like President Me- Kinley. found his greatest peace in the solemnly uplifting faith of the old hymn and 1t was his desire that it should be sung when he had pass cd to his long sleep. Thus 1t was that the strains Of his hymn. led by the deep voice Of a great pipe organ and sung by a mixed choir from the loft above, were selected to usher in the simple and impressive service for the dead.
 Another old hymn dear to her hus- bands heart came next in the order ot service Mrs. Bryan had approved. IL was "One Sweetly Solemn Thought" and the passage selected by Dr. sizoo for the opening of the religious rites was T am the reSur- rection and the life" the foundation stone of Christian faith.
 Bihle PsSages
 Among the Bible passages indieat- ed by Mrs Bryan ss her hushands sources of greatest comfort and