Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-19
MELVILLE T. STONE
FUNERAL IS HELD
Many Prominent Persons At
tend Rites for Late Asso-
ciated Press Founder.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, February 19-In gray
stone church, made bright with thou
sands of blossoms, funeral services IRE
held yesterday for Melville E. Se8he,
the grand old man of American jour
nalism.
AS the services began the 10000
miles Of telegraph wires of the Asso-
ciated Press, of which he was general
manager for more than quarter of
century, fell momentarily silent and
throughout the world the men and
women who work in the news organi-
zation which grew under his leadership
stood in silent tribute to his memory.
DIR. Fcsdick Officiates.
The funeral services were held in the
Park Avenue Baptist Church, with DR..
Harry Emerson Fosdick. the pastor,
officiating. They were simple and brief,
but solemnly impressive. A quartet
sang abide With Me" and Lead,
Kindly Light" DR.. Fosdick read pas
sages from the Old and New Testaments
and read a prayer in which he spoke
of Mr. Stones notable career; and then
the casket, covered with roses, was
borne out of the church. The pail
bearers were men who had been con-
nected with the Associated Press under
Mr.. Stones managership, the majority
Of them still being with the organization.
After Mr.. Stone died last Friday
night, the family planned to have burial
in the family plot, at Woodstock. VT.
but yesterday Bishop James E. Freeman
rendered the right of sepulture for his
ashes in the Washington Cathedral,
where such figures as Woodrow Wilson
and Admiral George Dewey are en-
tombed. The Stone family accepted
this offer in realization that so promi-
nent q figure belonged to the Nation as
much as to his own kin. The date of
burial was to be decided by the family,
the Bishop of washington and Frank
B. Noyes, president of the Associated
Press.
DIR. Fosdick's Prayer.
At yesterdays services, which were
attended by men prominent in many
fields, DR.. Fosdick spoke of Mr.. Stone
in his prayer as follows:
For thy servant whom Thou hast
given to the world and now hast taken
to Thyself, for his spacious influence,
his dedicated ability, his memorable
achievements, his high-minded charac-
ter. we thank Thee. Here where death
comes, victory comes also and our
hearts are lifted up.
I'VE who see youth die in the SPRING
time of their years, all their waiting
blossoms spoiled and Their promised
fruit denied, praise Thee for this life
fulfilled. Three score years and ten,
and. by reason Of strength, four score
years.
I'VE who see sorrow that is unclean.
tainted by sin and laden with bitter
memories, praise Thee for this sorrow
clean and beautiful full of memorable
usefulness, q sanctuary to which our
reminiscent thoughts may turn with
reverence.
I'VE who see death endure without
hope, thank thee for the undiscourage-
able faith which this life inspires, that
one who wrought so largely here will
find other tasks awaiting him. that life
Is ever lord of death and love can
never lose its own"
DIR. Fosdick's prayer dealt not only
with Mr.. Stone himself, but also with
the profession in which he stood so
high for half a century.
For the great cause with which
Thy servants name is interviewer" DR..
FoSdick said, for all who gather, in
terpret and dispense the news, we pray
Thee grant them boldness to turn the
unwelcome light on those who love
darkness because their deeds are evil.
Put into their hands the shining sword
OF truth and make them worthy sue
ceSsors OF the great champions of the
people who held truth to be a holy
thing by which nations love and for
which men should die. Since the peo-
pies may be saved by their courage or
undone by their cowardice and silence,
may they cast their mighty influence
with the forces that makes the people
strong and free. And as this good
soldier falls In sleep, raise up leaders
to follow him, 'Elijah's mantle on Elisha
cast"
Members Of Family Present.
Members of Mr.. Stones family pres
ent at the services we're the widow, who
was escorted by Mr.. Stones brother,
Ormond Stone, astronomer of Clifton
Station, Va: daughter, Elizabeth C.
stone; two grandSonS, Herbert Stuart
Stone and Melville E. Stone, Sd, and a.
granddaughter, Mrs James Tourney, jr..
and niece, Miss Marian Stanford of
Albany, Greg. Mr.. Stones two sons,
Herbert S. and Melville E., jr., pre-
coded their faith .r in DEATH
The funeral services were attended by
representatives of many American and
foreign newspapers, of the Associated
Press and other worldwide news agen-
cies, of publishers associations and of
many foreign news agencies. Among
the foreign agencies represented were
Reuters Of London, the Havas Agency
of Paris, the Wolff Bureau of Berlin,
| the Tass Agency of Soviet Russia, p. A.
T.. the Polish news agency; Rengo, the
associated press of Japan, and the Ca
madam Press.
E. II. Butler represented the American
Newspaper Publishers Association and
Victor Ridder the New York City Pub