Evening star., 1936-12-16
OFFICIALS ATTEND
GENNER|CH RITES
President, Cabinet Members
and Wives Pay Tribute
at White House.
BY J. RUSSELL YOUNG.

| CABINET members ana tner wives
Joined President and Mrs. Roosevelt
today in paying final tribute to Gus
Gennerich, the Chief Executives
friend and bodyguard. who died sud-
denly while accompanying "the boss"
on his recent visit to South America.
At funeral services in the east room
of the White House Mr.. Roosevelt's
grief at the loss of his personal aide
was plainly visible on his face as he
sat in front of the flag -draped casket.
Throughout most of the services, the
President sat with his head bowed,
and there was no mistaking the mois-
ture in his eyes as he left the room.
On his order, the flag atop the Execu-
tive Mansion was placed at half staff
for the day.
Present at the ceremony were Vice
President and Mrs. Garner, every
member of the cabinet, with the ex-
ception of Secretary of State Hull.
who still is at Buenos Aires, and Mrs.
Morgenthau, Mrs. Swanson, Mrs.
Cummings and Mrs. Roper.
Other high-ranking administration
officials were present, as well as many
members of the executive staff Of the
White House and several OF Cen
nerich's personal friends. Among the
latter was Capt. A. w. Wallender OF
the New York City Police Department,
who had served with Gennerich when
they were both rookie policemen.
Had Few Relatives.
Gennerich had few relatives. The
closest ones present at the service
we're Charles Guthrie, Brooklyn. N. Y,
a brother-in-law and his son. August.
These relatives, with several repre-
sentatives of the White House Secret
Service and police force, and James
Roosevelt. the Presidents eldest son,
will accompany the body on its jour-
ney to New York this afternoon.
Robert l. Miller also will make the
trip as a representative of Almas
Temple of the Shrine.
The rites, conducted by Rev. DR.. G..
E. Lenski, pastor of Grace Lutheran
Church. were simple but impressive.
Apparently speaking extemporane-
ously, the clergyman first recited
what he described as appropriate
passages" from the Bible, which. he
said. he thought were expressive of
the hopes of the deceased After this
recitation the minister read a verse
from Revelations and then quoted
from the hymnal.
After reading the twelfth verse Of
the thirteenth chapter of Corinthians,
DR.. Lenski paid tribute to Gennerich.
in which he referred to him as good
friend and loyal public servant, who
has suddenly gone from US" He con-
cluded with the Lords Prayer, in
which President and Mrs. Roosevelt
and the 200 others gathered in the
east room joined.
The only floral piece placed against
the casket was one sent by President
and Mrs. Roosevelt, a double spray
Of pink carnations. The many other
floral tributes were banked behind the
casket.
During the assembling Of the
mourners, appropriate music was
played on the harp and two violins.
4HeTe WAS nO singing.
One of the most touching incidents
Of the solemn event was the playing
of Ave Maria as the President
leaning on the arm of his son James
and with Mrs. Roosevelt at his side
entered the room and took his posi-
ton beside the casket.
Others in Attendance.
Some of the other prominent Off
cials who came to pay their respects
were: Secretary and Mrs Mcintyre
and Secretary Early. Col. Edwin Wat
son. chief White House military aide
Capt. Paul Bastedo, chief naval aide
Capt Ross T. McIntire, White House
physician; Jesse Jones. chairman OF
the r. F.. c.; Harry Hopkins. w. P. A
head; Senator Guffey of Pennsyl-
vania, Donald R. Richberg. former
head of the N r. A: Frank H
Walker, former head of the National
Emergency Council; Rear Admiral
Cary Grayson, chairman of the Amer
: lean Red Cross, and Frederic A. Del
: ano, uncle of the President and chair
, man of the National Capital Park and
= Planning Commission. Assistant Sec
! retary of State R. Walton Moore was
present as the representative of Secre-
tary Hull.
: Shortly after the service the body
| was taken to Union Station. On its
arrival in New York it will be taken
: to an undertaking establishment, to
, lie in state until the funeral services
: at the Masonic Temple tomorrow
! night Interment will be at Middle