Evening star., 1937-09-05
DADDY BENNETT
FUNERAL IS HELD
Mourners Represent Nearly
Every Walk of Life at
Crowded Church..
BY CARTER b. JONES.


words An: songs of triumph, too, ex-
pressions Of the unconquerable spirit
of Christians who believe in the life
beyond the grave.
The mourners represented almost
every way Of living and daily activity
that make up great city. They rolled
up In limousines and they walked
to the church at Eighth and N streets
from Older, darker homes. Some men
dropped their work and came in
overalls.
The service was keyed to a broad
creed that broke the bounds of de-
nominations. A Methodist bishop and
Presbyterian pastor spoke An Epis-
copalian canon eulogized the life and
work of John S. Bennett. A Baptist
prayed.
And letter was read from a little
Catholic girl who sent a sacred relic
and said: "1ll never forget that
Christmas four years ago when
things looked so black" They were
no longer black when Daddy" Ben
nett, who loved to play Santa Claus,
found her bleak home.
Wasn't to BE Stiff.
In the lines that filed past the
flower casket and looked
in the strangely youthful face were
men and women from spacious homes
and those with no homes at all police
men, taxi drivers, preachers, lawyers
bricklayers. city officials and people
on relief.
Nearly all Of them stayed for the i'm
pressively simple service that started
at II o'clock. They knew him as the
friend of the outcasts, the destitute
and the suffering.
But many others heard the service,
for it was broadcast over VOL. so
that the shut-ins at hospitals and in
homes could feel they had part in
the tribute
E. H. De Groot, jr.. president of
the Board Of Directors of the Central
Union Mission, presided He ex-
planned that they didn't want it to be
a stiff, formal sort of service, but
human and triumphant, as Mr.. Ben
nett's life had been.
He knew, he said that every one
Of them would want to have part
IN it. and they could by joining in q
hymn the rescue missionary had loved
abide With Me"
Mission Glee Club Sings
Homer A. Rodeheaver, a noted Cos
pei singer. long associated with the
late William A. (Billy) Sunday, IA
nous evangelist, had come from Hood
River, Greg, to lead the music at this
earthly farewell to a friend he had
loved
Billy" Sundays widow sat beside
Mr.. BENEFITS widow Earlier in the
day. Rodeheaver confided to the audi
ence, Mrs. Sunday remarked to Mrs
Ada Jean Bennett. so closely ass6-
ciated with the mission work during
the % years her husband directed it
They're together now"
A quartet from the mission glee
club, organized from men converted
there, sang Where the Gates Swing
Outward" a hymn, Rodeheaver ex-
planned. which was sung at Billy
Sundays funeral.
People loved him." said Mr.. d.
Groot. especially the little children
to whom he was always Daddy"
The world, he said, was better that
such a man had lived.
Mr.. BENEFITS pastor. DR.. Freely
Rohrer of the Metropolitan Presbyte-
rian Church, spoke Of his help in the
church
The quartet sang THAT Beautiful
Land and then DR.. Anson Phelps
Stokes, canon Of the Washington
Episcopal Cathedral, spoke for Bisnol
James E. Freeman, who is out OF
town.
Passion for Helping"
Canon Stokes, calling Mr.. Bennett
zone Of Christs most useful servants,
added: He had passion for helping
the outcast."
Let us continue" he urged, etc
support the noble work which lie
carried forward through the years
Bishop Arthur J. Moore of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South
who came from San Antonio, Tex, te
pay tribute to Mr. Bennett, spoke
of him as a good Samaritan who Of.
fered a lift to those who struggled
along the way.
His friends, said the bishop, were
saying Good night" to this "frienc
of the disheartened, but only to bic
him Good morning" in the beyond
George P. Mangan, president o1
the Kiwanis Club. referred to Mr.
Benefits interest in this civic enter
prise as almost his only recreation
from his absorbing work" Mr.. Ben.
nett was second vice president Of the
club.
Rodeheaver, explaining the from
bone he held. said: The reason I'm
playing this now is that ne once sale
to me, When 90 I want you te
play that tune
The tune was Safe in the Arms O.
Jesus"
Lodge Holds Rites.
A prayer was offered by Maj vii
liam H Ramsey, for so years an activ'
worker at the mission. The benedfc
ton was pronounced by Rev Franl
E. Johnson, jr., assistant pastor O
Calvary Baptist Church.
AT the grave in Fort Lincoln Gene
terry Mr.. Benefits lodge New Jeru
salem No. Q, F. A. A. NJ. held the rites
Mr.. Bennett died Wednesday afte
lingering illness. He was Sc.
Members Of his family who cam
for the funeral included a sister, Mis-
Alice Bennett, and three brothers
William B., James B. and Joseph Ben
nett and their families, all of Hart
ford, Conn.
Honorary pallbearers included Levi
E. Breuninger, Harry Hoskinson, Clar
Griffith, LIE Roy Mark, Maj Ernes
w. Brown, Page NICK. Etchison, D.
c. N. Chapman. George Mangar
Judge Gus A. Schuldt, DR.. Paris I
Brengle, Pinckney A. Harman, D.
c. o. Goodpasture, Albert B. Va
Voorhees,. DR.. George D. Kirkpatrick
Harry G. Kmball. Dewey Zirkir
Juntin Lawrie, Bynum E. Hinton, Ed