Evening star., 1945-04-15
Bishop Dun Conducts
Simple Funeral
At White House
BY j. A. FOX.

A silent company yesterday
bade farewell to Franklin Delano
Roosevelt.
In the flower banked East Room
of the White House, where many
of them had joined in prayer just
IL weeks ago as the 31st President
of the United States began his
toric fourth term with a plea for
Divine guidance, old friends and as
sociates bowed once more-this time
before the fag-draped casket, in the
final rites of the Episcopal Church.
The service was as simple as
though it marked the passing Of
the humblest citizen of the land.
1t consisted of the prayers, two
hymns Mr.. Roosevelt loved, and then
brief word from the Right Rev.
Angus Dun, Bishop of Washington.
And then the family was left with
their dead for the few brief hours
before train started back to the
Hudson Valley where this morning,
the man who but a little while ago,
was dominant world figure, goes
to his final resting place.
ROBBED Choir Leads Hymn.
1t was just % minutes from the
time that robed choir at a piano
led the gathering of some 200 per-
sons in the familiar strains Of
Eternal Father, Strong to Save"
until the funeral rites were con-
cluded.
The service closed with Bishop
Dun recalling President Roosevelt's
1888 expression of faith-"The only
thing We have to fear is fear itself"
Mrs. Roosevelt had requested that
this be included because the quo
tation. part of the Presidents first
inaugural address, would best ex-
press what Mr.. Roosevelt would
want to leave with the people.
"As that was his first word to u.s."
Bishop Dun declared, Il am sure
he would wish it to be his last;
that as we go forward 10 the tasks
in which he has led us, We shall go
forward without fear, without fear
of the future, without fear of our
allies or of our friends, and with
out fear of our own iusufdciency."
Honor Guard Flanks Casket.
The casket, covered entirely by an
American flag, and flanked by an
honor guard from the Army, Navy
and Marine Corps, rested near the
eastern wall of the room, with the
head toward the north. There was
another American flag at the head,
while the Presidents standard was
at the foot. On the wall above were
the famed portraits of George and
Martha Washington. Between the
casket and the wall was a small
altar.
The other three sides of the room
were banked high with flowers of
varied description, although the
family had requested that no flowers
be sent.
Trumans Enter Unobtrusively.
Less than minutes before the
4 o'clock starting hour, President
Truman arrived with Mrs. Truman
and their daughter. They entered
so unobtrusively that the others in
the company did not rise as is Gus
tomary when the President enters
room. They took their seats on
the front row near the head of the
casket President Truman wore a
dark business suit Mrs. Truman
and Miss Margaret Truman were in
Navy blue.
A few seconds later Mrs. Roosevelt
entered with her daughter Anna
and the latter's husband, 1t. Col.
John Boettiger, and Vice Admiral
Wilson Brown, naval aide to the
late President, at her side.
Just to the rear of them came the
wives of the four Roosevelt sons,
and behind them Brig. Gen. Elliott
Roosevelt, the only one of the sons
who was able to come for the
funeral. Others in the room stood
as they entered.
They took places on the front row
or the side of the aisle nearest the
foot of the casket.
Then came the robed clergy, the
Rev. John G. Magee of ST. Johns
Church and the Rev. Howard S.
Wilkinson of st. Thomas, preceding
Bishop Dun up the aisle. Again
the company arose.
After the opening hymn, in
which the congregation was urged
to join, Bishop Dun read the