Hymn Stories of the Twentieth CenturyHart, William J. (William John)
Religion
Hymn Stories of the Twentieth Century
Hart, William J. (William John)
Hymns, English -- History and criticism
Hymns were intimately associated with each movement of the body as it
made its journey from Warm Springs, Georgia, where the president died,
until it reached its final resting-place. When on Friday the folks of
the community assembled to witness the departure of the train which
would carry him to Washington Chief Petty Officer Graham Jackson, a
Negro, who was a favorite with Mr. Roosevelt, stepped from the circle of
mourners. He had with him his accordion which Mr. Roosevelt loved to
hear him play. Now, as a last tribute, he “played the haunting strains
of ‘Going Home’ from the New World Symphony. Then he played, ‘Nearer, My
God, to Thee.’”
Great crowds gathered to witness the passing of the train which bore the
body toward Washington. They were reverent and tearful. A rather
striking incident occurred at Charlotte, N. C., where the train moved
slowly through the station without stopping. Street intersections were
thronged for blocks with mourners. The silence was broken as the train
passed by a troop of assembled Boy Scouts who started to sing, “Onward,
Christian Soldiers,” and “the crowd took up the hymn in a ringing
chorus.”
When the caisson which bore the body from the railroad station at
Washington halted “before the main white-columned portico the casket was
borne into the White House by uniformed members of the armed services.”
The Navy Band played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Then, outside on the
lawn, “a service band played an old tune, ‘Abide with Me.’”
The U. S. Marine Band which was present when the train arrived at
Washington followed the national anthem with “The Old Rugged Cross” as
the casket was placed on the black-draped military caisson.
Because the hymns used at the funeral service in the White House on the
afternoon of Saturday, April 14, were familiar, The Right Rev. Angus
Dun, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, who was in charge, with other
clergymen assisting, mentioned the fact that these hymns were favorites
of Mr. Roosevelt, and invited the assembled company to join in the
singing. The Navy Hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” and “Faith of
Our Fathers” were sung at this time.
Next day the body of President Roosevelt was back in Hyde Park. The
great chieftain had reached journey’s end. “Between the manor house and
the new library is the rose garden where the grave has been dug,” said
_The New York Times_. And there at ten o’clock on Sunday morning was
brought the body of the man who loved to visit this garden when the
flowers, especially the roses, were sending forth their beauty and their
fragrance. Probably it was because of this fact that many radio programs
and church services placed in their musical programs the familiar sacred
song:
“I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear,
Falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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