The last Sad Rites—An Imposing Ceremony.
Yesterday afternoon, at an early hour, our citizens, both from town and county, began to gather at the tabernacle to witness the funeral services of Samuel Rea. Promptly at 2 p. m. the body of our deceased and honored fellow citizen was borne into the tabernacle—it being the first funeral services there—by the following pall bearers, who were intimate friends of Mr. Rea : Judge Greer, James D. Tait, J. R. Gorin, E. McClellan, M. Elsin, J. J. Peddecord, W. T. Stamper, J. S. Post, all of whom, excepting Judge Greer, are over sixty years of age. When the coffin was deposited in front of the audience, there were at least two thousand persons present, and many more
came in during the progress of the exercises. A select choir sang, in a touching and thrilling manner, an appropriate anthem, as the first part of the solemn ceremony, which was followed by the reading of the scripture lesson by Rev. D.P. Bunn. Then followed the singing of a hymn commencing, "Death is the fading of a flower," after which Rev. S. S. Hebbard, pastor of the Universalist church, offered an eloquent and touching prayer. Then Rev. D.P. Bunn delivered the funeral sermon, taking as his 'And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. "In closing his discourse, which was mainly an exposition of Universalist doctrines, and was not relished by nineteen-twentieths of the vast assemblage, who were there to pay their respect to the honored dead, he paid a glowing tribute to the deceased. Spoke of his early disadvantages and struggles and alluded, in the most touching manner, to the great reverence and love he had for his mother, not entering the marriage relation until after her death, because he was unwilling to have anyone take the place of his mother in his household. He spoke of his honor, his integrity, his liberality, his devotion to principle, his well developed character, and his faithfulness in all the relations of life. He also alluded to the fact that there is not residing in Decatur today one who was here fifty years ago, when Mr. Rea settled in Macon county. He also stated that of twelve children born to Samuel Rea's mother, there was now but one left, John Rea, who was the oldest, and who had been tenderly cared for by the deceased for many years past. At the close of the discourse, an opportunity was given those present to take a last look at the face of the deceased, whose remains were enclosed in a costly burial casket, upon which was laid a very appropriate and beautiful floral offering. At Mr. Rea was at rest in his coffin, he looked very natural, and as if in a very deep and peaceful slumber. It required at least forty minutes for those present to view the remains. This part of the exercises closed, the body was borne to its last resting place in Greenwood cemetery, the funeral cortege being a large and imposing one, and containing the carriages of our leading citizens. Never, in the history of the city, has there been such an immense concourse of people at a funeral, which attested the high and universal esteem in which Samuel Rea was held. In life, he was an honor to his race, he died peacefully and well, and has gone from labor to his reward. Peace be to his ashes.
Decatur, IL, Daily Republican, March 24, 1879, page 1
Yesterday afternoon, at an early hour, our citizens, both from town and county, began to gather at the tabernacle to witness the funeral services of Samuel Rea. Promptly at 2 p. m. the body of our deceased and honored fellow citizen was borne into the tabernacle—it being the first funeral services there—by the following pall bearers, who were intimate friends of Mr. Rea : Judge Greer, James D. Tait, J. R. Gorin, E. McClellan, M. Elsin, J. J. Peddecord, W. T. Stamper, J. S. Post, all of whom, excepting Judge Greer, are over sixty years of age. When the coffin was deposited in front of the audience, there were at least two thousand persons present, and many more
came in during the progress of the exercises. A select choir sang, in a touching and thrilling manner, an appropriate anthem, as the first part of the solemn ceremony, which was followed by the reading of the scripture lesson by Rev. D.P. Bunn. Then followed the singing of a hymn commencing, "Death is the fading of a flower," after which Rev. S. S. Hebbard, pastor of the Universalist church, offered an eloquent and touching prayer. Then Rev. D.P. Bunn delivered the funeral sermon, taking as his 'And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. "In closing his discourse, which was mainly an exposition of Universalist doctrines, and was not relished by nineteen-twentieths of the vast assemblage, who were there to pay their respect to the honored dead, he paid a glowing tribute to the deceased. Spoke of his early disadvantages and struggles and alluded, in the most touching manner, to the great reverence and love he had for his mother, not entering the marriage relation until after her death, because he was unwilling to have anyone take the place of his mother in his household. He spoke of his honor, his integrity, his liberality, his devotion to principle, his well developed character, and his faithfulness in all the relations of life. He also alluded to the fact that there is not residing in Decatur today one who was here fifty years ago, when Mr. Rea settled in Macon county. He also stated that of twelve children born to Samuel Rea's mother, there was now but one left, John Rea, who was the oldest, and who had been tenderly cared for by the deceased for many years past. At the close of the discourse, an opportunity was given those present to take a last look at the face of the deceased, whose remains were enclosed in a costly burial casket, upon which was laid a very appropriate and beautiful floral offering. At Mr. Rea was at rest in his coffin, he looked very natural, and as if in a very deep and peaceful slumber. It required at least forty minutes for those present to view the remains. This part of the exercises closed, the body was borne to its last resting place in Greenwood cemetery, the funeral cortege being a large and imposing one, and containing the carriages of our leading citizens. Never, in the history of the city, has there been such an immense concourse of people at a funeral, which attested the high and universal esteem in which Samuel Rea was held. In life, he was an honor to his race, he died peacefully and well, and has gone from labor to his reward. Peace be to his ashes.
Decatur, IL, Daily Republican, March 24, 1879, page 1
The last Sad Rites—An Imposing Ceremony.
Yesterday afternoon, at an early hour, our citizens, both from town and county, began to gather at the tabernacle to witness the funeral services of Samuel Rea. Promptly at 2 p. m. the body of our deceased and honored fellow citizen was borne into the tabernacle—it being the first funeral services there—by the following pall bearers, who were intimate friends of Mr. Rea : Judge Greer, James D. Tait, J. R. Gorin, E. McClellan, M. Elsin, J. J. Peddecord, W. T. Stamper, J. S. Post, all of whom, excepting Judge Greer, are over sixty years of age. When the coffin was deposited in front of the audience, there were at least two thousand persons present, and many more
came in during the progress of the exercises. A select choir sang, in a touching and thrilling manner, an appropriate anthem, as the first part of the solemn ceremony, which was followed by the reading of the scripture lesson by Rev. D.P. Bunn. Then followed the singing of a hymn commencing, "Death is the fading of a flower," after which Rev. S. S. Hebbard, pastor of the Universalist church, offered an eloquent and touching prayer. Then Rev. D.P. Bunn delivered the funeral sermon, taking as his 'And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. "In closing his discourse, which was mainly an exposition of Universalist doctrines, and was not relished by nineteen-twentieths of the vast assemblage, who were there to pay their respect to the honored dead, he paid a glowing tribute to the deceased. Spoke of his early disadvantages and struggles and alluded, in the most touching manner, to the great reverence and love he had for his mother, not entering the marriage relation until after her death, because he was unwilling to have anyone take the place of his mother in his household. He spoke of his honor, his integrity, his liberality, his devotion to principle, his well developed character, and his faithfulness in all the relations of life. He also alluded to the fact that there is not residing in Decatur today one who was here fifty years ago, when Mr. Rea settled in Macon county. He also stated that of twelve children born to Samuel Rea's mother, there was now but one left, John Rea, who was the oldest, and who had been tenderly cared for by the deceased for many years past. At the close of the discourse, an opportunity was given those present to take a last look at the face of the deceased, whose remains were enclosed in a costly burial casket, upon which was laid a very appropriate and beautiful floral offering. At Mr. Rea was at rest in his coffin, he looked very natural, and as if in a very deep and peaceful slumber. It required at least forty minutes for those present to view the remains. This part of the exercises closed, the body was borne to its last resting place in Greenwood cemetery, the funeral cortege being a large and imposing one, and containing the carriages of our leading citizens. Never, in the history of the city, has there been such an immense concourse of people at a funeral, which attested the high and universal esteem in which Samuel Rea was held. In life, he was an honor to his race, he died peacefully and well, and has gone from labor to his reward. Peace be to his ashes.
Decatur, IL, Daily Republican, March 24, 1879, page 1
Yesterday afternoon, at an early hour, our citizens, both from town and county, began to gather at the tabernacle to witness the funeral services of Samuel Rea. Promptly at 2 p. m. the body of our deceased and honored fellow citizen was borne into the tabernacle—it being the first funeral services there—by the following pall bearers, who were intimate friends of Mr. Rea : Judge Greer, James D. Tait, J. R. Gorin, E. McClellan, M. Elsin, J. J. Peddecord, W. T. Stamper, J. S. Post, all of whom, excepting Judge Greer, are over sixty years of age. When the coffin was deposited in front of the audience, there were at least two thousand persons present, and many more
came in during the progress of the exercises. A select choir sang, in a touching and thrilling manner, an appropriate anthem, as the first part of the solemn ceremony, which was followed by the reading of the scripture lesson by Rev. D.P. Bunn. Then followed the singing of a hymn commencing, "Death is the fading of a flower," after which Rev. S. S. Hebbard, pastor of the Universalist church, offered an eloquent and touching prayer. Then Rev. D.P. Bunn delivered the funeral sermon, taking as his 'And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. "In closing his discourse, which was mainly an exposition of Universalist doctrines, and was not relished by nineteen-twentieths of the vast assemblage, who were there to pay their respect to the honored dead, he paid a glowing tribute to the deceased. Spoke of his early disadvantages and struggles and alluded, in the most touching manner, to the great reverence and love he had for his mother, not entering the marriage relation until after her death, because he was unwilling to have anyone take the place of his mother in his household. He spoke of his honor, his integrity, his liberality, his devotion to principle, his well developed character, and his faithfulness in all the relations of life. He also alluded to the fact that there is not residing in Decatur today one who was here fifty years ago, when Mr. Rea settled in Macon county. He also stated that of twelve children born to Samuel Rea's mother, there was now but one left, John Rea, who was the oldest, and who had been tenderly cared for by the deceased for many years past. At the close of the discourse, an opportunity was given those present to take a last look at the face of the deceased, whose remains were enclosed in a costly burial casket, upon which was laid a very appropriate and beautiful floral offering. At Mr. Rea was at rest in his coffin, he looked very natural, and as if in a very deep and peaceful slumber. It required at least forty minutes for those present to view the remains. This part of the exercises closed, the body was borne to its last resting place in Greenwood cemetery, the funeral cortege being a large and imposing one, and containing the carriages of our leading citizens. Never, in the history of the city, has there been such an immense concourse of people at a funeral, which attested the high and universal esteem in which Samuel Rea was held. In life, he was an honor to his race, he died peacefully and well, and has gone from labor to his reward. Peace be to his ashes.
Decatur, IL, Daily Republican, March 24, 1879, page 1
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