| 682 and by excellent fortune or providence, Apostle H. C. Smith stopped off on his way southward to his field of labor, just in time to see our brother alive, and to receive a request from Sr. Smith to preach the funeral sermon, which request he effectually honored on the afternoon of Monday, the 28th.
"Never was clearer evidence of reverence and affection shown by the Saints of Independence towards one of their number. Early on Sunday morning the church-building was draped by willing and devoted hands, impelled by hearts that mourned the loss of a brother and minister beloved. The facing of the entire gallery was covered with the emblems of mourning, and tastily-arranged drapery covered the pulpit, the organ, the iron columns, and conspicuous places on the angles and flat surface of the walls, extending in beautiful designs into the alcove occupied by the choir and presenting a scene the most expressive and impressive in its way that we have ever witnessed. Over one hundred yards of material were employed in this work of appropriate decoration, and all day on Sunday the attendants at church were permitted to read in this artistic arrangement of pending fabrics the affection and esteem of the Saints for one whose voice was to be heard in their assemblings no more.
"At two o'clock in the afternoon on Monday the funeral services were conducted. Apostle Heman C. Smith was assisted by Apostle Joseph Luff and High Councilor John A. Robinson. The pall-bearers were selected with a view to representing the various positions in the priesthood as well as the membership. No one of the First Presidency or Seventy being available, those quorums were not represented. All of the pall-bearers occupied place upon the stand, ranged in order on either side of the speaker, in the following line of representation: Joseph Luff for the Apostles; John A. Robinson for the High Council and High Priests; Roderick May for the High Priests and the Bishopric, he being the Bishop's agent at Independence; John W. Brackenbury for the elders; George E. Ross for the priests; George Bartholemew for the teachers; John A. McGuire for the deacons; and Thomas James for the membership.
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