Chapter 61—The Funeral Services at Battle Creek
On Sabbath day, July 24, 1915, Mrs. White was laid to rest by
the side of her husband, the late Elder James White, in the Oak Hill
Cemetery, Battle Creek, Mich., there to await the summons of the
Life-giver.
In the Tabernacle
Many friends had come in from the cities and towns near by, to
unite with the members of the Battle Creek church and with the citizens
there in paying a tribute of respect and love to the memory of the one
who had been called to rest. A considerable number, also, had come
in from adjoining states, including the presidents and other executive
officers of local conferences, of the Lake Union Conference, of the
North American Division Conference, and of the General Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists.
The setting for the funeral was fitting and impressive. The service
was held in the great Tabernacle, to the building of which a whole
people contributed nearly two score of years before, and in which
Mrs. White had many times spoken the words of life. The floral
tributes were such as to form a garden-like bower of beauty. The
friends at the Battle Creek Sanitarium had sent a wealth of potted
palms, ferns, lilies, and marguerites, almost covering the rostrum, and
extending to left and right up the gallery stairs. Many floral pieces had
been contributed, symbolical of the occasion and of the hope beyond.
The church at Battle Creek presented a broken wheel, the Review
and Herald Publishing Association a broken column, the General
Conference and the North American Division Conference a cross and
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a crown, and the Pacific Press Publishing Association an open Bible,
on the pages of which stood forth the Saviour’s promise, “Behold, I
come quickly; and My reward is with Me.”
For two hours preceding the service the body lay in state in front
of the rostrum. Guards of honor [
There were six guards of honor, two
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