Burial of Bland
He Is Laid To Rest At Lebanon With Appropriate Honors

Lebanon, Mo., June 17 – Congressman Richard Park Bland was laid to rest here to-day with befitting honors. The town was overcrowded and thousands of personal friends came here to honor his memory. Trains were run by the Frisco railroad and all were packed. Only a small part of the crowd gained admittance to the hall, the capacity of which was about 1000. The rest contented themselves with standing in the street below.
             The funeral services were participated in by the ministers of all denominations which are represented in Lebanon. After the Knights Templars had been seated in the body of the hall and the distinguished guests on the stage, Mrs. Bland and family entered. Mrs. Bland leaned on the arm of Sergeant-at-Arms B. R. Russell of the national house or representatives, with her son, Theodore, at her side.
             The discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. W. K. Collins of the Methodist Episcopal church and was followed by the ritual of the Knights Templars and Masonic fraternities.
             Hon. W. J. Bryan had a seat on the stage, but delivered no eulogy, owing to Mrs. Bland’s request that only ministers take part in the service.
             The funeral procession to the Catholic cemetery was formed as follows:
             Lebanon band, Knights Templars, escort mounted, congressional escort, carriages, undertaker and hearse, the family, Masonic fraternity, Hobart’s military band, St. John’s commandery, Knights Templars, on foot, visitors on foot.
             The cortege was the longest and most impressive ever seen in southeastern Missouri.
(Source: Dallas Morning News. 6/18/1899. Transcribed by Dale)