To the front and at each side of the stage was a life-size crayon portrait of Mr. Grady, heavily draped, and resting on a gilded easel. Round the base of the easel were flowers and plants of delicate foliage, perfuming the air with their fragrant breath, and seeming to send sweet messages to the loved face above.
The galleries and boxes were all hung in mourning.
General Clement A. Evans opened the service with prayer, full of words of sweetness and comfort, and of grateful thanks for the good already accomplished by the one that is gone, even in so short a sojourn on the earth. General Evans prayed calmly and simply, concluding with the invocation of God’s blessing to those left behind, and an inspiration to those who were to speak of the departed soul.
Mayor Glenn, who presided over the service, then arose and announced the order of exercises. He said he was too sick of heart to attempt to offer a tribute to the memory of his dead friend, and contented himself with a few simple words of preface.
Judge W. R. Hammond was introduced, and read the following tribute of the Chi Phi Fraternity, of which Mr. Grady was one of the charter members at the State University:
THE CHI PHI MEMORIAL.
The following memorial and resolutions were prepared by a committee appointed by a number of members of the Chi Phi Fraternity, who assembled in Atlanta upon the announcement of the death of Henry W. Grady, who was a member of that Fraternity, and were read by Judge W. R. Hammond:
It is sad beyond the power of expression to be compelled to-day, and from this time henceforth, to speak of Henry W. Grady as dead. But it is with the profoundest pleasure that we take occasion to give utterance to our appreciation of his virtues, and bear testimony to those high qualities in him that marked him in many respects, not only as one of the leading men of his State and section, but as one of the foremost men of his times.
It is peculiarly appropriate that his club-mates of the Chi Phi Fraternity should perpetuate his memory, because he was one of its charter members at the State University, and always gave to it a place of unusual warmth in his affections, ever manifesting, in his attachment to its principles and to its members, that freshness of enthusiastic ardor which so strikingly characterized him in his college days. How well do we remember him—those of us who were accustomed to be with him in those days—as, with buoyant tread and sparkling eye and merry smile, he went out and came in amongst us, ever bearing in his frank, generous, hearty manner, the cheeriest good will to all, and the unmistakable evidence of malice and ill-will toward none. Easily and quickly did he win the hearts of all his club and college-mates, and it was their delight to do him honor whenever occasion permitted.