Brien McMahon

Memorial Services

WEDNESDAY, May 6, 1953. The SPEAKER of the House of Representatives (Mr. Martin) presided.

Invocation by the Chaplain, Rev. Bernard Braskamp, D. D.:

Most merciful and gracious God, who art the light of all that is true, the strength of all that is good, and the glory of all that is beautiful, we are again approaching Thy throne of grace through the old and familiar way of prayer which is always open to those who come with a humble spirit and a contrite heart.

Grant that in this hour of solemn and sacred memory we may enter into a blessed and intimate communion with Thy divine spirit and with the spirit of our beloved upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy glorious benediction and the diadem of Thy praise, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."

In Christ's name we bring our petitions. Amen.

Hon. J. Frank Wilson, Hon. Prince Preston, Hon. Oren Harris, and Hon. J. Percy Priest sang Have Thine Own Way, Lord, by Stebbins.

Hon. Francis P. Bolton, a Representative from the State of Ohio, accompanied at the piano.

The CHAPLAIN. The Old Testament Scripture readings are selections from the 90th and the 103d Psalms:

Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.

For He knoweth our frame: He remembereth that we are dust.

As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.

For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness into children's children.

To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember His commandments to do them.

The New Testament readings are taken from the 14th chapter of the Gospel according to St. John:

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

May God add His blessing to these readings from His Holy Word.

The following poem entitled "The Other Room," written by Robert Freeman, is a beautiful commentary on the gracious words which came from the lips of our blessed Lord:

"No, not cold beneath the grasses,

Not close-walled within the tomb;
Rather, in my Father's mansion,
Living in another room.

"Living, like the one who loves me,

Like yon child with cheeks abloom,
Out of sight, at desk or schoolbook,
Busy in another room.

"Nearer than the youth whom fortune
Beckons where the strange lands loom;
Just behind the hanging curtain,
Serving in another room.

"Shall I doubt my Father's mercy?
Shall I think of death as doom,
Or the stepping o'er the threshold
To a bigger, brighter room?
"Shall I blame my Father's wisdom?
Shall I sit enswathed in gloom,

When I know my beloved are happy,

Waiting in the other room?”

Let us have a moment of silent prayer.

O Thou infinite and eternal God, in whose divine keeping and control are the coming in and the going out of all our days and years, in the life of each of us there are times and experiences when our feelings seem to impose silence.

Humbly and reverently we are calling upon Thy great and holy name, encouraged and constrained by every gracious invitation and promise in Thy word through which Thou hast spoken unto us.

Thou alone art the author and disposer of human life and from Thee our spirits have come and unto Thee they

return. We beseech Thee that unto all Thy righteous dealings we may yield ourselves with due resignation and patience for Thou art too wise to err and too kind to injure.

We pray that this may not be for us an hour of sadness and gloom but of thanksgiving and rejoicing as we call to mind the life and character of Thy servants unto whom Thou hast opened the gates to the larger life and received into Thy nearer presence.

We thank Thee for the high and holy privilege which we have enjoyed of walking and working with them for a little while upon this earth. We have not said farewell unto them but only goodnight. Assured that on some bright and blessed morn we shall meet again and dwell together in hallowed union in that fairer land whose language is music and where there is fullness of joy and peace.

Grant unto the members of their families the consolation of Thy grace and some special token of Thy covenant love.

Show us, as we continue our earthly pilgrimage, how we may carry on in faith and in the fear of the Lord and at the eventide of life, when Thou dost call us to Thyself, may we be worthy of receiving the blessings which Thou hast prepared for the faithful.

Hear us in the name of our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

ROLL OF DECEASED MEMBERS

Mr. Lyle O. Snader, Clerk of the House of Representatives, read the following roll:

BRIEN MCMAHON, a Senator from the State of Connecticut: Born October 6, 1903; attended public schools, graduated from Fordham University, New York, and from the law school of Yale University, New Haven; admitted to the bar and practiced law in Norwalk; city judge in Norwalk in 1933; resigned to become special assistant to the Attorney General of the United States, 1933-35; Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Criminal Division, Department of Justice, 1935-39; elected to the United States Senate in 1944; reelected 1950; died July 28, 1952.