Underwood of St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal Church in Washington officiating. Another service will be held in the Baptist church at Butler, Mo., Wednesday afternoon. Burial will be at Butler. Representative Clarence Cannon, a Democrat and dean of the Missouri delegation, cited the courage of Mr. CHRISTOPHER, Who, although handicapped by a leg amputation a year ago, had fought to victory in the election. [From Roll Call, Jan. 28, 1959] REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER FIRST DEATH OF 86TH Ten of his congressional colleagues accompanied his body west to Butler, Mo., as the House of Representatives paid its reverent respects to GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, 70, who died of a heart attack Friday. The veteran legislator succumbed at the home of his daughter and son-in-law after complaining of feeling ill early in the evening. He had served for nearly 10 years and represented exPresident Truman's home district. Members of the House eulogized CHRISTOPHER, the first death of the 86th Congress, and the House adjourned Monday out of respect for the solon, whose final services will be held today. He was the son of a Missouri farmer, grew up in Bates County, and was an expert on agriculture and veterans' affairs. He served on the Agriculture, Veterans' Affairs, and Interior Committees. Funeral services in Washington were held Monday at the 8. H. Hines Home. He is survived by two daughters and seven sons. [From the Kansas City (Mo.) Times, Jan. 28, 1959] RITES TODAY AT BUTLER-BODY OF REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER ARRIVES HERE-LABOR AND POLITICAL FIGURES AND BATES COUNTY CITIZENS MEET TRAIN A large delegation of labor and political figures and Bates County citizens was at the Union Station last night when a train arrived with the body of U.S. Representative GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER. In a private car on the back of the train were three Missouri Representatives who served with CHRISTOPHER in Washington. They were Richard Bolling, of Kansas City, A. S. J. Carnahan, Ellsinore, and Morgan M. Moulder, Camdenton. EIGHT TO ATTEND The three are among eight of Missouri's Representatives to the House of Representatives who will attend services for CHRISTOPHER today at Butler. CHRISTOPHER, Missouri Fourth District Representative from Butler, died Friday in Washington. Charles Harrison Brown, Springfield; W. R. Hull, Jr., Weston; Mrs. Leonor K. Sullivan, St. Louis; and Frank M. Karsten, St. Louis, arrived last night by plane. Karsten is acting head of the House delegation. Kenneth R. Harding, Sergeant at Arms of the House, said the congressional delegation will go to Butler this morning by motor car. DAUGHTER ON TRAIN Mrs. Ray J. Ratliff, CHRISTOPHER'S daughter, met the train. She, with her husband and 4-year-old daughter, Ramona, attended memorial services for her father Monday at Washington, then drove here. Also present was Leonard Irving, Congressman from the Fourth District from 1949-53. He is now president and business representative of Laborers Local 264. H. L. Oberweather, mayor of Butler, met the train. He had issued a proclamation requesting that all businesses in Butler close tomorrow from 1:45 until 2:45 o'clock. Services for CHRISTOPHER Will be at 2 o'clock at the First Baptist Church. [From the Kansas City (Mo.) Times, Jan. 29, 1959] BIG CROWD ATTENDS CHRISTOPHER RITES-ABOUT 1,500 PERSONS AT BUTLER CHURCH FOR SERVICES FOR U.S. REPRESENTATIVE COME FROM MANY AREAS, FELLOW LEGISLATORS, LABOR, MASONS, AND OTHER GROUPS ARE REPRESENTED (By James R. Ashlock) BUTLER, Mo., January 28.-GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER, the 70-yearold Member of the House of Representatives from the Fourth Missouri District, was buried today beside his wife and mother in Oak Hill Cemetery, 2 miles east of Butler. Representative CHRISTOPHER died Friday night in Washington. About 1,500 persons crowded into the small Butler Baptist Church for the funeral. Only about 600 could be seated in the sanctuary. Others sat in Sunday school classrooms and the basement, listening on a public address system. Seated in the front row were seven of his House colleagues. They were Frank M. Karsten and Mrs. Leonor K. Sullivan, St. Louis; Richard Bolling, Kansas City; W. R. Hull, Jr., Weston; Charles H. Brown, Springfield; A. S. J. Carnahan, Ellsinore; and Morgan M. Moulder, Camdenton. HILLELSON IS PRESENT Jeffrey P. Hillelson, acting postmaster at Kansas City, was representing Representative Thomas B. Curtis, Webster Groves. Hillelson, a Republican, once held the Fourth District House post and was unseated by CHRISTOPHER. Also present was Kenneth B. Harding, Sergeant at Arms for the House. The Reverend Orval Wooley sketched CHRISTOPHER's career. He told of CHRISTOPHER'S soil conservation practices and of his efforts in Congress to assist farm interests. Not far from Butler, near the Amoret community, is CHRISTOPHER'S 950-acre farm where he spent most of his life. It was his farm background that won him favor among the agricultural people. But he had support, too, among nonrural labor groups. CHRISTOPHER had sought benefits for postal workers. In appreciation of this, five members of Kansas City Local 67 of the National Federation of Postoffice Clerks attended the funeral. William H. Cady, 7706 East 112th Street, Hickman Mills, president of the local, headed the delegation. LABOR IS REPRESENTED Other labor groups who supported CHRISTOPHER were represented by H. E. Carroll, area director for the United Auto Workers, and Julius Frazer, international representative of the UAW. Both are from Kansas City. Oren Lee Staley, Rea, Mo., president of the National Farmers organization, was present. CHRISTOPHER was a member of the Amsterdam Masonic lodge, which meets near his farm home. He joined the lodge in 1937. Eighteen members of the lodge were among the 200 present for the Masonic ceremony at the graveside. Richard H. Ichord, speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives, appointed a five-member delegation which attended the service. They were Mrs. Olive Hedger McGuire, Bates County; Curtis Vernon Davidson, Henry County; Calvin Holloway, Sinclair County; W. C. McGraw, Johnson County, and George Duensing, Jr.; Lafayette County. [From the Bates County Democrat, Butler, Mo., Feb. 5, 1959] FINAL RITES FOR GEORGE H. CHRISTOPHER A crowd of 1,500 crowded into the Butler Baptist Church last Wednesday afternoon to attend final rites for Congressman GEORGE CHRISTOPHER, who died at his home in Washington, D.C., Friday night, January 28. Services had been held earlier in the week in Washington and the body was escorted to Butler for the memorial and graveside services. Included in the throng of mourners were people from all walks of life from congressional and farm organization dignitaries to personal friends and acquaintances of the colorful Democratic Congressman from the Fourth District. Rev. Orval Woolery, pastor of the Butler Church, in his sermon recounted CHRISTOPHER'S distinguished career as a farmer and lawmaker. Passages from the Sermon on the Mount and Golden Rule (CHRISTOPHER's favorites) were recited in the brief but impressive service. The memorial actually began at 2 p.m., but the mourners began streaming into the church before noon to pay their last respects. At the conclusion of the services, the body of CHRISTOPHER was laid to final rest in the Oak Hill Cemetery east of Butler. These services were conducted by CHRISTOPHER's home Masonic lodge of Amsterdam, Mo. Deep personal loss of a friend and lawmaker was reflected on the face of each mourner as he passed by the casket of GEORGE CHRISTOPHER. The countless floral displays paid a final tribute to the fallen Congressman. Governmental dignitaries here to attend the funeral services included: Congressmen Frank M. Karsten, St. Louis, Mo.; Richard Bolling, Kansas City; W. R. Hull, Jr., Weston, Mo.; Charles H. Brown, Springfield, Mo.; A. S. J. Carnahan, Ellsinore, Mo.; Morgan M. Moulder, Camdenton, Mo.; and Mrs. Leonor K. Sullivan, St. Louis, Mo.; Assistant Sergeant at Arms of the House, Kenneth R. Harding, Washington, D.C.; House of Representatives, Jefferson City, Mrs. Olive Hedger McGuire, Bates County; Curtis Vernon Davidson, Henry County; Calvin Holloway, Sinclair County; W. C. McGraw, Johnson County; George Duensing, Jr., Lafayette County; State Senator Kelso Journey and Mrs. Journey, Clinton, Mo.; National N.F.O. President Oren Lee Staley, Rea, Mo.; National Director Gordon Shafer, Elm, Mo., Fourth District chairman; Glenn Nelson, Nevada, Mo.; Fourth District chairman J. E. Hambright, Harrisonville, Mo.; Lafayette County Democratic Chairman Q. J. Bernard, Lexington, Mo.; Vernon County Democratic Chairman M. L. Welty, Nevada, Mo. Labor union, John E. Rinkenbaugh, H. E. Carroll, Julius Frazier, and J. A. Sanders, all of Kansas City. EXCERPTS FROM THE SERVICE CONDUCTED BY THE REVEREND ORVAL F. WOOLERY, BUTLER BAPTIST CHURCH, BUTLER, MO., JANUARY 28, 1959 THE BLESSING OF WORK Scripture (Matthew 5: 1–16): "And seeing the multitudes, He went up into a mountain; and when He was set, His disciples came unto Him. And He opened His Mouth, and taught them, saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they are prophets which were before you. "Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before Me, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Text (Matthew 5: 16): “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Poem, "Friends,” by Lloyd Carleton Shank: "Can any earthly possession Be estemed above a friend? "Across the pages of history And down to the present time No sweeter theme is recorded Than friendship's past sublime. |