October 14, 1918: Don Martin’s funeral service in Paris

        A funeral service for Don Martin was held in Paris on Sunday, October 13, 1918, at the American Church, rue de Berri. The New York Herald published this report on Monday, October 14, 1918.

MANY FRIENDS AT CHURCH SERVICE FOR DON MARTIN

Simplicity and Sincerity of Character of “Herald” Writer,

Theme of Dr. Goodrich’s Sermon

                   Funeral services for Don Martin were held yesterday afternoon in the American Church in the rue de Berri. They were simple and impressive. Before the pulpit rested the coffin, over which was spread the American flag. Floral offerings were arranged around it. Flat against the wall behind the pulpit were two American flags and the tricolor, and on either side were standards of these two emblems. Uniforms of the United States army predominated in the gathering of 200 persons composed of friends Mr. Martin had known for years at home and friends he had made in France. The depth and beauty of character which drew these old and new friends to Mr. Martin formed the theme of the sermon delivered by the Rev. Chauncey W. Goodrich, pastor of the church.

                   Simplicity, sincerity and the power to give fully of himself were the foundations of this character, said Dr. Goodrich. These traits, long known to his intimates, were revealed to the general public by Mr. Martin in his daily dispatches to the Herald chronicling events on the American front of battle. His knowledge and his ability made these articles of high value to the world, said Dr. Goodrich, and they will be missed greatly. It was his devotion to his duty which made Mr. Martin remain at his post too long.

                   Dr. Goodrich spoke of the swiftness and tragedy of the death of a man so far from his home and considered it a sacred duty and privilege for those able to be present to represent Mr. Martin’s loved ones and old-time associates on such an occasion.

Singing of “America”

                   The service was opened by the Dead March from Saul and was closed by Chopin’s Funeral March, after which the first and last verses of “America” were sung. Between the prayers the organist and soloist of the church rendered “Lead, Kindly Light,” and “Nearer, My God, To Thee.”

                   Among the floral offerings were wreaths from the war correspondents at the front, “In Affectionate Memory”; from the New York and European staffs of the Herald, from the New York Herald, from the “Amen Corner,” an organization of New York political writers, of which Mr. Martin had long been a director and leading spirit; from the Associated Press, from “G-2 D, G.H.Q.” (the Censorship Division of the Army), from Miss Evangeline Booth, commander of the Salvation Army and from M. H. Dequis, director of the Hotel de Crillon, where Mr. Martin stopped when in Paris. 

                   American and English correspondents in Paris and at the front were present in large numbers, a delegation coming down from Press Headquarters in the field. Major A. L. James, Jr., Chief of the Censorship Division, represented the Army, and Captain Wickes was present with many of the other censors stationed in Paris. There were also present representatives of the big relief organizations in France, army officers and soldiers with whom Mr. Martin had made friends at the front.

Among Those Present

                   Those who signed the register were: D. L. Blount, Henry Beach Carré, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Christianson, C. W. Person, Maurice Pullen, Robert W. Firey, Ernest K. Coulter, a fellow director with Mr. Martin in the “Amen Corner,” Ben Levy, Lincoln Eyre, of the New York “World”; Elmer Roberts, of the Associated Press; Mrs. Thomas Whitney, Naboth Hedin, Universal Service; Rev. Henry J. Kilbourn; Major W. G. Anderson, of the Salvation Army; Captain William Halpin, Salvation Army; F. Allison;

                 Percy Mitchell, director of the European Edition of the Herald; Mrs. Mitchell, A. D. Weir, Lester A. Beatty, H. B. Osgood, T. R. Walker, Ed. Razer, G. Razer, E. Aufrere, Mrs. George W. Allen, R. C. Garrett, Dewitt Mackenzie, Frank Gardner, Charles McCarthy, M. F. Murphy, of the Chicago “Tribune”; W. Orton Tewson, Bruce Carroway, William Slavens McNutt, of “Collier’s Weekly”; John Parslow, Mrs. Leonore Raines;

                 Mrs. Berry, Mrs. MacAlpin, Charles Edson Smith, Paul Harlan Metcalf, W. H. Holgate, J. Broomhead, Nelson Dumas, Guy T. Viskniski, Melvin Ryder, Mr. and Mrs. Philip Powers, Walter S. Ball, of the Providence “Journal”; C. P. Connolly, William T. Bliss, of the Chicago “Tribune”; Walter Roger Hunt, Harriet B. Sanders, Harry G. Greenwall, of the London “Daily Express”; Thomas J. Cooney, Joseph Werner, Captain William McFarland;

                  T. B. Morgan, Charles Francis Kiernan, Harold E. Vermilye, George H. Seldes, J. E. Merlin, Jere E. Cootly, Bertha Hodge, Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. H. Bazin, Cleveland Coxe and Mr. and Mrs. William H. Ross.

                   The body will rest in the church vault until such time as it can be sent home [see October 16 posting].