E 664 .8862 U6 Copy 1 Hollinger Corp. pH8.5 Sixty-Sixth Congress. Second Session House Document No. 811 WILLIAM J. BROWNING ( Late a Representative from New Jersey ) MEMORIAL ADDRESSES DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SIXTY-SIXTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION Proceedings in the House May i6, 1920 Proceedings in the Senate March 3, 192 1 PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING .^^^abii o WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1922 to LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Proceedings in the House 5 Prayer by Rev. Henry N. Couden 5, 8 Memorial addresses by — Mr. Isaac Bacharach, of New Jersey 11 Mr. James R. Mann, of Illinois 14 Mr. Frederick R. Lehlbach, of New Jersey 16 Mr. Lemuel P. Padgett, of Tennessee 19 Mr. Elijah C. Hutchinson, of New Jersey 23 Mr. William B. Oliver, of Alabama 31 Mr. Fred A. Britten, of Illinois 34 Funeral services at First Baptist Church of Camden, N. J 36 . Mr. William W. Venable, of Mississippi 47 Mr. Amos H. Radcliffe, of New Jersey 50 Mr. John J. Eagan, of New Jersey .53 Mr. John A. Peters, of Maine .55 Mr. Edward H. Wason, of New Hampshire 58 Mr. Ernest R. Ackerman, of New Jersey fil Mr. Frederick C. Hicks, of New York 64 Mr. George P. Darrow, of Pennsylvania 67 Mr. William B. McKinley, of Illinois 68 Proceedings in the Senate 60 Memorial addresses by — Mr. Joseph S. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey . - 73 Mr. Walter E. Edge, of New Jersey 76 [3] DEATH OF HON. WILLIAM J. BROWNING PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE Wednesday, March 2i, 1920. The House met at 12 o'clock noon. The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the following prayer: Our Father, who art in Heaven, we stand before Thee with bowed heads and sorrowing hearts, under the flag at half-mast. Suddenly, without warning, a Member of this House, a hard worker, a willing worker, a patriotic worker, passed from earth to the Great Reyond. The ten- ure of life is uncertain. We pray that his friends and loved ones may be strengthened and upheld by Thy loving arm in this hour of grief, that we may all be prepared, so that when the call comes we may answer, " Here am I, Lord; do as Thou wilt, for I am Thy child, erring, yet lov- ing, grateful." Re with us now and always, and bring us finally to Thee, Our Father in Heaven, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Mr. Hutchinson. Mr. Speaker, it is my sad duty to announce to this House the death of the Hon. William J. Rrowning, a Member of the House from the State of New Jersey, who passed away suddenly this morning. I shall ask the House at a later date to set aside a day when proper tribute may be paid to the life, character, and public service of the distinguished deceased. At this time I ofl'er the following resolution. The Speaker. The Clerk will report the resolution. [5] Memorial Addresses: Representatin'e Browning The Clerk read as follows : House resolution 503 Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. William J. Browning, a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That a committee of 18 Members of the House, with such Members of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeral. Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of these resolutions, and that the necessary expenses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent fund of the House. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. The Speaker. The question is on agreeing to the reso- lution. The resolution was agreed to unanimously. The Speaker. The Chair appoints the following com- mittee, which the Clerk will report. The Clerk read as follows: Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Hamill, Mr. Scully, Mr. Eagan, Mr. Bach- arach, Mr. Lehlbach, Mr. Ramsey, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. RadclifTe, Mr. McGlennon, Mr. Minahan of New Jersey, Mr. Butler, Mr. Brit- ten, Mr. Kelley of Michigan, Mr. Mudd, Mr. Padgett, Mr. Riordan, and Mr. Oliver. The Speaker. The Clerk will report the concluding resolution. The Clerk read as follows: Resolved, That as a further mark of respect this House do now adjourn. The Speaker. The question is on agreeing to the reso- lution. The resolution was agreed to unanimously. [6] Proceedings in the House Thereupon (at 12 o'clock and 10 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned until to-morrow, Thursday, March 25, 1920, at 12 o'clock noon. Thursday, March 25. 1920. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Dudley, its enroll- ing clerk, announced that the Senate had passed the fol- lowing resolutions: Senate resolution 341 Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That a committee of six Senators be appointed by the presiding ofTicer to join the committee appointed by the House of Representatives to take order for the superintending of the funeral of Mr. Browning at Camden, N. J. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate a copy of these reso- lutions to the House of Representatives. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the Senate do now adjourn. And that in compliance with the second resolution the President pro tempore had appointed Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Edge, Mr. Fernald, Mr. France, and Mr. Gay as the committee on the part of the Senate. Thursday, April 22, 1920. Mr. Hutchinson. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the House set aside Sunday, May 16, 1920, for ad- dresses on the life, character, and public services of the late Representative Browning. [7] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning The Speaker. The gentleman from New Jersey asks unanimous consent that Sunday, May 16, be set apart for memorial exercises for his late colleague, Mr. Browning. Is there objection? There was no objection. Mr. Clark of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to address the House for one minute. The Speaker. The gentleman from Missouri asks unani- mous consent to address the House for one minute. Is there objection? There was no objtection. Mr. Clark of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, the time for these memorial services on Sundays ought to be fixed either at 10 o'clock in the morning or 2 o'clock in the afternoon, because when we meet at 12 o'clock it makes everybody late for dinner. If they began at 10 o'clock, we would be through before noon. I have nothing to present now on this subject, although I am going to introduce a rule, and I want to notify the House of that fact. Sunday, May 16, 1920. The House was called to order by the Speaker pro tem- pore [Mr. Hutchinson]. The Chaplain, Rev. Henry N. Couden, D. D., offered the following prayer : Our Father, who art in Heaven, that God, which ever lives and loves, one God, one law, one element, one far off divine event to which the whole creation moves. If I ask Him to receive me, will He say me nay? Not till earth and not till heaven pass away. So with renewed faith, and hope, and confidence, we approach Thee in the sacred attitude of prayer, confi- [8] Proceedings in the House dently trusting in the overruling of Thy providence to the good of all Thy children. We thank Thee for the indis- soluble ties which bind us to Thee, which time nor space can sever. We meet to fulfill the desires of our heart. Two men of affairs, who wrought well, died well in the faithful discharge of their duty; in their work challenged the admiration of their fellows who called them to serve the people on the floor of this House; who shirked no duty, have passed on in the harness to that life in one of God's many mansions, where under more favorable circumstances they will develop the larger and more perfect life. But we would write on the pages of history their life, character, and public service for those who shall come after us. May Thy loving arms be about those who knew and loved them and inspire them with hope and confidence, that though they may not return they will surely go to them in a realm where love reigns supreme. We know not what the future hath of marvel or surprise, Assured alone that life and death His mercy underlies. Thus we hope, aspire, and pray. In the spirit of the Master. Amen. Mr. Bacharach. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- sent that the reading of the Journal be deferred until to-morrow. The Speaker pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey asks unanimous consent that the reading of the Journal be postponed until to-morrow. Is there objec- tion? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. The Clerk will report the special order. [9] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning The Clerk read as follows : On motion of Mr. Hutchinson, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That Sunday, May 16, 1920, be set apart for paying tribute to the memory of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Mem- ber of this House from the State of New Jersey. Mr. Bacharach. Mr. Speaker, I offer the following reso- lution and ask for its adoption. The Speaker pro tempore. The Clerk will report the resolution. The Clerk read as follows : Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended, that an opportunity may be given for tributes to the memory of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Member of the House of Representa- tives from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, and in recognition of his eminent abilities as a dis- tinguished public servant, the House, at the conclusion of these memorial proceedings, shall stand adjourned. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate. Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased. The question was taken and the resolution was unani- mously agreed to. Mr. Bacharach. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members who are unable to be present to-day have an opportunity to extend their remarks in the Record on the life, character, and public services of our deceased col- league, William J. Browning. The Speaker pro tempore. The gentleman from New Jersey asks unanimous consent that Members may extend their remarks in the Record on the life, character, and public services of Hon. William J. Browning. Is there objection? [After a pause.] The Chair hears none. [10] MEMORIAL ADDRESSES Address of Mr. Bacharach, of New Jersey Ml". Speaker: Within the short period of five years in which I have been a Member of the House of Representa- tives we have on three occasions been summoned in sol- emn assembly to pay public tribute to the life, character, and public service of Representatives in the National Con- gress from the great State of New Jersey. To-day we gather to publicly attest our love and friend- ship for the dean of the Republican delegation from our State, the late William J. Browning, of the city of Camden, whom a merciful God suddenly called to His heavenly home free from the agonies usually attendant at the hour of death. At the time of his death Mr. Browning was serving his fifth consecutive term as a member of the House of Repre- sentatives from the first district of New Jersey, and was exceeded in point of service in the House by only one Member of the present State delegation. Mr. Browning was for many years a faithful servant of the public, particularly of the people of his home city; first as a member of the board of education, later as a member of the city council, and then as their postmaster. His more public career began in 1895, when he was elected Chief Clerk of the National House of Representa- tives, in which position he faithfully and efficiently served for a period of 16 years, relinquishing his duties in that office upon his election by the voters of the first district of New Jersey to fill the vacancy in the House of Representa- tives caused by the death of the late Hon. Harry Louden- slager. He was continuously reelected each term since then, and his popularity in his district was most forcefully [11] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning demonsti'ated in the elections of 1912, when he was the only Republican elected to the National Congress from the State of New Jersey. Upon coming to Congress he was assigned to the Com- mittee on Naval Affairs, upon which committee he con- tinued to serve until, at the time of his death, he was the ranking majority member. By reason of his long service on that committee he be- came one of the best informed Members of the House on naval matters, and to him is due much credit in the shap- ing of our naval policy during the past few years. I am sure that his death has been a distinct loss to this important committee of the House and to the countrj' in general. In politics Mr. Browning was a staunch Republican. He was one of the " wheel horses " of the party in New Jersey, and he represented one of the strongest, if not the strong- est, Republican district in the State. No matter to what office he was chosen during his public career it can be said of Mr. Browning that he at all times endeavored to give to that office the very best service that he knew how to render. He was an incessantly hard worker, and to his own detriment he gave little time to recreation and the care of his health. Refusing to follow the advice of his physicians to let up in his work and give himself much needed rest to build up his strength which had been brought to a low ebb by ill health during the past winter, he insisted upon attend- ing to his official duties and it may truly be said of him that he died a martyr to his country. Planning to return home and recuperate his health fol- lowing the passage of the naval bill, which was passed by the House on the evening preceding his death, he waited too long and finally the last thread of life which bound him to earth snapped, and he was summoned to his Master. His life was full of years of good deeds accomplished. He was of a gentle and kindly nature and possessed of a [12] Address of Mr. Bacharach, of New Jersey host of friends, commanding at all times the attention and respect of his associates. The universal love and respect which the people of his home city had for him was most eloquently demonstrated in the vast numbers who at- tended his funeral and by the many magnificent floral tributes that surrounded him in death. His funeral was generally observed throughout the city by the cessation of activities as a mark of respect to the man who so faithfully and so earnestly served it. Mr. Speaker, in the death of Mr. Browning we have all suffered a real loss. I shall personally never forget his many kindnesses to me when I first came to Congress and was new to the ways of this great body, and I deem it a high honor and a great privilege to here publicly express my gratitude and in my humble way endeavor to pay some lasting tribute to the memory of one of New Jersey's distinguished citizens who leaves behind him a record of achievement and devotion to public duty which we, his colleagues, may well emulate, and of which the great State of New Jersey, which I, in part, have the honor to repre- sent in this House, may well and justly be proud. All who knew of the private life of Mr. Browning may well feel sui-e that he kept his " house in order " and that he was fully prepared to answer the sudden summons of his Master to give an account of his stewardship, and I am sure that the answer made to him by his Lord was, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant; enter thou into ever- lasting glory." [13] Address of Mr. Mann, of Illinois Mr. Speaker : Mr. Browning was the Chief Clerk of the House when I first came to Congress in 1897. That is a very important office in the conduct of the House. I had occasion at various times to come in contact with him as chairman of committees of the House. When the House Office Building was opened I was the chairman of the committee in charge of the distribution of rooms, and the question of the furnishing of the rooms and vari- ous things of that sort came under the jurisdiction of Mr. Browning as Chief Clerk of the House. I found him then, as always, vei-y knowing in matters that came under his jurisdiction. He was never extravagant, never in- clined to extravagance in public affairs, yet he was very anxious at that time, as always, to accommodate the Members of the House as far as it could properly be done. When he first came to Congress to receive a committee assignment I was the minority leader in the Sixty-second Congress and had the assignment of committees on the Republican side of the House. Strictly speaking, New Jersey at that time was not entitled to a place on the Committee on Naval Affairs owing to the proximity of members of that committee from neighboring States, but I had such confidence in Mr. Browning's fairness and intelligence that I readily placed him on the committee which he desired to serve upon. Certainly no one who knew what he did upon that committee ever had reason to regret that assignment. Always able, always intelli- gent, always fair, never desirous of extravagance, but always desiring to have the Navy maintained in a high position, he did as good work on that committee as any [14] Address of Mr. Mann, of Illinois Member of the House ever did. It happened that I was in the chair in the consideration of the last naval appro- priation bill. Before that I had urged Mr. Browning to go away and take a rest, not to give such active attention to the work of the House, but he persisted and insisted upon remain- ing at his post of duty, and I watched him very closely from the chair during the consideration of the naval bill and was very much afraid that he might break down be- fore we had reached the completion of that bill. He stayed here helping, working, fulfilling his desires as to the naval bill and its consideration, and then the next morning, as though he had completed the work for which he had been assigned in this world, quickly and quietly passed away, carrying with him and his memory the affec- tionate regard and whole-souled respect of every Member of this House and of everj' one in the country who knew him and knew his work. He is gone. I only pray that the people he left behind him in close association may always remember he never failed in his duty, he never failed in his love and friendship for his fellow kind. He was a noble man. [15] Address of Mr. Lehlbach, of New Jersey Mr. Speaker: I approach this occasion in full apprecia- tion of the loss sustained by Congress and by the State of New Jersey through the death of Representative William J. Browning. But I also make confession of my feeling of personal grief and sorrow at the departure of one to whom I was drawn close by bonds of affection. In the hearts and minds of the younger Members of the House William J. Browning occupied the place of a wise, kindly, and sympathetic father. His long experience in the House of Representatives, as an official and as a Mem- ber, gave him such a wealth of information regarding the practical workings of the machinery of the House as to make him an undoubted authority in this field. This knowledge it was his delight to place at the disposal of his younger and less experienced colleagues. I never knew a man so willing and generous in devoting time, trouble, and effort in helping his fellows, even in matters of trivial detail. I shall always cherish the memory of my first visit to the Capitol after my election as a Member of Congress. I had never met Mr. Browning before that oc- casion. He met me, gave me the friendliest of welcomes, and then devoted hours of his time to instructing me in the various necessary steps to get properly launched as a Mem- ber. He introduced me to every official, initiated me into the mysteries of the document room, folding room, station- ery department, Congressional Record Printing Office, and in my rights and privileges as a Member generally. From the messages and telephone calls he received, I appreciated that he had much more important business demanding his attention, but he insisted that nothing must interfere with what he termed his duty to one of his boys. [16] Address of Mr. Lehlbach, of New Jersey Throughout our service together it was his delight to im- part information, to counsel and advise, and to render assistance. I have come to him with difficult problems and he would lay aside his own work and accompany me to the departments to help solve them. From observation I know that this spirit of helpfulness was extended to all who chose to avail themselves of it. William J. Browning was in his every essence a Jersey- man. He was born, lived his allotted span of three score years and ten and was laid to rest in the city of Camden. He was from early manhood identified with the public affairs of his city and State, and was a loyal and uncom- promising worker in the organization of the party of his choice. His character and temperament especially fitted him for effective work in this sphere in which unques- tioned loyalty was deemed the paramount virtue. He was straightforward, simple, pious, and mentally honest. He accepted basic creeds in religion, morals, and politics, and throughout his life undeviatingly adhered to them, in- different to fitful breezes and transitory vagaries. Thus, from the depth of his convictions and in the best sense of the terms he was "regular" and "organization." He was happy in his committee assignment in the House. He thoroughly knew the American Navy and loved it. The great yards in his home town and across the Delaware River, where so many of the craft of the Navy were constructed, had from boyhood rendered him famil- iar with men-of-war. He had a widespread acquaintance with the personnel of the service and enjoyed not only their confidence and respect, but held their affection. A substantial portion of his work in Congress was the preparation and passage of the annual naval bill. To this work he gave of his storehouse of information and of his capacity for painstaking attention to detail. He was in precarious health throughout this session of Congress and 47042—22 2 [17] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning was urged by his intimates, both in and out of Congress, to withdraw for the time from active work and submit to the curative influences of a complete rest. He refused to listen to such advice. His sense of duty and his love for his work impelled him to remain at his task, although he was fully cognizant that by so doing he was imperiling his life. He was in his seat every moment of the time the naval bill was under consideration in the House. When it passed he was happy in the consciousness of having well done that which was intrusted to him to do and peacefully and pain- lessly entered upon his reward. Life is a mystery. The purpose of the Creator in setting us here for a brief space is not given to us to fathom. Hap- piness is illusory and those who seek it most persistently seem least to possess it. 1 believe the best use to which we can put our lives is to seek those tasks within the scope of our powers and opportunities, the performance of which will yield the greatest amount of service to our fellows. I believe the greatest source of happiness is the accom- plishment of the tasks we have set for ourselves. In the light of these concepts the enjoyment of life and happi- ness was in fullest measure accorded to our beloved col- league, William J. Browning. [18] Address of Mr. Padgett, of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker— Friend after friend departs, Who has not lost a friend? There is no union here of hearts That has not here an end. Such, in brief, is the history of life in all of its vocations, in all locations. Wherever our life may be, whatever our environments, that is the sum and the substance. We meet here as strangers, we part as friends. Our parting is often in different ways. Some remain but a little while, others quite a long time. Some retire; others die. We form our attachments here, and that is one of the sweet, refreshing compensations of our service — the friendships which we form and our associations and our work in this body. While we have our political differences, while we have our different lines of work, some engaged along this line, and others along a different one, yet there is no mid- dle aisle of partition in our friendships and no dividing line in our affections. We form our friendships here, we seem to knit our hearts together, and we sometimes feel that they are so closely knit together that our lives become almost twin lives in their affection and their devotion. But, after all, there is no permanent union here. There comes a separation and that separation always brings a tinge of sadness and reflections of sorrow. The thought comes to us also of our unfinished purposes. We are un- able fully and completely to carry out our plans and our purposes. So it is all through life. We have a pur- pose or a plan, but it is not completed. We come here with our purposes and our plans and often they go not as we desire them, because we may not have the time or the [19] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning opportunity. In all of life it is full of unfinished pur- poses and incomplete plans, and that leads us to ask, Is death the end? If it is, life is a travesty; yea, more, it is a tragedy. But if, as we believe, and as we feel that we know, death is not the end, living is a privilege, and life may be a benediction. Living is full of opportunity and life opens a great vista of opportunities and great visions of what may be the grandeur and the glory of living, boundless opportunities, and limitless time and limitless space for development and for growth and for association. Ah, we have our friendships here, but in the hereafter the friendships be- gotten here will ripen into the full fruition of love over there; the richness, the fullness, and the glory of living in the conception that life here is simply a dip into the cycle of eternity. The little babe here, the young man in the full vigor of manhood, pass away, the one with threescore years and ten passes away, and, after all, it is only a short time. As the psalmist has said, we spend our years as a tale that is told. But, Mr. Speaker, with all of our years here there is to us a sense of a lack of satisfaction. The very incomplete- ness of our purposes, the very lack of opportunity to fully mature and develop our plans, carries with it the lack of satisfaction. And upon an occasion like this we ask our- selves — Where is the remedy, and will there be a full sat- isfaction? It is to the loved ones, it is to the bereaved ones, upon an occasion like this, that we can say, as we believe, we shall be satisfied when we awake in His like- ness. In the fullness and in the sweetness, in the glory and the grandeur of that living into which the grave is only the open portal, we shall be satisfied, and there is the comfort and that is the consolation, and that is the inspi- ration of our living and our toiling here, our friendships, our nobility of purpose and character here, that we may [20] Address of Mr. Padgett, of Tennessee carry with us that nobility and that character and that uplift of purpose into that satisfaction hereafter. And here bound down by the limitations of flesh, here limited by the habiliment of the senses, with very narrow opportunities and very limited horizon of action, we can but contemplate the pleasure — I speak it advisedly — of the thought that the spirit that leaves us here becomes a liberated spirit, passing into the Great Beyond, where the habiliments of the flesh, where the boundaries of the five senses, shall not limit the opportunities and the horizon of our action and our conception and our living. Mr. Speaker, when the committee attended the funeral services at his home, in the city of Camden, it was my privilege then, at the request of the family, to speak some words, wherein I then spoke of our intimate association and referred to his magnificent years of service, his high ideals, his lofty purposes, and the great work that he had accomplished in more than 20 years of service in this great capital of this great country. I do not feel it in- cumbent here to attempt to repeat or to rehearse those things. Others to-day have spoken of them with affec- tion. I know that during the 20 years in which we served together here, 10 of them when he was a Member of the House and 10 of them when he was Chief Clerk of the House, our hearts were knit together. I speak it — I loved him because he was a man worthy and deserving of the love and the affection of his associates and his friends. Early in the morning, quietly, peacefully, he heard the Master's call, and his liberated spirit was in the presence of the Almighty. Peacefully, restfully, we laid him away in his home city, full of honor, full of years, full of respect and confidence of those with whom all these years he had associated. As I passed along the way I read " When the trail of a tear is softened with smiles." And I thought it was a [21] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning beautiful sentiment. " When the trail of a tear is sof- tened with smiles." Beautiful it was, full of sentiment and full of inspiration, and yet I thought it might still be a little higher plane if we said " When the trail of a tear is wiped away with love." As I knew Mr. Browning, I believe I can say truly that oftentimes he softened the trail of a tear with a smile; yea, more, he wiped away the trail of a tear with love. [22] Address of Mr. Hutchinson, of New Jersey Mr. Speaker : We have gathered here to-day in accord- ance with the time-honored custom of this House to pay tribute to the memory of one of its distinguished Members, Hon. William J. Browning. Spring, the most beautiful season of all the year, is a revelation of the matchless power and infinite wisdom of Almighty God. Winter has removed the plants and flowers with which we have become acquainted, and there is sent forward a new and fresh covering of the earth for man's comfort and enjoyment. The old order changeth for the new. It is only natural then to expect changes in nature and the things material, but in our weakness we are unable to comprehend the divine plan of God as it relates to human life, and when called upon to lay away a loved one or a dear friend it is then we are brought face to face with the inevitable, and with tear-dimmed eye and broken heart we flee to the Rock of Ages for strength to bear our new burden. Such was the experience of the membership of this House on the morning of March 24, 1920, when news of the sudden death of our colleague, William J. Browning, was flashed through the halls of this magnificent building. Mr. Browning had passed through the winter of life and went forth into the spring of immortality to render an account of his stewardship and receive the reward of a faithful servant. Within a very few days he would have completed the allotted span of life, for he was born in Camden, N. J., on April 11, 1850, and the j^ears intervening were filled with useful service to his city. State, and Nation. [23] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning At the age of 17 years he entered the mercantile field, and although more or less actively engaged in that calling to the day of his death, he found time and counted it a privilege to take a keen interest in religious and civic affairs. Busy men are always sought when important duties are to be performed, and Mr. Browning never shirked from a responsibility where the welfare of the community was concerned. He loved his home city with a devotion found only in strong men, and willingly sacrificed time from his private business and gave of his rich experience as fre- quently as the call was made. He served the city of Camden for four years as a mem- ber of the board of education, and four years as a member of the city council, and was postmaster for five years. Larger fields were opening to him, and in December of 1895 he was called to Washington as Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, in which capacity he served until April, 1911, when he was further honored by being elected as a Member of Congress. As Chief Clerk he was thrown in contact with the lead- ing men of our Nation, and the experience gained by such association, together with the exceptional ability displayed in handling the many details of his important office, emi- nently qualified him for the higher and more responsible duties of a Representative. Mr. Browning immediately on assuming his new posi- tion became one of the valuable Members of this House. His judgment was sound, his reasoning comprehensive, and his advice frequently sought and always freely given. In matters of legislation he was conscientious, painstaking, and exceedingly fair. Sham was unknown to him, for he would not deceive nor could he tolerate deceit in others. He was a man of high ideals whose very- presence con- vinced one of his sincerity of purpose. [24] Address of Mr. Hutchinson, of New Jersey He was one of those public servants who regarded a public trust with an ej-e single to the general welfare, and when it came to a decision on a public question he knew neither friend nor foe, but fearlessly, without regard to comment or criticism, did his duty as he saw it. Of his many activities in Congress, the one that most appealed to liim was the work of the Committee on Naval Affairs. He had long been a member of that committee and was a consistent advocate of the policy of the best Navy for the best Nation, and no responsibility in connec- tion with the work of that committee was too great for him to assume. He had made a study and comparison of the ships and personnel of the navies of the world, and devoted everj' ounce of energy to making our Navy supe- rior to all in personnel, ships, and gunnery. The work of that great committee was clearly demonstrated and justi- fied by the brilliant record of our Navy during the World War. In private life the same characteristics that made him a valued public servant were brought into play, and during his busy career Mr. Browning found time and cherished the privilege to take an active interest in church and Sunday-school work. For approximately 50 years he was a devout member of the First Baptist Church of Camden, N. J., and his sincere devotion to his church and God has been an inspiration to those who came in contact with him. The people of a community can receive and deserve no higher encomium for their intelligence, their integrity, steadfastness, and patriotism than by their continued and hearty support of such a man as Mr. Browning, who for many years was afforded an opportunity for such public service. He earned and received and appreciated it, and the people reaped their full reward by the dedication of a rare life solely to their welfare. The close of such a long, useful, and honored life could not arouse a poignant sorrov/, except as one would sin- [25] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning cerely mourn that such a departure is the divine dispensa- tion, and that such a friend has finally left us. My personal acquaintance with Mr. Browning covers a period of 20 years, and I miss him, and feel his loss keenly. In a conversation with him on the night of March 23, immediately following the passage of the naval appropri- ation bill, he bid me good-bye and said: " My work is fin- ished; in the morning I am going home and take a long rest." Little did I think at that time the journey would be made to his heavenly home and the rest eternal, but the call came, and he was found ready and willing to respond. Mr. Speaker, some two or three years ago Mr. Browning delivered a brief address in Camden, N. J., entitled " How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood." It was so typical of the character of the man, in that it showed the profound interest he took in the growth and development of his home city, that I feel it should be made a part of these services, and ask unanimous consent that it be printed in the Record: " How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood." Camden was my birthplace; Camden was the scene of my child- hood; and in Camden I hope to breathe my last. None but those who have shared the joys and the sorrows inci- dent to the growth of their place of nativity can appreciate fully its advancement nor enjoy with the same degree of pride its progress and material development. To me there is hardly a street, or an old building, or an old resident that is not a reminder of the old Camden as I knew it when a boy. And now there are the newer things, the modern evidence of Camden's present life, the two— the old and the new — interwoven, linking the past with the present. Doubtless to some here present personal reminiscences by a native and one of Camden's " oldest inhabitants " will be lacking in interest, but I am to be pardoned for this recital, for the topic assigned to me renders my mood reminiscent. No " dim recollec- tion " but vivid memory presents to my view the scenes and incidents which endear Camden to me. [26] Address of Mr. Hutchinson, of New Jersey Camden I The name suggests at once the rights of freemen, for it was Charles Pratt, first Earl of Camden, that great English statesman and wise jurist, who recognized and advocated consti- tutional liberty for our colonists. No wonder that the name is held in honor and esteem, as is evidenced by its bestowal upon twenty-two cities and towns throughout the United States. Of this number, our own Camden is the best known — to us belongs the chief distinction of prior right and well-earned prominence. One of my most valued possessions is a small volume, issued in 1909, entitled " Historical Sketch of Camden, New Jersey," by our townsman, Howard M. Cooper. This comprehensive little history of early Camden is instructive and entertaining, and I would sug- gest to those of my hearers who have not already read it to do so. I was born in Camden in the middle of the nineteenth century, at 214 Market Street (now the C. C. Chew Dry Goods Store), then embraced in the old North Ward, afterwards and now the First Ward. I still reside and vote in the same ward. Our town then had less than 10,000 people; now we have 104,000, an average growth in population of over 15,000 per decade. In the census period from 1870 to 1880 the number of our people doubled. At that time our commercial and industrial foundation was laid, and our future success as a manufacturing city assured. Then it was that the old Camden of my boyhood began to develop into the Camden of to-day. The former things began to pass away. As I was only in my second year, I do not remember, of course, when the first street paving was laid in Camden, in 1852, though I do remember those cobblestones for many, many years after. In the same year of the street-paving improvement the city began to be lighted by gas. So we were moving along. One of my earliest recollections is that of the New Jersey State Agricultural Society Fair, which was held in the year 1855, in Diamond Cottage Grove and on the ground now bounded by Cooper, Market, Sixth, and Seventh Streets. On the same site, for many years afterwards, the old game of " town ball " was played, before the days of the modern game of baseball. In my childhood days Diamond Cottage Grove was a favorite place for holding picnics, and many parties came from Phila- delphia to make merry in those picturesque old grounds. There was also a public pleasure garden in those days at the foot of [27] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning Cooper Street; another on Market Street, above the West Jersey Hotel; and still another on the south side of Federal Street, near Front Street. I remember distinctly the burning of the ferryboat New Jersey in 1858. For long years afterwards many disputes regarding dates of happenings were settled to the satisfaction of all dis- putants by some one recalling " it happened before," or " it hap- pened after," the burning of the Neiv Jersey. In 1860 our population had grown to 14,358, and of this number 2,500 marched away to the war to fight for a united country. Well do I remember with what boyish pride I saw young, hand- some Shreve Ackley (whose family and my own were intimate friends) march down Cooper Street at the head of Col. Einstein's regiment as its adjutant. The picture comes back to me to-day — and it has during all of the intervening years — as one of the most inspiring lessons of my life. Mr. Ackley is at the present time a resident of Philadelphia. In those early days there were very few houses north of Penn Street to the Delaware River. North from the vicinity of Main Street was farm land, and I have wandered through the corn fields " many a time." Between Penn and Main Streets, I remem- ber, had been farm land; I had great fun there cutting asparagus on Saturdays when we had holiday from school. A portion of this tract was afterwards fenced in and used by the first Camden baseball players. Some of our best citizens resided on Market Street, between Front and Second; notably, Jame B. Dayton, Peter L. Voorhees, and Abraham Browning. These old houses are still standing, but are now owned by the Victor Talking Machine Co. and must soon disappear to make room for proposed extensive improvements. It is not likely that anyone present remembers the old ferry- boats Merchant and Mechanic, that ran from the foot of our Market Street, and the Mary and Dido, that ran from the foot of Federal Street. It meant great effort and persistent hard work for those small boats to cross the river in wintertime, for there were no gigantic ice boats to break the way. In going to and from school during the years I attended the Friends Central High School in Philadelphia, I considered it great sport to jump off the boat onto the ice and walk ashore. The wonderful improvements that have been made in trans- portation facilities can well be appreciated when we compare the [28] Address of Mr. Hutchinson, of New Jersey ferry boats just spoken of with the splendid steel boats Bridgefon and Salem, just placed on the line. The first school that I attended was a private one, taught by- Miss Caddie Glover, in the second and top story of the Perse- verance Hose House, on Third Street, below Market. Later I went to another private school, in rooms over the grocery store of Burr Moore, on the southwest corner of Third and Market Streets, taught by Mrs. Catharine Cadwell and Miss Kate Cadwell, her daughter. Next, I went to the old academy, at Sixth and Market Streets, on the site where the George Genge School now stands; the academy, with a branch at Second and Plum Streets, was the only public school in the city at that time. After my father's death, which occurred in 1861, my mother sent me to the Friends Central High School in Philadelphia, where I continued for four years. The development of our schools from the old academy days to our present magnificent system, with its kindergarten, primary, grammar, high, and manual-training departments, seems almost like a wonderful dream that has come true. I am glad, indeed, to have shared, even in a very small way, as a member of the board of education, in putting a few cogs in the wheels that have revolved to such purpose. In my early days Camden had not engaged much in manufactures. Jesse W. and John F. Starr were the proprietors of one of the leading establishments, now the Camden Iron Foundry. There were three sawmills on the Dela- ware River — McKeen & Bingham, the Garrison, and the Stockhara. There were also the Esterbrook Steel Pen Co., the Collings Car- riage Co., the Charles S. CafTrey Carriage Co., Potts & Kletts Chem- ical Works, Browning Bros. Log Works, Merrys Paper Mills, and one or two establishments on Cooper River. At the present time we find employed in our 365 manufacturing concerns between twenty and twenty-five thousand people, in iron mills, pottery plants, woolen mills, making soups, candy, chemicals, oilcloth, embroidery, laces, shoes, corks, talking ma- chines, and a thousand and one other articles, from the little steel pen to the proudest battleships and merchandise-bearing vessels in the world. Our wealth, such as it is, does not consist merely in tangible property, or stocks and bonds. It consists in homes — real homes, modest homes, owned and lived in by our own artisans, me- chanics, and business men, where the rights and immunities of [29] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning conscious, dignified, and responsible proprietorship is in strong contrast to those great "Alps of civilization " congesting the metro- politan cities, wherein home life and its sweetness is absent and the sense of individuality lost. Thank God for the " two-story " homes of Camden 1 The future of Camden is unguessed. We shall be to Philadel- phia what Jersey City is to New York. Our natural advantages as to water front are magnificent, and the possibilities for Camden's future business developments are almost without limitation. The War Department has just granted an extension of our pier- head lines in the Delaware River, and two concerns are ready to build wharves as far into the river as permissible. A govern- mental survey of the Delaware in front of Camden is just about completed; we shall soon have deeper water, so that vessels of deep draft may land at our wharves. I can not express with what interest, pleasure, and anticipation I am doing my share of the work toward securing for Camden all of the advantages that are sure to come when our water fronts on the Delaware River and on Cooper River are available for " big business." Sites unsurpassed for manufacturing purposes are located on both the Delaware and the Cooper, and I believe that we shall see all of the available space thus utilized in the near future. This all spells an increase of population and greater prosperity. Camden to-day is a city of which we must feel proud. We have churches of every denomination; we have well paved and beauti- fully lighted streets; we have the best drinking water in the world; we have a splendid school system; we have fine public library accommodation; we have excellent fire and police depart- ments; and, best of all, we have a God-fearing, public-spirited population. On such foundation stones we are bound to build high, and if I am anything of a prophet you will see our city one of the leading cities of the State of New Jersey before any of us are many years older. [30] Address of Mr. Oli\"er, of Alabama Mr. Speaker: The Hon. Wu^liam J. Browning passed away on the 24th daj- of March last, at the age of 69, after an ilhistrious, successful, and notable career. In his death not only the State and district that honored and trusted him, not only this Congress that loved and re- spected him, but the Nation, as well, sustained a great loss. My association with him was close and intimate, and I personally felt his loss. It has been well said by an- other — commenting on the friendships in Congress — that some of the sweetest fruits found in the experience of political life are those which hang over the party wall. To the listeners in the gallery who witness the daily proceedings on the floor, with its sharp clashes and col- lisions in the heat of debate, to the public at large, reached by the echoes of the strife only, it may be difficult to realize that there are found here not alone cordial re- lations, but the very closest ties of warmest personal friendship between those sitting on the different sides of this dividing aisle. But the fact is well known to those familiar with con- ditions here, and no one ever gathered to himself here more devoted friends than did Mr. Browning. He had a golden heart, a generous mind, a knightly soul that inspired friendship, trust, and confidence in all whose good fortune it was to know him. Correct in his habits, devoted to his family, true to his friends, loyal to his convictions, he was an upright, conscientious, indus- trious, high-minded public servant. He was a Christian gentleman in the best sense of that word. Devoted to his church, yet neither bigoted nor [31] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning narrow. Generous and charitable wherever he was, the sunlight of good cheer and the wholesomeness of a real friendship could be found — it was his noble nature to love his friends, but above all to love his country. The world was better for his having lived in it, and the influence of his private life, his goodly deeds, his public service will never die. Though he has left us to join the great majority, we can yet claim him, for — There is One great society alone on eartti, The noble living and the noble dead. How little is here, Mr. Speaker, after all, of this true friend and good man that is consigned to the tomb. The shroud and the vault conceal the body from our vision, but the memory of his good deeds and great actions lives on, and will remain fresh and green forever, and will bear fruit elsewhere. The day has come, not gone; The sun has risen, not set; His life is now beyond The reach of death or change — Not ended, but begun. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Browning fell asleep in the barber's shop of the Capitol; and shortly thereafter the colored barbers, who were devoted to him, met and adopted a resolution dictated by Prince Robinson, one of the bar- bers, who always waited on him. I ask unanimous con- sent to read and insert the resolution in the Record. The Speaker pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Alabama? There was no objection. Mr. Oliver. Like a shadow thrown softly and sweetly from a passing cloud, death fell upon Mr. Browning just as he was rising from the chair after his morning shave, [32] Address of Mr. Oliver, of Alabama and he gently and quietly passed away in the arms of old Prince, his friend and colored barber, who conies from my State and who has a great heart and noble impulses, and the fondest appreciation of Mr. Browning. It was this unlettered colored man, loving him with a devotion unsurpassed, who dictated this plain, simple, yet sincere tribute to our friend who has gone, given just as Prince wrote it: resolution Washington, D. C, April 21, 1920. It behooves me to say ttiat tlie Hon. William J. Browning passed away so suddenly wtiile under my care I could hardly realize it for several days. I was devoted to Mr. Browning and he was to me, and I always tried to be at my post on time to wait on him, so as not to excite him, for I knew his condition. Mr. Browning was a great man and good to all, and all of us mourn his loss: Therefore, be it Resolved, As it pleased Almighty God to take from our midst a statesman and friend, I, Prince Robinson, and brother barbers, offer this resolution in respect to Mr. Browning; and, be it further Resolved, That a copy of tliis resolution be sent to the heart- stricken family. [33] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois Mr. Speaker : I regard it as a privilege to pay tribute to the life, character, and memory of our late colleague, Hon. William J. Browning, whose untimely death has taken from the House of Representatives one of its most valu- able and painstaking Members. As a member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, where I served with Mr. Browning during the greater portion of the past eight years, it was my good fortune to be guided very largely in my opinion on matters of naval affairs by his wisdom, honesty of purpose, excellent vision, and fair leadership for a military service which he dearly loved. His attention to duty, his close application to public affairs, even after he was informed of his shattered health, was a matter of comment by his colleagues on the com- mittee and of anxiety to his friends. He was not willing to take his needed rest, and was on the floor of the House watching every angle of the disputes and parliamentary tangles of the annual naval appropriation bill barely 12 hours before his untimely taking away. His quiet persist- ence in giving personal attention to every detailed require- ment of the Navy, almost up to the very moment of his death, but characterizes the sterling qualities of this man who has given so much to his State and to the Nation. He was not willing to take his needed rest, for he felt that his duty was here in the House, and faithfully he re- mained at his post until death's hand was actually upon his shoulder beckoning him to come to that home of un- certainty of the future, where all of our troubles are left behind. Mr. Browning was always considerate of his colleagues, broad-minded and generous-hearted. He was respected by all who knew him. [34] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois When the war came, Mr. Speaker, no man in this Cham- ber gave more undivided support to the great conflict in which we were engaged than did Congressman Browning. The Committee on Naval Affairs has already felt the ab- sence of Mr. Browning, who gave to the meetings of that committee his undivided attention. He endeavored to familiarize himself with the naval code and with regula- tions and recommendations of the Navy Department, that the service he rendered in the consideration both of rec- ommendations and of bills referred to the committee might reflect the ripe fruits of a long tenure of activity in the Nation's Capitol, where that experience gave full knowledge of the subject involved. Some of us are prone at times to be lax in the discharge of our committee duties, feeling that others will bear the burden, and that personal attention is not therefore a mat- ter of mandatory importance. Congressman Browning never so felt nor acted. Others might be absent from the meetings of the committee; others might, for many rea- sons, be unacquainted or unfamiliar with its work and with the character and purpose of the bills referred to it for consideration, but Congressman Browning never. He was always in his seat and always vigilant and active, both in attention and in inquiry. His talents were not of the brilliant variety; they were solid, practical, substantial, and if it be true, as Macaulaj' says, that genius is but another name for a capacity for hard work and unremitting labor, then Congressman Browning was a genius. Bringing to bear upon the duties of the House the best faculties with which a Member is endowed is the highest possible service to himself and to the country. Measured by that standard. Congressman Browning was one of the most useful Members of this body. He was industrious, vigilant, painstaking, and conscientious. He loved his [35] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning country and his State, appreciated the dignity and the duties of the high position which his people had conferred upon him, and reflected credit upon them and himself so long as he spoke for them and for the Nation. We lose much in his death, but those nearer and dearer lose more. I can simply say that the tenderness and solici- tude which he evidenced for his friends and loved ones were worthy of a son of God. May the peace and conso- lation of the Divine Master ever bless and comfort those who are left to mourn. Mr. Speaker, 1 ask unanimous consent to insert in the Record a copy of the funeral services held at the First Baptist Church in Camden, N. J., on Saturday, March 27, 1920. The Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Lehlbach). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman? There was no objection. Funeral Services Over the Body of Hon. William J. Browning AT THE First Baptist Church of Camden, N. J., at 2 o'Clock IN the Afternoon, Saturday, March 27, 1920 Prayer by the Rev. John \V. Lyell. The Rev. Mr. Lyell. I ask your attention to some selections from the Word of God: " God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be moved in the heart of the seas. Be still, and know that I am God: The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge." "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures : He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not [36] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." " For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this vv^e groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened; not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now, he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord, for we walk by faith — not by sight. We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him." " But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at his coming. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dis- honor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood can not inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corrup- tion inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on [37] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writ- ten: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." "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 the reading of His Word. At other times and in other places men will gather to make due recognition of the distinguished service that our brother has ren- dered in the affairs of city. State, and Nation. We meet to-day in the House of God, and have come, as all men must come to the House of God, leaving outside all external distinctions of rank and privilege. We are here because we realize our need of God and our dependence upon Him, and because there is no other source of hope or comfort or real consolation. The things that count in an hour like this are not so much what a man has gained or what he did, but what he was. Earthly glories are fleeting and transitory; character is the only thing that abides. When death comes it compels a new evaluation of the things of time and eternity in an hour like this. The teachings of God's Book have new significance. " Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all needed things shall be added unto you." " Lay up your treas- ures in heaven, where moth and rust do not corrupt or thieves break through and steal." The deepest needs of the soul can only be met by the truth that Divine Love has revealed. The comfort men are vainly seek- ing in the work of Spiritism is openly offered by Him that brought life and immortality to light, and our hopes of a blessed immor- tality and a home in heaven are assured by Him whose victory over sin and death the church will soon celebrate with glad Easter exercises. It is fitting that we bring here this afternoon all that is mortal of our brother, to the place where he publicly confessed his faith [38] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois in Christ, and because here, as nowhere else, we can face death without the sense of defeat. It is here that we can say witli faith triumphant, " O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord." This remarkable attendance of representative men from all walks in life is a wonderful tribute to the ability of our brother to make friends and the appreciation his many sterling qualities has compelled; but we are drawn here to-day not so much by reason of our associations in the great activities of life, but be- cause a friend and brother who has fought a good fight and kept the faith has fallen in the discharge of his duty, and we come impelled by friendship and affection to assure his sorrow- ing loved ones and friends of his youth and maturer years that we, too, loved him and share their sense of loss and that our hearts go out to them with a sympathy that words can not adequately express. Practically the whole of the life so recently ended was spent in this city, and much of it in the pitiless publicity of official life. Our brother passes to his reward with an unsullied name. The heritage of a spotless name is greater to be desired than much riches. Many traits of his Quaker ancestry persisted unto the end of his life; his avoidance of ostentation and display. He often appeared austere and reserved to those who did not know him well, but a seeming brusqueness of manner could not hide the bigness and warmth of our brother's heart. An aged farmer and friend of Daniel Webster stood by the open grave at Marshfield. He said: "The world is lonesome and Webster dead. There is only one heart in Marshfield to-day and that is sad." It is no exaggeration to say, " There is only one heart in Camden to-day and that is sad." Of the husband and father I will not presume to speak. That holy of holies is not lightly to be entered by one outside the inner circle. But as his pastor and his friend for more than thirty years I count it a privilege to speak a word of appreciation on behalf of his brothers and sisters of this church. Our Brother Browning was baptized as a young man into the fellowship of this church April 5, 1867, and has been a member of this church for nearly fifty-three years. I need not speak of the strength of those ties which have bound our hearts together as we have labored and toiled and as we have made sacrifices [39] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning for the sake of the Kingdom of God in this place. I can say it earnestly, most sincerely — our brother loved this church, he was faithful in attendance upon its services when he was in the city, and he was interested in all that pertained to its welfare. I have received a beautiful letter from a brother pastor in the city of Washington, Dr. J. J. Mulr, who doubtless is known to some here to-day, saying how for many years he had appreciated the loyalty of our brother to the church, the denomination of which he was a member, and how often he had been present at the services there. Our brother was a member of the Bible school. He was a mem- ber of one of the classes of our school and he was treasurer of his class. He was not too big nor too busy to do this humble service for his Master and for the church, and I can say that the service that he rendered was with that same conspicuous fidelity that characterized the discharge of his public duties. He was one of the oldest members of this church, though we have a number who exceed him in the calendar years of their lives. We shall miss him. The sense of loss in our minds and hearts is very great. As a citizen of Camden for more than thirty years, perhaps I might venture to add just a word or two of my appre- ciation of him as a man and a citizen. As I think of William J. Browning and his life, as I have known it for more than thirty years, I would say that one of the outstanding characteristics of the man was his loyalty to his friends and the truth as he saw it. He was a man of very positive convictions. All men of much strength are men of conviction, and all men who have deep con- victions are likely to awaken some opposition somewhere, but everyone respects a man who has conviction, and a man like William J. Browning, who not only had convictions but had the courage of his convictions. As I have known his service in the years that are gone, I think of him as a friend of the weak and helpless. I think I never knew a man to go to William J. Brown- ing in trouble, in need, that he did not endeavor to serve, and I have reason to know that the men who served their country in 1861 to 1865, who had any trouble about their pension matters and felt they needed a friend and a friend's advice in that mat- ter — I have reason to know that none of them ever went to him in vain, and there was no trouble too great for him to undertake if he could secure what was their right and just due. [40] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois He was very conscientious and faithful in the discharge of all his obligations, and no personal considerations could swerve him from what he felt to be the path of duty. William J. Browning gave his life in the service of his country just as surely as the men who to-day lie on Flanders field. He knew the risk that he ran in remaining in Washington in spite of the warnings of his doctor, but he did not hesitate to risk his life in the discharge of what he felt was his duty. And we, his fellow members of the Church of Christ, we, his fellow citizens in the goodly town of Camden, are here to say, " Well done," and lay our chaplets of love and appreciation on his casket. To have lived thus is to have lived well a life of service and helpfulness of others, the highest form of life, and our brother was vouch- safed a satisfaction rarely given to men, to reach the end of life and feel life's work was finished and it was well done. Our sister, Mrs. Browning, has furnished me a cherished clip- ping, which, she says, might have been written with her husband in mind, and contains an exhortation to which all should give heed. " FINISH THY WORK. " Finish thy work; the time is short; The sun is in the West; The night is coming down — 'till then Think not of rest. " Yes, finish thy work, then rest; 'Till then rest never; The rest prepared for thee by God Is rest forever. *' Finish thj' work, then wipe thy brow; Ungird thee from thy toil; Take breath, and from each weary limb Shake off the soil. " Finish thy work; then go in peace; Life's battle fought and won; Hear from the throne the Master's voice: •Well done I Well done!' [41] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning " Give thanks to Him who lield tliee up, In all thy path below; Who made thee faithful unto death And crowns thee now. " So be my passing! My task accomplished and the long day done, My wages taken, and in my heart Some late lark singing. Let me be gathered to the quiet West, The sundown splendid and serene." I count this a very great privilege. We have with us to-day two distinguished gentlemen who have been associated with Mr. Browning in his public life in Washington. I have very great pleasure in presenting the Hon. Mr. Padgett, who served with Mr. Browning in the arduous work on the Naval Committee. Mr. Padgett. Christian friends, nearly twenty years of associa- tion with Mr. Browning continued to grow and to ripen stronger and stronger into a closer and better and more intimate friend- ship. When I first came to Congress I knew him not as a Member of the House then but as the Chief Clerk of the House, in which capacity he served faithfully and well for many years. Upon the death of Mr. Loudenslager, whom I knew well, Mr. Browning succeeded him, not only as a Member of the House representing this district, but also succeeded him upon the Naval Affairs Com- mittee, and for nearly ten years we have been associated closely and intimately in the work of the Navy. Permit me to say that he was indeed and in truth a friend of the Navy. There was never any time that his faith in the Navy faltered or that his efforts failed. He was true to a deep-seated conviction that the Navy was one of the great and honored in- strumentalities and agencies of our Government, challenging the admiration and deserving of the esteem and love and affection of the American people, and he never lost sight of an opportunity to render every service and every assistance he could, not only for its maintenance but for its uplift and its stability. And to-day, gathered as we are here, I know of no greater tribute that I could speak of him than to say that at all times, under all circumstances, he was true and faithful and shirked not his duty nor evaded his obligations. It is not my purpose this [42] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois afternoon, friends, to attempt to rehearse the many things, the many activities of his public life, nor to analyze the many virtues of his life, and yet I must say that he was an honorable man. Associating and seeing each other from many angles and from ditferent sides and under conditions when we were cooperating together and when we were pulling for separate ideas and poli- cies and purposes according to our convictions of what may have been our duty under particular circumstances, we have an oppor- tunity to judge of the real merit and composition of a man, and I do not think that any man who was associated with Mr. Brown- ing came away without being convinced with a deep conviction that he was an honorable man. Again, my friends, he was an honest man. It has been said that an honest jnan is the noblest work of God. To all that it means, all that it carries with it, he is entitled. He was an honest man, not alone in the material sense of paying debts or dealing in the physical and material things, but he was honest in the con- ception and ideals of true manhood, the principles of character that constitute real manhood, honest in his purpose, honest in his convictions, honest in his affections, honest in his judgment and his conception of his duty and toward his fellows and his country. My friends, the pastor has referred to it — he was a man of convictions and courageous in those convictions. He was not wishy-washy. He had his convictions, he believed in them, and he had the courage and hardihood to maintain them and insist upon them. He was a man that, when you got close to him, had a warm, generous heart. I do not know where there was a closer association than be- tween Mr. Browning and myself, and some years ago it was my pleasure and privilege, which I have often thought of and reflected upon, to come with him over here. I attended service with him in this church, and I occupied the pew there indicated, with him and his beloved wife. I enjoyed the hospitality of his home. My friends, the tie that is broken between us touches my heart. Not only in the personal relationships of life, but he was honest and honorable in the discharge of his public duties and in meet- ing his patriotic obligations. What more can I say? For more than 20 years he met honorably, faithfully, intelligently, earnestly the duties and responsibilities that devolved upon him as repre- sentative duties, as official duties, in the Capitol of the Nation. [43] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning Last Wednesday morning, early in the morning, as was his custom, he went into the Capitol building, where he had so long served faithfully and well, and while in that building he heard the low, soft call. He answered it. It was the Angel call. His body became quiet and his spirit went to his God. Lovingly and tenderly they brought him here to his honored State of New Jersey, and to his beloved Camden, where he was born, where he was reared and lived all these years, always retaining the respect and honor and confidence of his people. My friends, on an occasion like this 1 do not wish to speak of the darkness, but of the light; not of the night, but of the day; not of the sunset, but of the sunrise. We see before us these flowers. Beautiful they are, and fragrant; but they soon will wilt and wither and their fragrance will be lost in the air. We want something at this time more lasting and more substantial, and the thought comes to us of the occasion when, in other days, in the early morning of the first day of the week the women went to the open grave looking for a loved one, and the Angel said to them: "He is not here. He is risen." Oh, they are comforting words on an occasion like this, and as we stand by this casket we, too, say, " He is not here. He is risen " — risen not into the beauty of these flowers, for they soon will wilt and fade; not into the beauty of the golden-tinted sunset of the west, for the shadow of night will blot it out; but risen in the life, into the fullness and the sweetness of that life where opportunity for greater and better things will be as immeasurable and as illimitable as the universe of God, and whose duration will be commensurate with the eternity of God. Oh, my friends, the comfort is on an occasion like this, the life — the fullness, the sweetness, the beauty of the life of which the grave is only the portal, or the open door of the transition. My friends, they say that when we pass away we take nothing with us. It is not so. Mr. Browning had a wealth of character, a richness of soul, that moth and rust could not corrupt and thieves could not break through and steal — a wealth and a rich- ness that he could take with him when he met his God. Rev. Mr. Lyell. I present the Hon. Mr. Hutchinson, a Member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey, and associated with Mr. Browning. [44] Address of Mr. Britten, of Illinois Mr. Hutchinson. Christian friends, I have been requested to speak for the New Jersey delegation. Words are very hard to find to express what the New Jersey delegation thought of Mr. Browning. He has always been a safe adviser to follow and we have taken advantage of his judgment, and we have found him an earnest, true worker. He always considered a subject very carefully. After he made up his mind he always did what he thought was right, irrespective of what the consequences might be. I suppose, personally, I have been closer to Mr. Browning than most, for the last two or three years, because both of us have had loved ones at home afflicted with the same disease, and we have talked for hours. I know what a great care he had and what thoughts he gave to his loved ones at home, and how he wished them to get better. I know, of my own experience, that the New Jersey delegation, the district which he represented, the State of New Jersey, and the loved ones at home, will miss him. He was a faithful worker and his one desire was to do what was right for the most people. He was a great credit to your district and to the country. For a great while his health was so bad it seemed a real injury to ask him to do anything. Still, he was always ready to do what he could for his fellow men; and I certainly felt verj' sorry myself as I came back here. I was very much attached to Mr. Browning, and I know I shall miss him, as will the entire New Jersey delegation. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Lyell: Again, O greatest Lord and Master, we lift our hearts and our voices to Thee. We need Thee. We realize that all our help must come from Thee, and we thank Thee for Thy love and the love that was manifest in Jesus, Thy son, to be our Savior. We thank Thee for His life of serving and sacrifice, for His death and for His resurrection. We thank Thee for the hope we have in Him, for the life that now is and for the life that is to come. We thank Thee for that hope, that faith, that takes away the fear of death, and that blessed assurance which Thou hast given us of the home eternal that Love has prepared. We pray Thy blessing as we meet and meditate this hour upon the blessings of life and death. We thank Thee for the promise, for the assurance of deliverance from the power of sin and death. [45] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning We thank Thee for the blessed hope of resurrection and immortal life offered through Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior. We pray Thee to bless and comfort the hearts that are heavy and sad to-day because of the separation that has taken place. We thank Thee for the comfort Thou hast brought, of the hope of a soul sure and steadfast. We thank Thee for the great promise of Thy word that all things shall work together for good for those that love Thee, and out of experiences that are grievous for the present Thou wilt bring far more exceeding and eternal faith. Help us that we may be submissive to Thy Divine Will, realizing that not in anger but in love Thou dost so visit Thy children, and underneath is Thy everlasting love. We pray Thy blessing upon the family and the relatives and friends who have gathered from far and near. O Our Father, we pray our hearts may be comforted, our faith strengthened. May we give ourselves in consecration to Thee and Thy cause, and look forward with glorious hope, with faith and confidence to the things of life, and feel that that same power that raised up Christ from the dead will raise up all those who put their trust in Him. Bless those who have assembled here; bless those in distant places who, in thought, are turning toward here; sanctify to us all the lessons of life and death; go with us now as we shall go on the journey to the cemetery, and stand by us as we stand by the open grave. Help us to realize, as never before, that death is not the end of all, but that the power that raised up Christ will raise up this loved one also. Hear us in our prayer; forgive all that Thou hast seen amiss in us here, and guide us as we go on to the end of our days. May we hear Thee say, as we trust Thou hast said to our loved one, " Well done, thou good and faithful servant." For Jesus sake. Amen. [46] Address of Mr. Venable, of Mississippi Mr. Speaker: I did not have the pleasure of knowing Mr. Browning for as many years as some Members of the com- mittee or the House, but ever since I have been in Congress I have been more or less intimately thrown into contact with him, being upon the same committee, and had an op- portunity to observe what I believe to be the salient points of his character. We have all known men who, though blessed with mental strength, seemed to make small use of their talents and seemed to make small impression either upon the conditions or the men with whom they were brought in contact. And more often than not I be- lieve that we have found when such was the case that the failure of the strength of the man to manifest itself in re- sults was due to two important weaknesses: Either they were intellectual Hamlets and the native hue of results was sicklied over with the pale cast of thought and enter- prises of mighty moment were brought to naught because of lack of intellectual decisions as to what course of con- duct to follow, or else they failed because the decision once made, as a matter of intellect, they lacked the courage to put the resolution into action. Such was not the case with Mr. Browning. Regardless of what the question was, regardless of how close it might be, Mr. Browning forced his intellect to the consideration of the matter until there was intellectual conviction as to what was right or best, and then he had the moral quality, the moral courage, to put that conviction into action and to defend it. I believe that his success as a member of the committee and of the House of Representatives was due to the possession in a large degree of these qualities. But with it all he had the saving grace which made him, though a warrior, well beloved. Possibly in no assembly in the country is there manifested more the power of [47] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning human kindness and of love than in this body. We are large in number, and there is represented here practically every type of man that lives as far as intellectual and emo- tional characteristics are concerned. We all have seen some man who excited our admiration. All the world loves a fighter. We admire their skill, we have a profound admiration for their intellectual abilities, and yet with it all these men fail to win the affection of those with whom they come in contact. Our admiration was the judgment of intellect and not of heart. We have seen others just as staunch warriors, just as powerful in the conflict, just as ready for the battle, and while these men excited our admiration for their ability, with our- selves the recipients of their blows, there followed no sense of personal bitterness or animosity. And while en- gaged in constant conflict in this forum of debate and battle, regardless of party lines or difference of opinion, they herein not only won the admiration but the love of their colleagues. There is an explanation for this, and I think it is that the men of the latter type added to their ability as warriors the endowment of having in addition a fund of human sympathy, of human love, which appeals to the like quality in others and brings a ready and generous response. And while they take positions and while they battle with what they conceive to be errors there is always absent from their method any sort of personal feeling or personal animosity. Mr. Browning had this quality to a large de- gree, so that, though he was intellectually vigorous, firm in decision, and ready at all times to defend his position, there went always with it a ready sympathy and love for his opponent as a man which made it impossible to do other than to like and love him. Men come and go. They play their brief parts upon the stage and pass into the [48] Address of Mr. Venable, of Mississippi wings. We say they die, and die they do in a sense, and yet I do not believe that any man dies or that any human life at all worth while is ever blotted from this world. We are a part and parcel of every man we have met and every thought we have thought. The personal contact and influence of men plays its part in molding and fashioning our lives and our characters. The influence of the life con- tinues to live though the spirit itself has passed. I believe this will be preeminently true of the case of Mr. Brown- ing. If he had done nothing else than to furnish us with a striking example of loj'alty to those things, principles, and institutions in which he believed, he would have furnished us something of exceeding great value. Mr. Speaker, I have prepared no formal address. I have simply undertaken in a simple way to bear tribute to my friend. [49] Address of Mr. Radcliffe, of New Jersey Mr. Speaker : It was not my good fortune to know Hon. William J. Browning, in whose memoi-y we are gathered here to-day, until I became a Member of this body, and therefore I can speak of him only as I knew him and of the opinion I formed of him during our close association in this brief period of time. I was first introduced to our revered friend on December 4, 1918, in his office by my predecessor, Congressman Dow H. Drukker. My first impression was that I had met a man whose demeanor was quiet, whose nature was sym- pathetic, whose greatest desire was to help his fellow man, and whose character was of a firmness that commanded the highest respect. That impression deepened and broadened as other striking and admirable characteristics came to my attention, and I have often regretted the fact that I had not known Mr. Browning for a longer time to enjoy his company and the guiding influence of such a lovable man and earnest worker. With his many other remarkable traits there were also noticeable his great love for his fellow man and his charitable disposition toward his enemies, without whom no man lives who accomplishes anything of permanent value, such as Mr. Browning did. But one of Mr. Browning's most apparent qualities was his quiet, ever-persisting determination to " carry on " to a success whatever project he started. This continued with him to the last few days of his career. An incident indicative of this characteristic I well re- member. I was in the city of Camden upon the occasion of the triumphant return of the Blue and Gray Division from overseas, and at that time had the good fortune and honor to march by the Congressman's side. The day was [50] Address of Mr. Radcliffe, of New Jersey extremely hot, and Mr. Browning's health at that time was not of the best. Observing the terrible strain he was labor- ing under I advised him to drop out of the line of march at the grand stand instead of continuing to the end. Mr. Browning replied: "If these boys could suffer hardship and punishment over there in that veritable hell for me, the least I can do is to march with them here to the end." I also recall the day that he told me of his physician's advice to stay home and rest. He refused to act upon this advice because, as he stated, " I have a duty to perform, and my colleague. Congressman Butler, needs my help, and 1 won't desert him at such a time." Only too well do I recall that he stayed until the curtain was rung down on that committee's work, and the excitement that preceded the close was the means, to my mind, of hastening his death. Mr. Browning sacrificed much for the public service. He gave half of his life to his public duties and did his work faithfully and well. He was a model for his people to follow and a credit to the State that gave him birth. I shall always cherish the memory of this patriot who died in the service of his country, for I have no doubt that he would have been spared for a long time to come had he left his post of duty for the rest and quiet he so much needed. Just as I remember him at his desk on that December morning when I first met him, Mr. Browning remained throughout the rest of his days — always willing and ready to guide and help me over the rough places. And little, my brethren, did I think on the morning that he passed away that I was to be the last member of the New Jersey delegation to have the pleasure of listening to his pleasant and cheerful voice, as he talked with his old friend Prince, giving advice and counsel to him, and jokingly saying he was going home for a long rest. He said this was his last [51] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning shave, and little did I realize at that time that was to be so, and when within 20 minutes after word was flashed to my office that Mr. Browning had passed away it was a shock I have not yet recovered from, because I really thought at that time he would be spared for some time to come. His life will be a lamp to guide me in the years to come. His character teaches me to spread the brotherly cement of kindness and good cheer along life's pathway. Good-bye, Brother Browning! May God, who watches over us, rest your soul and admit you to the unseen Temple where peace and joy abound for evermore. [52] Address of Mr. Eagan, of New Jersey Mr. Speaker : On four occasions prior to to-day in the little more than seven years that I have been a Member of this House I have participated in these sad yet beauti- ful exercises in commemoration of the life, character, and public service of a Representative from the State of New Jersey or a Senator from my State stricken down in his service in the Congress of the United States. To-day we have assembled here to pay our feeble tributes of love and respect to the character and public services of our late colleague, Hon. William J. Browning, for 16 years Clerk of this House and for almost 10 years the Representative of the first congressional district of New Jersey. Mr. Browning was not personally known to me until I became a Member of the House. That was in the Sixty-third Con- gress. He was the only Member of his party from the State of New Jersey who had been elected to the Sixty- third Congress. I knew of his long and distinguished serv- ice as Clerk of the House of Representatives; but I did not then know of his kindly and sympathetic nature. I hesi- tated to approach him for information so essential to a new Member of this great body. I overcame that feeling, however, introduced myself and asked him a number of questions, the answers to which were given so readily, so sympathetically, that 1 felt as if I had known him all my life. We were fast friends from that day to the hour of his death. It was my privilege on many occasions to sit with him late in the afternoon in the restaurant of the House, and I am afraid that } trespassed rather too freely upon his kindness. But I am glad I did so because I feel that I knew Bill Browning the better for those opportunities. [53] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning He was a gentle, kindly, unassuming, intelligent, conscien- tious worker in this body, as he had been no doubt as Clerk of this House during the 16 years prior to his service as a Member, and I am sure he was as postmaster of his native city, and as a member of the city council, and be- fore that in the humble but very useful office of a member of the board of education of Camden. I reached the Capi- tol on the morning of his death a few moments after Mr, Browning's body had been removed from the barber shop. I was shocked, as was everybody who had been here the day before, and who had observed his work and listened to his words on the naval bill, to learn that our friend was no more. I could not help but feel, and I think everybody felt, that Congressman Browning, though the armistice had been signed for upward of a year and a half, died in the service of his country and made the supreme sacrifice just as completely as any boy who wore the uniform of our country and who made that sacrifice overseas and in time of war. His sorrowing widow and son have lost a devoted husband and father; his intimates a loyal and faithful friend; this House a courageous, competent, con- scientious Member; and his State and his country a public servant who has done his work well. [54] Address of Mr. Peters, of Maine Mr. Speaker: The kindly spirit and gentle nature of William Browning endeared him to all of his associates, but especially to the members of the Naval Affairs Com- mittee, whose closer and more intimate contact gave them a better knowledge and keener appreciation of his truly admirable qualities. My own real personal acquaintance with Mr. Browning began in the summer of 1918, when he and I sailed with 11 other members of the Naval Committee to inspect our naval activities in Europe. That remarkable journey, which lasted two months, brought 13 men into unusually intimate association. We were together under varying conditions in many countries. We were subjected to dangers in war on land and sea. We visited and ate with thousands of our brave sailors and marines. We were received and entertained by kings and rulers. We traveled almost continuously and each day was filled with strenuous activity and labor under the vigorous leadership of our then chairman, the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Padgett. It was an ardu- ous undertaking for a man of the age and failing health of Mr. Browning, but while he sometimes had to walk a bit slower than the others he never complained. He never gave up or got discouraged, but went everywhere and took an interested and intelligent part in all investi- gations and activities, and he was alwaj's the same cour- teous, kindly, friendly, American gentleman — at times seemingly severe in demeanor, but gentle and kind at heart. Our friend was essentially a democratic American. His mind comprehended no difference between royalty [55] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning and the freeborn American citizen, except that the latter was more fortunate. I well remember the occasion of a dinner given our committee by the King of Italy. It was in a villa occupied by him behind the Italian front. It was at night after a hard day's work by our committee. There was a considerable gathering of Italian officers with the King — an altogether brilliant military function. After dinner the King and all the guests arose and stood about the room talking in groups. The King spoke ex- cellent English. Mr. Browning, wearied with the day's exertions, was more interested in finding a seat than in talking with the Italian officers. I noticed that he was seated in a comfortable chair when one of our officers made the horrifying discovery that one of our party was seated while the King was on his feet. The local view of the situation being brought to the attention of Mr. Browning, he disclaimed any thought of rudeness and promptly stood — but only to avoid any api^earance of discourtesy by our party. Kings meant nothing to him except so far as they showed capacity as human beings. His interest in the welfare and progress of our own boys was constant and unceasing. Mr. Browning's long term of service in this House — 25 years as Chief Clerk and Member — supplied him with an invaluable equipment of information and acquaint- ance. He was a faithful and valuable member of our committee. Indeed, his conscientious devotion to duty may have hastened his death. He died at his post. In all his relations with his fellow members and with all others who came before his committee he was con- siderate, reasonable, and just. While sometimes hid- ing a naturally friendly spirit with a cloak of gruff'ness, he was tender and kindly in his feelings. Always strongly patriotic in matters affecting the country, he was keenly alive to the interests of his constituents. He took just [56] Address of Mr. Peters, of Maine pride in the great shipbuilding and other important in- dustries in his district and was ever quick to aid and protect them. As a legislator he was conscientious, capable, and patriotic. As a man honest, faithful, and true. His spirit has passed into the unseen. He lived a long, useful, and happy life. We, his associates, deplore our loss and shall long cherish his memory and hope to profit by his fine example. [57] Address of Mr. Wason, of New Hampshire Mr. Speaker: When I first came to Congress, December, 1915, one of the first men and Members I was introduced to was our deceased friend, William J. Browning, of Cam- den, N. J. From that day until the day of his death our friendship increased, and my admiration, love, and re- spect for him was boundless and sincere. I learned from others that he was a self-made man. Leaving school and engaging in the mercantile business at the age of 17 years, he pursued his chosen avocation for nearly a quarter of a century in Camden, N. J., and during that period he had served the people of his city as a member of the board of education for four years and a member of the city council for four years. Later he served the same people as post- master of Camden for 14 years. Then he served the House of Representatives here in Washington as Chief Clerk for 16 years. A vacancy occurred in the first con- gressional district of New Jersey by death of the Congress- man, and he was elected to fill the unexpired term, enter- ing the Sixty-second Congress December, 1911, and re- elected to each succeeding Congress, serving his con- stituency and the country well until his death. This record speaks eloquently of the confidence, the love, and affection of the people who knew Mr. Browning from childhood through his long and active life and hon- ored him most. A glance at his record of service to the people of his native city of Camden and the first congres- sional district of New Jersey honestly attracts the mind to the fact that there at his home, among his neighbors in Camden, where he was born and lived so many years, we find conclusive and overwhelming evidence of the esteem, [58] Address of Mr. Wason, of New Hampshire the love, the respect, and confidence that those people happily bestowed upon our late lamented colleague. When he was elected to Congress he possessed an ex- perience as a business man and a public ofTicial and the additional training of 16 years' service in close connec- tion with the House of Representatives that few new Mem- bers enjoy. He was early assigned to a position on the Committee on Naval Affairs, and continuously served thereon until his death. As a member of that committee he enjoyed the work; he was a firm believer in our Navy and strong in his convictions regarding its growth and efficiency. Industriously, studiously, and conscientiously he worked along those lines, and at the time of his death he was regarded as one of the safest and ablest Members of the House in regard to naval affairs. So earnest was he in his committee's work that he remained here in Washington after his physical strength began to show weakness, after he knew that he needed rest, after he knew that he needed medical treatment, contenting him- self by saying that when the great naval reconstruction bill had been reported and passed by the House of Repre- sentatives he would return home for a rest and treatment, in the hope of regaining his strength and health. He saw passed by the House the bill that he had worked so faith- fully with his associates on the committee to prepare, and then he relaxed, the tension of public business having momentarily passed, and the next morning he answered the call of his Maker, quickly and without a struggle. Nature had favored Mr. Browning. It gave him a strong, large body and mind, and in every undertaking that he engaged in during his threescore years and ten of life he brought to that undertaking his physical strength and mental strength and applied them with tireless energy. He was painstaking, calculating, and industrious in all of his undertakings. He was modest, firm in his convictions, and well grounded in his conclusions. In his [59] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning treatment of others he was kind, considerate, thoughtful, and conscientious; in thought and action he was demo- cratic in its highest sense. I believe his greatest happiness, outside of the happiness of being with his family and relatives, whom he enjoyed, was in doing good and being of service and help to others. His life was an open book. His every day was for the benefit of his country, that he loved and loyally supported, and the closing moments of his life were consistent with the life he had lived upon this earth. He had lived hour by hour and day by day, doing the things that should be done at a particular time, and when the summons came in the midst of congres- sional and perplexing duties as a Member of this House he was ready, closed his eyes in sleep, as we close a book, and passed from this earth to the reward of a just, up- right, true, and noble man. To his family he leaves a precious legacy; to his country he leaves an example in public life that will be reflected in the years to come; to his friends, sweet memories of association will steal upon us to obliterate the pain and sorrow of his death. Life! We've been long together Through pleasant and through cloudy weather; 'Tis hard to part when friends are dear; Perhaps 'twill cost a sigh, a tear; Then steal away, give little warning; Choose thine own time; Say not " Good night," but in some brighter clime Bid me " Good morning." [60] Address of Mr. Ackerman, of New Jersey Mr. Speaker and Members of the House : It is a strange coincidence that almost two years ago to a day — in fact, exactly two years ago as far as this Sunday is concerned — our late friend, whose sudden departure from this scene of activity we so deeply mourn, presided over this House when services of a character like this were being held in memory of Mr. Capstick, who then represented the district as my predecessor. At that time Mr. Browning said : I had never met Mr. Capstick until after his election to Congress, but in the first clasp of his hand I realized that I was greeting a man whose friendship I would value as long as I lived. That expression of his, a testimonial to his friend who had passed " over the river," covers far more eloquently than any words of mine can do how I felt when I first met Mr. Browning. He coming from the southern part of the State of New Jersey, and my home being in the northern end thereof, our paths very seldom crossed prior to our meeting in the House, but when we did meet his cordial, even, affable manner was always the same, and far too short was the time I had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a patri- arch in political service when I entered the arena, but during the chief time I was privileged to enjoy his society I found him to be a ready listener, a wise counselor, a true friend, and one who would go to great lengths to oblige a colleague. Once he became interested in his associate's future, he was ever willing to assist to the limit of his ability. The dean of our State delegation, he knew well more of the membership of the House in an intimate manner than [61] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning probably any one else in the Sixty-sixth Congress. His long service as Clerk before he became an actual Member of Congress was a great asset. His long public service bears eloquent testimony of the high regard in which he was held, and, in fact, I have yet to hear of anyone with whom he came in contact that did not regard him as a friend. Fortunate, indeed, is one of whom it may be said " He had no enemies." And yet, Mr. Browning was a man of positive and fixed convictions. Because he lacked ene- mies does not imply that he had no fixed ideas or that he acquiesced in his interlocutor's opinion simply because of a kindly feeling for all mankind. He knew from personal experience how life's pathway might be made either rosy or thorny. Having experienced the many vicissitudes be- falling the ordinary mortal in the upward climb to posi- tion and influence, he generously bestowed his powerful and experienced aid ungrudgingly upon every occasion that was presented to him. He was devoted to his work, and his love for the Navy was unsurpassed. I did not have the rare pleasure of serving on any com- mittee with Mr. Browning, but as ranking member of the Naval Affairs Committee much hard and long-continued detail work fell to his lot. This was especially true during recent years, but he never shirked or shrank from it, be- cause of his belief that he could do his part in helping to assist in the great work of reconstruction. Although urged by his associates to take a vacation, he persistently re- fused, saying it was his duty to see the naval bill com- pleted, and when that was done he would take a rest. How prophetic were those words. The night before he passed away the bill was finished. To his earthly home he never was to return, but his foot- steps were even then quickly hastening to the home " not made with hands, eternal in the heavens," to which he had [62] Address of Mb. Ackerman, of New Jersey ever been aiming during the many and full years of his active career. He had almost reached the allotted span of three score and ten, and until shortly before being called so suddenly from his earthly labors he apparently was in the full vigor of life. We who knew and worked with him were encouraged and benefited by the associa- tion. The rank he attained and the standing he enjoyed among his colleagues is one of his richest legacies. His labors for the welfare of the country may well be emulated by all who wish to serve it well. His devotion to duty was an inspiration. When he was called to his reward he obeyed the sum- mons, " sustained and soothed by an unfaltering trust " in his Creator, and " wrapping the draperies of his couch about him " he laid down his earthly cares as one might welcome pleasant dreams. [63] Address of Mr. Hicks, of New York Mr. Speaker: Prompted not by a sense of duty but im- pelled by a sorrowing heart, I desire to join in this tribute to the memory of our deceased colleague and a fellow member of the Committee on Naval Affairs, William J. Browning. Usually men who enter Congress are unfamiliar with parliamentary practice or departmental activities and are compelled to spend years learning the ethics of pro- cedure and familiarizing themselves with the methods of government. Our late colleague was an exception to this rule, for his long term as Chief Clerk of the House, an office he held with credit to himself and satisfaction to those he served, had fully prepared him for entrance upon his duties as a Representative when the call came from the State he honored and loved. He entered Congress not as a pupil but as an instructor. From the first day he took his seat as a Member of this body he was an essential factor of the House, and no Member took a more active interest in the proceedings, possessed a more intelligent understanding of them, or gave to their attention more liberally of his time than did he. While not an eloquent orator, his direct and forceful presentation of any subject carried conviction and always commanded the respect and attention of the House. The training of his youth in the Quaker faith of his ancestors stamped itself upon all liis actions. To a strong, upright character there were added that positiveness of conviction and determination to stand unflinchingly for what he con- ceived to be right, that marks those who are the followers of George Fox and Elias Hicks. Slow to reach conclu- sions, he was equally slow to recede when a decision has [64] Addi^ss of Mr. Hicks, of New York once been made. A position on any public question, taken only after mature deliberation and willing conference with his colleagues, was maintained by him with a stead- fastness of purpose that elicited the admiration of his friends and commanded the respect of those who differed with him. Simple, direct, gentle in judgment, just in his dealings, independent in spirit and free from affectation, he sought to perform the highest service to his country, his district, and himself. Honored by his people by many positions of trust, both civic and political, in every field of his endeavors his steadfastness of purpose, his candor, and his honesty — free from duplicity, deceit, or any compromise with wrong — never wavered in the performance of duty. Though a loyal party man and devoted to the city of Camden, he did not devote his energies alone to the de- mands of his district or lend himself to narrow political issues that are ever present in a national assembly. Though ever mindful of his allegiance to party principles, he was animated by higher aims and conceived loftier ideals than mere partisanship advantage. He was a hard worker and accomplished much. To his office duties, his departmental work, and his attendance on the floor of Congress he gave unceasingly of his time and of his strength. Quick to respond to every call made upon him by a friend and ever anxious to help those who needed his assistance, he was without resentment toward those whose views did not coincide with his own. Loyalty toward those who came within the portals of his encircling friendship was an ever-dependable charac- teristic. It can be truly said of William J. Browning that : We just shake hands at meeting With many that come nigh; We nod the head in greeting To many that go by; 47042—22 r, [65] Memorial Addresses : Representative iBROWNiNG But welcome through the gateway Our few old friends and true; Then hearts leap up and straightway There's open house for you, Old friends. There's open house for you. From my first acquaintance with our late friend, the in- timacy grew into a constant and abiding friendship, which on my part I felt and appreciated and which I am happy in the thought was reciprocated by him. The shock of his death sent a pang into the heart of each one who knew him, and those whose high privilege it was to be asso- ciated with him mourn his loss. He was a firm believer in the American Navy, constant in his devotion to the service, and ever mindful of its needs. By voice and by act in behalf of the Navy he ex- emplified the feeling of Theodore Roosevelt, who in writ- ing to one of his children in 1907 expressed this sentiment: I want still more to see our Navy maintained at the highest point of efficiency, for it is the real keeper of the peace. A true American, imbued with the loftiest spirit of pa- triotism, he loved his country and its institutions and had an abiding faith in the destiny of the American Republic. New Jersey and the Nation have lost in the death of Wil- liam J. Browning a noble son and a legislator whose serv- ices will always merit the highest praise. [66] Address of Mr. Darrow, of Pennsylvania Mr. Speaker : Words fail me in endeavoring to express my deep sorrow at the untimely death of our late col- league, Hon. William J. Browning. It was my pleasure to know Mr. Browning intimately during the five years I served with him in Congress, where our duties brought us in frequent and friendly contact. Especially as a fellow member of the Committee on Naval Affairs did I observe closely his faithful and efficient work. Mr. Browning was a regular attendant at the meet- ings of that committee, and his counsel and advice were eagerly sought by other members of the committee, and especially by its new members. There is no doubt that his close attention and devotion to public duties, par- ticularly during the period of his shattered health, has- tened his death. Truly it may be said Mr. Browning gave his life in the service of his country. As a life-time resident of Camden, N. J., and occupy- ing positions of trust and honor in his city as well as at the National Capital, Mr. Browning was well known in Philadelphia. Our city feels keenly his loss. He took an active interest in all matters affecting our welfare and advancement, and especially in the development of our port. Mr. Speaker, our late lamented colleague was respected, beloved, honored, and esteemed by every Member of this House. I wish to say there existed between us a very warm personal friendship and an association that will be to me always a fond memory. None knew him but to love him; None named him but to praise. [67] Address of Mr. McKinley, of Illinois Mr. Speaker : In December, 1905, I was first sworn in as a Member of Congress by our deceased friend, William J. Browning, who then was the Clerk of the House of Repre- sentatives. At that time our acquaintance started and later developed into an intimate friendship covering all the years I have been in Congress. Mr. Browning and I had a mutual friend in Congressman Harry Loudenslager, the former Representative of the Camden district, and up to the time of his death secretary to the national Repub- lican congressional committee. When I became connected with the committee in 1906 as treasurer, Mr. Browning had full charge of the committee headquarters and con- tinued as the efficient manager of this work during the campaigns until after Mr. Loudenslager's death, when he took Mr. Loudenslager's place as a member of the execu- tive committee. Mr. Browning, on account of his intelli- gence, ability, and willingness to do hard work, was a tower of strength in the congressional committee. He was a true and devoted friend and a stanch Republican. His sudden death leaves a vacancy which it will be hard to fill. The Speaker pro tempore. Pursuant to the resolution heretofore adopted and as a further tribute to the deceased the Chair declares the House now adjourned. Accordingly (at 2 o'clock and 30 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned to meet to-morrow, Monday, May 17, 1920, at 12 o'clock noon. [68] PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE Wednesday, March 24, 1920. A message from the House of Representatives, by D. K. Hempstead, its enrolling clerk, announced to the Senate the intelligence of the death of Hon. William J. Brown- ing, late a Representative from the State of New Jersey, and transmitted resolutions of the House thereon. The President pro tempore. The Chair lays before the Senate resolutions from the House of Representatives, which will be read. The resolutions were read, as follows: In the House of Representatives of the United States, March 24, 1920. Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of Hon. William J. Browning, a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That a committee of 18 Members of the House, with such Memhers of the Senate as may be joined, be appointed to attend the funeraL Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms of the House be authorized and directed to take such steps as may be necessary for carrying out the provisions of these resolutions, and that the necessary ex- penses in connection therewith be paid out of the contingent fund of the House. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect this House do now adjourn. Mr. Lodge. I offer the following resolutions, and ask that they be read. [69] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning The resolutions (S. Res. 341) were read, considered by unanimous consent, and unanimously agreed to, as follows : Resolved, That tlie Senate has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That a committee of six Senators be appointed by the presiding officer to join the committee appointed by the House of Representatives to talie order for the superintending of the funeral of Mr. Browning at Camden, N. J. Resolved, That tlie Secretary communicate a copy of these reso- lutions to the House of Representatives. The President pro tempore. Under the second resolu- tion the Chair appoints Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Edge, Mr. Fernald, Mr. France, Mr. Harris, and Mr. Gay the com- mittee on the part of the Senate. Mr. Lodge. Mr. President, I move, as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased Representative, that the Senate do now adjourn. The motion was unanimously agreed to; and (at 4 o'clock and 35 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until to-morrow, Thursday, March 25, 1920, at 12 o'clock meridian. Tuesday, May 18, 1920. A message from the House of Representatives, by D. K. Hempstead, its enrolling clerk, transmitted to the Senate resolutions on the life, character, and public services of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Wednesday, March 2, 1921. The Presiding Officer. The Chair lays before the Senate a communication from the House of Representatives, which will be read. [70] Proceedings in the Senate The Assistant Secretary read as follows : In the House of Representatives of the United States, May 16, 1920. Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended, that an opportunity may be given for tributes to the memory of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Member of the House of Representa- tives from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, and in recognition of his eminent abilities as a dis- tinguished public servant, the House, at the conclusion of these memorial proceedings, shall stand adjourned. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate. Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to send a copy of these resolutions to the familj' of the deceased. Mr. Frelinghuysen. Mr. President, I offer the resolu- tions which I send to the desk, and ask unanimous consent for their adoption. The Presiding Officer. The resolutions will be read. The Assistant Secretary read the resolutions (S. Res. 470), as follows: Resolved, That the Senate has heard with deep sorrow of the death of Hon. William J. Browning, late a Representative from the State of New Jersey. Resolved, That the business of the Senate be now suspended in order that fitting tribute may be paid to his high character and distinguished public services. Resolved, That the Secretary communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit a copy thereof to the family of the deceased. [71] MEMORIAL ADDRESSES Address of Mr. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey Mr. President: Nearly a year ago the irresistible hand of death brought to a sudden close the career of a distin- guished statesman, William J. Browning. In the fullness of years, at the zenith of a profitable life, with the harness on, he went to his reward. The late Representative from the first district was in every respect the architect of his own fortune and the source and inspiration of his whole fruitful career. When yet a lad, hardly out of the period of infancy, he suffered a handicap. He became an orphan, his father dying while yet in the early meridian of life. I mention this as a " handicap," yet I am not sure that I use the word wisely. It may be that this great loss, when the lad was still very young, was the child's gain. As he advanced along the pathway of life, even in those early years, he was thrown upon his own resources entirely, and thus developed those characteristics of industry and initiative which he might never have acquired had he been entirely dependent in boyhood upon a father's care and protection. This lack, in the case of young Browning, toughened the fiber of his being and produced in him certain quali- ties which made for success in after life. Fortunately, while the head of the household was re- moved, the mother remained, a woman of great strength of character, possessing a well-disciplined mind and actu- ated by the sterling principles of the Society of Friends, to which she belonged. She played a dual role, being father and mother in one, and aided materially in shaping the son's subsequent career. [73] Memorial Addresses: Representative Browning Educated at Friends Central High School, Philadelphia, working during recesses on his uncle's farm in New Jer- sey, he entered a mercantile house in the Quaker City as office boy, he being then about 15 years of age. Upon attaining his majority, he became a member of the firm. But the lure of public service seems to have fastened its hold upon him in early life in spite of his Quaker training. Early participating in the political movements of his day in his native city — Camden — he soon became a leader among the young men of his neighborhood. The first important post held by him was that of mem- ber of the city council. Then he was made a member of the board of education, and became chairman of the same, performing, with satisfaction to the community, the duties of that responsible post. In due time, under the Harrison administration, he was made postmaster at Camden, and here, too, he served the public, and the Government as well, with full credit and acceptability. His entrance into the domain of national affairs took place in December, 1895, when he was chosen Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. This station he filled for 16 years. He performed the duties of that office with a degree of efficiency never surpassed, and in so doing won the unani- mous friendship of practically every Member of that body. Upon the death of his friend and immediate Representa- tive, Congressman Loudenslager, August 12, 1911, Brown- ing was chosen a Member of the Sixty-second Congress. In due course he was reelected to the Sixty-third, Sixty- fourth, Sixty-fifth, and Sixty-sixth Congresses. In 1912, during the Democratic upheaval, resulting from the split in his own party, Browning was the only Republican who carried a congressional district in New Jersey, though in the Sixty-seventh Congress but a single Democrat will , represent the State. [74] Address of Mr. Frelinghuysen, of New Jersey In the House Browning's service was preeminently valu- able by reason of his long identification with that body as Chief Clerk and Member. Quiet and rather conservative, he was nevertheless indefatigable in his attendance upon the sessions of Congress and of the committees upon which he served. He had a wonderful propensity for detail and for the minutiae of legislation, having evei*ything at his fingers' ends. Coming to the Senate four years ago, entirely unfamiliar with the methods of Federal legislation at the outset, I found Congressman Browning helpful at all times, ready with advice and suggestion in the work of parliamentary procedure. He was a safe and able representative of the material interests of the important district which honored him with a seat in Congress, and his death was a great loss to his party, his State, and the Nation which he so honorably served. [75] Address of Mr. Edge, of New Jersey Mr. President: I simply want to add a word in ti'ibute to the memory of the late Congressman Browning. It was typical of his conscientious service that he passed away, as it were, in the saddle, actually in the Capitol itself. It was my good fortune to be very intimately acquainted with Congressman Browning. I lived for many years in the adjoining county. His earnest work in public life was always an inspiration to me, and I have followed his career with great interest and great benefit. I consider that Congressman Browning represented a tj'pe of public man who considered public service perhaps somewhat different from the accepted scope of the responsibilities of the day. He was one of those men who appreciated the importance of the little things. He looked upon every case presented to him by constituents, whether it was some small pension matter, some officer of the Government who perhaps had made an error, or some difficulties in connection with the service of the soldiers in the late war, war insurance, or other detail matters — he looked upon any of those cases referred to his office as in themselves individual responsi- bilities, big matters, because they were big matters to who- ever presented the particular applications. His work was one of great detail, and to-day I think the average Member of Congress, perhaps pardonably so, makes an effort to get away from detail. Mr. Browning, as well, was a member of a very important committee, the Committee on Naval Affairs, and served on that committee from the commencement of his services in the House until the time of his passing away. I know from personal contact with him that he was deeply interested in [76] Address of Mr. Edge, of New Jersey the development of the Navy of the United States, worked zealously as a member of the committee; and residing, as he did, in the State of New Jersey, right on the Delaware River, near the navy yard — and even when Congress was not in session he was continually actively engaged in the development of that river and yard. New Jersey, in losing Congressman Browning, lost an efficient, conscientious, representative public servant. New Jersey mourns his loss, because they respected him. The first congressional district mourns his loss, because they loved him. Mr. President, in performing this sad duty, 1 am glad to have the opportunity of paying this tribute to the memory of so conscientious a public servant. ^ [77] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS :iii:i ;i 'III 1.11:1 III i' 013 704 792 5 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 013 704 792 5 Hollinger Corp. pH8.5