Excerpted from the newspaper, The Evening Telegram (Jacksonville, Florida)
Tuesday, February 13, 1894
The largest number of people ever gathered within the walls of any church in this city was at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church yesterday to attend the funeral of Dr. A. H. Darnes, deceased. Long before the appointed time for the ceremonies to begin, people could be seen coming from every direction wending their way towards the church, and by 1 o’clock p.m. the church was already crowded.” The deceased stood high in the estimation of the people of the city, both white and colored, and was one of the most prominent colored masons in America. The procession started from the parlors of undertaker Clark on Forsyth Street and was led by the Union Coronet [sic] and Excelsior bands, both of which played sacred music. The Knights of Archer and other masons were…attired in full regalia and made a credible appearance much admired by everybody. … The body was enclosed in …in a beautiful rosewood casket… Rev. J.E. Lee officiated, and eloquently did he speak from the first chapter of Joshua, and said that he wished he had time to explain the possibilities of men of our race such as Darnes… The Rev. J.R. Scott read the ritual services. Just at this time, two pigeons flew to the top of the church and remained there. Some of the people present said that t’was angels that came to guard the soul home to heaven. Dr. Darnes, the deceased, was about 48 years of age, and had been a popular practicing physician in this city for about 16 years, and rendered valuable services during the smallpox and yellow fever epidemics. … The internment was in the old city cemetery [sic], and the body was followed there by a procession of people. … At least 3,000 people attended the funeral.
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