The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-04-21

maSOuC 0UIA0 at o0A.
We find the following description Of
Masonic burial at Sea, in the New
Orleans Delta, of late date. 1t took
place on board the steamer Empire City.
in recent passage across the Gulf
The deceased's s name was Joseph Water.
man:
The sun was about sinking beneath
the wave when the body was placed in
charge Of such of the fraternity as wero
OH board. to be buried by them, with
the last sad rite peculiar to the institu-
ton. The remains which had been COW
cred with the United States flag, were
laid upon plank at the stern Of the
steamer. and as the ships bell began to
toll the intervals, the brethren formed a
circle around the corpse, when the Ma
sonic Burial service was beautifully de-
livered by p. NJ, J. E. Elliott, cf New
York, who presided as master on the
occasion.
The ceremony, beautifully impressive
at all times, was remarkably so upon
this occasion and when tho worshipful
brother pronounced the words, eve
therefore, commit the body of our de-
parted brother to the great deep; his
memory shall remain engraven upon
the tablets of our hearts, while his
spirit shall return unto God, who gave
it," a single plunge was heard, and tho
deceased had gone to his last home, ac-
companied by the last fond words Of
"Alas !! my brother p from those of the
fraternity who formed the broken chain
upon the quarter deck of the steamer.
There is deep sadness resting upon
this picture, shadow of tears, dra-
perry Of gloom and yet amid that gloom
a~d shadow, there are rays Of light
mingling. like pencilings, of approach
ing daylight aftera stormy night. The
deceased was stranger, and he died on
ship board, far out at sea. In all prob
ability he was either going to, or return
ing from the far-off shores of the Pa
cidc. where visions Of gold and opulence
allure so many young men from homo
and friends. 1t is probable that no
mother, or wife, or sister, was near him
in the last struggle, to wipe away the
cold sweat from his brow with her soft
and gentle hand.
Oh, what treasure would the pres
ence of a mother have been to the dy-
ing one in that hour Of sorrow-how
much more priceless him, than all tho
gold gathered from the mountain streams
of California. But she may not come
to smooth his pillow. and lay her pale
cheek on his and whisper words Of COM
fort and strength to the sufferer.
He must die-die among strangers,
far from home and far at sea. He must
die, and in deep ocean find his grave,
away down in the coral recess, enmass-
ed by the seaweed, while the moaning
ocean chaunts his requiem. No mother
shall kneel at his grave and weep over
the loss Of the early dead--no fond wife
shall visit his lone resting place in the
early eve, to strew flowers over his
tomb no weeping friends shall build
monument over it in token of their af-
fection, and inscrihe his name in letters
of endurable marble. The sea is his
grave, and the wild waves the drapery
of his tomb. But though wanderer
from home, and tossed on the rolling
deep, mystic brothers are around his
bed. They have met by chance; the
intimarion is recognized,
and fraternal hands minister to his
wants.
They linger and watch round his
couch, through the long night; they
whisper of Hope and Heaven, and point
to building not made with hands"
Perhaps they receive from his dying
lips the last message of affection, and
promise to bear it to ''loved ones at
home" In the morning, just as day
light comes bounding over the waves.
the "pitcher is broken at the Fountain"
and the freed spirit goes forth to "the
better land" Again that mystic band
is assembled. They are strangers to
each other and never met before, until
they met in that "home on the rolling
Deep" but a common tie unites them,
and common sympathy gathers them
around the remains of depated brother.
1t is eve-a calm, bright summers eve.
The ocean sleeps in quiet, as though it's
Maker had enjoined silence upon it's
waves, while funeral obsequies are per-
formed. A procession is formed. little
number of strange brethren, gathered
from strange and distant lands, march
with solemn tread. There is no impos-
ing hearse, no nodding plumes, no mar
tial music.
The remains of a brother are borne
solemnly in the arms of brothers, to the
vessels stern. And then, that touch
ingly beautiful funeral service Is read in
a trembling voice. ''Earth to earth."
is uttered--a brother to the great deep
the waves part asunder, and brother
"A stranger-sleeps in a grave far
down in the ocean depths. Friend
and brother, we bid thee a last, fond
farewell" is uttered by quivering lips
and amid flowing tears, and the sad ones
turn away.
No evergreen momento is thrown into
his tomb, but "his memory shall not
perish and when the last morn shall
come-a morn that shall know no night
that buried one shall come forth from
his ocean grave; the soul shall never
die"
ANEcDorE OF SAMUEL LovER.-While
in this country, Samuel Lover made an
excursion from Detroit to Chicago. by