The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-12-05
FIRST MASONIC FUNERAL IN SAN
-'H III .' s3ten FRANCISCO. FL rr-.rl--.sr
BY JAMES LINEN.

how many thrilling "reminiscences of the past
kerowd upon the memory. Some of them are f
pleasing and others of peculiarly painful
character. The year lS49 will ever be a mem
merable epoch in the history of California
The commercial and gold seeking adventures
stmet on level" in those days. There were
no granite buildings to trade in, nor. were there
splendid palaces to live in, such as now adorn
the surrounding hills of San Francisco. Thou
sands of people who had been long aceustoln-
ed to all the refnements and luxuries of East
i ern life, had to doff their fine linen and put on
the red shirt of, the hardy miner, Pride was
unknown for time. Gentlemen had to stoop
! from their dignity and awkwardly wash their
| own clothes. They had to kindle their own
d fire and do the menial work of a c,eisiner.
i Some reposed at night in canvass tent, while
others closed their eyes in sleep among the
sand hills, with nc other covering but the can
yopy of Heaven. a- 7-@5i - -
lf1i. -..Bespsngied with those isiss oflight i
y,, Sc wildly, spiritually bright ~ i'
i Exposure and disease rapidly peopled the
kingdom of death. The Ayuntdn ie,to had
not yet set apart any ground for burial purpo-
ses, The consequence was that many were
rudeiy buried in the suburbs, and we're after
wards removed to Yerba Bpena Cemetery,
where the remains of eight hundred lie hud-
i died together in one immense dismal grave.
These is not even common board to mark
/ out the remarkable pit in which sleep so many
unfortunate pioneers Of Upper California. In
those eventtul times men were found dead
and one could tell from whence they came.
They passed away to their graves unhonored
and unknown. Distant friends and relations
were never Informed of their fate. Anxious
parents in foreign cimes still cherish the hope
that there sons are yet in the land of the liv-
ing; and may return to the domestic roof. V ain
hope Their eyes are sealed in death, and the
grave has closed over them forever. Z tol mi
The Fraternity "of the mystic tie' had not
yet organized There was not a lodge in the
State. They only knew each other by the le-
II9dt affirmation which craftsmen only know
and properly understand. A wonderful in
stance of Masonic identity occurred in the
month of August, 1S49. A much respected
citizen and Mason, who is still living, was
quietly vending his way up Happy Valley
4 very early in the morning, when he behed
the corpse of a man stretched upon the peb
bly, beach. All was soft and still. The srtrange-
ly mingled population of the tented city was
: wrapped in deep repose. The mists still hn-
gered on the suburban hills, and the morning
star shone clearly in the sky. The waters of
the Bay were smooth and calm, and gently
laved the feet of the stranger who "slept the
sleep that knows no waking" The great dis
penseY of human events, in his inscrutible
providence seemingly had determined that the
tide should bear his lifelcss body to the shore,
where, discovered by passing brother, it
would assuredly be carried to the grave in be-
coming solemnity, and be deposited therein
: with all the honors and ceremonial rites of the
ancient Fraternity Of Free and Accepted Ma
sons. " @''7@G -
: | e. .There's q Divinity that shapes our ends,
D Rough hew them as We will" i-'' ''
r Some of the inmates of the neighborins
tbaIr eli md
speedily repaired toss the spot. The Alcalde
was imms sdiately sent for. He promptly at
tended and acted as coroner. The body was
removed to tent, where it was carefully scru
? tinized. No indications of violence were ysi-
, BILE. The man had evidently been drowned
: His face vas nanly and intellectual, His haiI
vas long and curly and of dark auburn hue
, He was neatly dressed and had a superior air
, of responsibility. The jacket and pants on
, his person were blue pilot cloth, and black
silk handkerchief was tied in a sailors knot
: round his neck. There was nothing found iu
: his pockets that could possibly lead to his
: Identification. II However, in removing the fan
mel from his bosom a silver mark of "a Mark
Master was discovered, upon which were en-
e !, Sraved the initials of his name. A little fur
! | ther investigation revealed to the beholders
! the most outre exhibition ofMasonie emblems
that were ever draBn by the ingenuity of nau
: on human skin. There is nothing in the his
4 tory or traditions of Free Masonry equal to it
G Beautifully dotted on his left arm, in red OF
blue ink, which time could not efface, appeared
all the emblems of the Entered Apprentice
There were the Holy Bible, the Square and
Compass, the twenty four inch GRage, and the
= common; gavel There were also the Marble
pavement representing the ground door o.
z King Solomons Temple, the indented Tessl'
}; which surrounds it., and the. Blazing Star II
q the centre. On his right arm, and artistically
d executed in the same iadelible liquids, were
J. the emblems appertaining to the Fellow Graf
Il degree, viz: the Plum, the Square, and tht
q Level. There were also five columns, repre-
senting the FIVE orders of architecture-the
e Tuscan, Dorie, Ionic, Corinthiap, and Com
r Posite. -a .t..-,.-,-.-.-,, .-- -.....- -f...
:. the Trowel presented ITSELF With all the Other
. working tools of operative Masonry, beside.
all the emblems peculiar to the degree of Mas
:. ter Mason, Conspicuously on his breast were
4 the three Great Lights of Masonry. Over hi
Y heart was the Pct of Incense. On other part
Of his person were the Bee Hive, the Booklo
: Constitutions, guarded by the Tyler's Sword
O. the Sword pointing to naked Heart, the Al
n Seeing Eye the Anchor and Ark, the Hou
Glass, the Scythe, the forty seventh problem
of Euclid; the Sun, Moon, Stars spd a Comet
>. the Three Steps, enabienaticai of Youth, Man
! hood. andlAge.. Admirably executed was tn
Ii weeping Virgin, reclining on broken column
Co. upon which lay the book of Copstitutions. 1,
i her left hand She held the Pot Of incense, t@a
IT Masonic emblem Of a pure heart, and in he
IS uplifted right hand sprig Of acacia, the beau
d tiful emblem of Immortality of the soul In,
mediately beneath her stood winged Tim
with his scythe by his side (which cxts th
:, brittle thread of life,' and the Hour Glass a
!, u his feet, which is reminding us that ''ou
III lives are drawing to a close" The Withere
: and attenuated fingers of the Destroyer wer
- delicatcly placed amid the long and GRACEFUL
r. flowing ringlets Of the diseoasoiate mournej
u Thus were the striking emblems cf mortalit
and immortality beautifully blended in on
pictorial representation. 1t was a speetacl
G. ,si as Masons never saw before, and in a
rs probability such as the fraternity may neve
I witness again az m - -,.,s.-- s..
3; sts.1 o.; ., rf eNN00