The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1862-09-18
Melville Douglas Toppipr.
ILEaE HAurE LoDeK. No. 10. r. l. A. Nj
TsRaK HAUrE, Sept. IL. A. ID. 1862.
A. l.. 5s62.

ne SLOW anu lingering process OF diseaSes To-
lay. the young, the robust. and the stalwart
arm Is palsied By the giant power of war.
and the brother. who gave promise of long
years OF usefulness, walks no more amongst
bis fellows. Another link is broken, anoth-
or heart i cold, another house hold Is des-
olate. and the wall of the widow and cry Of
the orphan Is heard in our midst God
speaks to all in the voice of warning and |
from the depths Of the tomb
Brother Melville Douglas Topping, Lieu
tenant Colonel Of the Seventy first regiment
Of Indiana yolunte ers. fell in the battle of
Richmond. Kentucky. on Saturday. the Both
Of August, 1862. at the early age Of thirty.
eight years.
The members of this Lodge were the
brothers and friends OF the deceased. lie
was known to them all. Here in this room,
and at that altar, in ls49, our lamented
brother took upon himself, the VOWS. the
duties. and the high responsibilities of
Master Mason. On the very eve of his de-
parture FOR the Pacific coast, and with the
noble sentiments which belonged TO his char
acter, he dedicated himself to God, to Broth
erly Love. and Masonic Friendship, and went
forth as an exile from the home Of his child
hood. TO seek. in honorable effort. a place
aad name in the new Empire just added
to the Great Republic. The old members
| of this Lodge. who yet survive. will recollect
the occasion of these ceremonies, and the
scenes that followed. when young Topping
and his companions bid "a long aud for
adieu" to the brethren of No. 10. The
prayers and blessings of this Lodge went
with and after them. for theY were children
Of the Temple, made dear to every heart by
its consecrated rites
| From the day of his connection with Ma
sonry until his death. Brother Topping was
member of this Lodge. and always and
under every variety of circumstances. acted
consistently with the principles of the Order
lie was true-hearted. generous. and kind
His manly nature scorned deception, and
shrank instinctvcly from every act of dis
honor. rs a man aud citizen he was franl
and just. aud no breath OF suspicion eva'
-sssgI on his good.name. tie possessed tn,
mOdesty ofreaI merit, beautifully and har.
.a0niously blended with true manliness o
character. lie never avoided duty and neve
faltered in doing good How strange i
| seems TO us that one lately in vigorous
health should now DO asleep in death. Fou
weeks ago to-day. he left Terre Haute a
the head of his Regiment. and to-day. in thi
blessed Sabbath of the Lord.-we follow hin
70 the grave How mysterious il IS that the
dark shadows of the tomb should rest upor
all that remains of our dearly beloved Broth
sr. Friend, and Neighbor. but a month ag
40 full of life and hope But he is not los
but TO Earth
SAY why should friendship grieve for thos
Who safe arrive on Canaan shore
Released from all their hurtful foes
They are not lost.-but gone before
| Brother Topping was born at worthington
Ohio. June Cad. 1875. and was. at the tim,
Of his death. in the 18th year of age. II,
came 70 Indiana. with his parents in 1910
and resided in Terre II auto from ls43 I
lsl9. lie then removed % California. an
remained there four years returned 10 In
diana. married In 1854. and has ever sine
resided IN this place His father and moihe
and several sisters survive him. and be leave
widow and two orphaned daughters q
mourn a loss which earth cannot supply. i
AL these relations he was without fault
illustrating in each Of them the most eleva
ted characteristics Of sou. brother. husband
and father lie performed all these virtue
viih the fidelity which became a gentlepa
All christian The aged parents. and .
tiers. wife and children have the assn re
protection ofihe God whom ne worshipped
and 70 HIN We commend the stricken one
ia this hour Of sheir sore bereavement
Oar deceased Brother. al the tine Of hi
death. vas in tie army Of the Uaited States
lie enlisted under the late call Of the Pres
idcot. and wss Immediately elected as n,
Captain Of his company. lie served IN tia
capacity until the list Regiment Of Indian
Volunteers vas called upon to march to ths
defense Of Kentucky against the Invasion o
The rebel forces, when re was appointed b,
the Governor, Lieutenant Colonel Of the Re
g'ment Il Vas designed that he Regimen,
should be placed under ne temporary care Of
another. and that. At The termination Of til.
arrangement Iieat Col. Topping shoul
become ~ coloael Bst this was no, aase
and he marcAsd % kentaekv "a charge q
TIE Regiment AID ia conuar1iae o.ser
His ua9isciplined trcops weFe Immediately
pressed forward - meet ne eaemy n Goa
d.cs a. Richmond. keniacky. where be los
h. lie lie fsll A. TIE hss4 ofhi> Reg
mens and a. the post Of duly. Col Toppsng
survived Is wcund bat an hoar o. s~o. whe.
he. cainly aud without nsrncr. gave h
life - his eouniry. Ne performed hss dnt
usaafslly IN life. Asd he met death nobiv snd
Ike hero rs - vsris. addressed {.
oou-.se. vere. '.H4r< dsss ~ Ssfs =
AM w1ea tod tAss - hzi. h reriies. ~
4 81 oszsesfof Afler 1e;iverssx bro
message 80 ~ beloved vlfe. he hreasAe.
Ass ias1
Fhas tel. - he nslst q ! /. nsssalness
ear esi>sne1 RrosAes aad Friesd. Col u
II ToppisF lie died n defence of =
cs,aasrv-ia eef<.cs e. wsll-re< za.s<d I.sk-