The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-04-05

Ictrupie uy ysterIe5 Ol the great EJer'
nal.
Rapidly the news spread of the
strangers death, and his desire TO
have Masonic funeral, which would
be the first that had ever been cele.
brated in the little hamlet The lit
tie church was filed to suffocation,
and as the solemn procession enter.
ed, robed in their spotless white
badges, emblematic OF the pure or.
der to which they belonged, deco.
rated with the beautiful sprigs oi
living green, bearing the remains Of
the stranger brother, feeling ol
save" crept over me. After tho
beautiful and impressive service fol
the burial of the dead had been read
and brief retrospect of the mourn.
full occasion which had brought them
together, the coffin, which was strewn
with the early Spring flowers, was
borne away to its final resting place
There was not one dry eye in the
house. Every pulse throhbed with
grief, for that poor bereaved wife
and those tender infants. Oh how
my heart went out to that little band,
for her, as with slow, funeral tread,
they bore her husband to the tomb.
The band played soft, sweet funeral
dirge, and as the notes floated on the
calm, pure air, bearing the sad IT,
dings, methought l could hear the
sorrowing wall Of anguish from the
broken heart of that poor wife, and
the cry Of agony from the lips of that
loved sister. The forest trees, in
their fresh robe of green, waved their
najestic branches TO aud fro, as il
bowing in silent grief at the mourn.
ful procession, as it entered the new
ly made cemetery, and placed the
bier beside the fresh dug grave.
Then came the sacred and holy
words from the Chaplain, breathing of
faith, hope and charity, the Triune
threc-rolling the stone from the
sepulchre-presenting the dead one
"arisen, anointcd, renovated and
purified > Beautiful faith, the glo.
rious effulgence that can never die
Then followed such q prayer as
never before heard. 1t was not a
prayer, but the cry of naked soul
tor the bread and water Of Heavenly
life. That God would pour his pre-.
cious balm upon the afflicted wife,
comforting her in this her cruel be-
reavement. Those strong, proud
men bowed their heads and wept.-
The eloquent sympathy manifested
by the clergyman, passed with q
inesmeric influence to every heart
within the compass of his voice.
Then, then the ancient order OF
Masonry arose before me in all its
solemn, silent grandeur. In pro
found and classic illustrations, It's
noble and magnanimous code of laws,
grander and moro lasting than those
of the Roman Senate, which have
been, for ages, the standard of the
world. An order that is inapproach-
able, but in its silent mysteries moves
an army OF "ministering angels"
whispering hope to the despairing,
consolation to the sorrowing, and re.
demption to the last-waking in the
soul Of the poor widow q song, thrill.
ing with almost seraphic joy, whose
music will chime through her heart
forever. When she feels the sombre
shades of deaths shadow creeping
over her threshold, to steal from hel
fond embrace all that renders life {
charm, all, all that makes a sunny
spot to her in the wide, wide world
then comes this angelic band o.
brothers, pouring into her broken
heart these sweet words of comfort
that can only be felt or expressed by
Il Masonic brother. They push away
with their gentle hands, all tn,
thorns that intercept her pathway
They think for her, they act for her
They are Father, Mother, Sister ant
Brother.
!, Oh! the talismanic power of kline
, words uttered by sympathetic friend
in the unfeigned, unmistakable tone
, OF disinterested friendship. 1t help
r the poor, lone wife to push her wear,
way through all the realms o
4 thought, to the House of God, Beau
tiful in Poetry, and to breathe il
' softest numbers those delightful
y dreams OF peace the mystic brother
!. hood teach by their noble, generou
r and sterling virtues. ..
Il None may ever know the deel
4 yeneralion and almost holy awe W
entertain for that august and trul
!. wonderful organization, which trace
q its honored and ancient lineage to til
o grand temple of Solomon, being
| erystalization of worship
,n They point her weary heart to tha
N beautiful land dressed in living greer
p. and the hosts of the redeemed wall
IA ing therein. In sickness, povert
" and death, they throw a mantle {
"a sympathy and love around he
v. shielding her lone heart from thos
10 grim monsters, want and woe, an
. opening to her woman's vision, q
exalted, noble and generous view ,
. ?, life, by sitting the cry of anguish thi
~ ~ is wrung from her lacerated hear
~ ~ bidding her hold sweet commune
- !, with her "sainted dead" Her chi
- ! dren are their especial care, to coui
:, !, sci, advise and befriend.
i And thus the stranger brother W,
- - pnt away to sleep, far from the boa'
= tiful home he loved 80 we'll. N
~ gilded funeral car, with richly capi
- risoned horses, bowling their plume
q heads, or long line Of elegant ca
* lx.ta fllaA Nth o.