The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1868-07-03
Funeral Ceremony of the Red Men.


We have been so impressed n The
beauty and solemnity of the funeral eeremo-
uy Of the Independent Order of Red Men.
that. BY permission, we give it to our rea-
dsrs in fall below. We do net think the
ceremony Of any similar order in existence
is As beautiful as this
L The rega1ia to be worn by all Brothers Of the
Improved Order of Bed Men, attending the funeral
Of deceased brother, shall be as laid down by the
Great Council of the United States.
II. The ordinary mourning badge to be worn by
bTetllsTs in memory of deceased brother, for the
time specified by the Trfbs) shall be a strip of
black Grape passed through one butto-hole only of
the Left lapel Of tie coat, and tied with marrow
ribbon Of the color of the highest degree to which
The Weafer may have attained above it a spTig OF
eFeFgTeeni 90 be deposited in the grave Of the de-
III. The order Of procedure at the funeral of
deceased brother shall be as follows
at the appointed hour the Tribe of which such
brother aIneIRber, shall meet at its WigWam
and shall kindle the Council Fire in the Initiatory
Degree and the Sachem shall appoint marshal,
with power to appoint such assistants es may be
required. The Tribe she thereupon be formed IN
! 1Wigwam to the place from which the funeral may
have been appointed to Start, in the following or
der: la fazlg ca ..s. e.saG O.
i. The Marshal, wearing black scarf, and bear
/ ing tomahaJSk bound with band of black Grape.
2. Guard of the WigWam, bearing t0rnahaWk in
g. Members ofths Initfetory Degrees, two abreast.
4. Members the Hunters Degree, two abreast.
B. Members of the Warriors Degree, two abreast
! s. Members of the Chiefs Degree, two abreast.
| z. Junior Sycamore, supported by two Braves,
/ bearing war clubs in mourning. q
| s. Prophet, wearing hite scarf, supported 5y
! tW" Pow-wows, bearing bows and arrows clothed
/ II mourning. ......
! .. Chief of Records and Keeper of " ampum, with
| insignia of Office in morning.
/ %. ~ two Braves.
| each bearing his wand of Office in mourning.
II. Two Warriors each bearing his wand ofOfiee
/ II. Y. Saehem, supported by his two sannaps,
! with implements of Office in mourning. r..#
Is. Two Warriors, each bearing his wand Of Office
| in mourning. @
"A. Past Saebems, two abreast. ...s
/ Is. Guard of the Forest, with tomahawkin mourn
| ing.
Is. Brethren of invited Tribes, when representing
| Tribe, arranged in the order above prescribed !;
| and when more than one may be represented, ar
| ranged in the order of juniority.
On ARR wing at the place appointed for the start
ing the funerals the procession viii take the position
immediately before the corpse, and shall Precede it
| to the place of interment. 2 q =.
| The procession, on arriving noar the grave, viii
halt and open to the right and left, members I'M
covered 20 allow the corpse, mourners, etc. to pass
| through, (the .Sachem preceding the eorpse)-
And after the passing of the corpse uouTneFs, etc.
the brothers shall reform in procession after them
/ in reversed order.
When the corpse arrives at the head of the grave,
the v Sachem shall rehearse the following to the
/
lSacsens-Rest -ye here, my brethren. This spot,
cOnseeTated to the dead is des gned the Teposito
] " Of one who, while living, we esteemed as bro
/ ther, and now, dead as q friend that has passed
| away TO the spirit land.
THE coffin is then lowered IN the grave and after
such religious services as the friends of the deceased
maycause there to be performed and before the final
closing of the grave the brothers shall form silent
ly, and as nearly may be according to the order
| the Prophet and Saehem viii advance within the
circle and address the brethem and offer up pray
| Gr follows :
FUNERAL SERVICE.
Prop6et-1.ife is but span Al every swing of
! the pendulum spirit goes into eternity. 1t is
tale that is soon told. It's rapdity is Ske the swift
! shuttle or the flying arrow. It is brief as the
fading flower the transitory rainbow, or the dazzl
! ing meteor. Tt is bubble-it is a breath Death
| is ever busy. He spares neither youth nor age
Like spoiler, he comes at the meridian Of day,
IN the SoIeh groom OF hlghC: Aud AAe ssUlHCes III"
thirst upon the tender brow ofbeauty or ripper man
| hoods prime.
Leaves have THEIR time to fall
/ And flowers to wither at the north winds blast
| And stars to set but all
| Thou hast ALL Sc AsoNs for thine own, oh Death.
| Ny brethren, the melancholy occasion that calls
us to brothers grave is fraught with rich instTuc
| ton. Hero reminded that MORTAL
| and that, like our brother, shall soon be wrap
ped in the winding sheet DEATH and PASS away to
the spirit land. This is the common fate of all
Pride, pomp, wealth and poverty alike victims
to the iron tooth of time, and beneath the green
| sod find proper level.
There IS none so rich he cannot die,
| And none so poor he cannot find grave.
Brothers, the voice of our friend Is hushed the
silence of The tomb The lamp of life has bean ex-
| tinguished. Our brother is not of earthl As the
fitting nbeam, he has gene to bask in the smiles
Of our Father, and forever drink of the CRY stall
stream which flows for those who love their God.
While, therefore, we drop the tear of sympathy and
terual regard, let MS nourish his memory, initiate
his virtues, and profit by this affecting dispense
ton Of the Almighty win. Let US pray.
PRAYER.
Oh, thou Great Spirit who art the resurfe tor and
! the life-to whom all nations and kindred Of earth
owe their origin and support beseech thee, IN the
| plenitude of thy mercy, to look with tenderness
| and compassion upon all who are here assembled
As thou hast seen proper to remove from rs our
tsty for instruction, may SO live, that when
we come to pass the Jordan of death, shall have
| thine arm to sustain and support Bless,
Father those who are united to our deceased bro
Their by the strong ties Of kindred and affection con-
sole them for their loss and draw them to thee by
We would ask thee now, o Father, to bless the in
! stitution of which we are members. May the eff.
forts made to fraernze the world, to spread abroad
the spirit of friendship and brOtherly love- and to
inculcate truth and virtue lead all to bow with
reverence at thy throne, and ultimately to that
| crown Of life promised to those who do tn ii on
! earth. Hear us. o Father, answer y and
we will give all praise to Triune God forever.
| AMEN!
| .SacAem-BelOved brethren, by this instance Of
| mortality we ara again reminded Of the universal
| dominion of death. The hand of Friendship cannot
oppose the King OF TerroTs, nor the charms OF IN
| noceuee elude his grasp. This Grave-that Coffin
this circle of mourning Friends, remind US that
we, too, are mortal--that our bodies shall mOulder
! into dust
Here the sachem holds up the sprig of evergreen
/ in his hand, and continues in q slow and solemn
| manner
| This evergreen is an emblem Of our faith in the
| immortality of the soul. By it we reminded
that we have an immortal part within which shall
survive the grave and which can never, never new
! or die Though, like our brother whose remains
novylie before as we shall soon be clothed in the
habilments of death, and deposited in the silent