The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-06-05

~ - IN Aask. To gave ssaaAs.es - ii.
tseape. b. moved to the rear on . alov Vail H.
= ha1xX. telling his aida to show no siens OF
fright This slow movement rave the er.wv
dns 70 1ank him a the right With their sharn.
shsoteee end one fatal, accidental shot. ON ths,
allow military retreat, put an end to our beloved
Wallace. He died in the meridian of his life
bat nis uamo VIII live while monumental stone
Naiosry Aas it own peculiar charms. Il IA.
a innate lis and vitslity, 20 wellhnd beeutfuliv
aajusted = H. social wants of human nature
thak Gsd seems 70 have made It Q part Of the
tnstitutioa It the universe. While great nations
xlse, Aourish and decay and arc ecsrcelv known
IN history, masonry Il ever living, and Il ever
putting tortA new buds Of promise. Il IL an ont.
gushing Of the mental and moral and socisl
nature At man and cannot die until the human
raOe becomes extinct.
: IL We % . mason wo knew Wallace hest
4 ooastsat attendant upon our meetings. filing
I'll the o&oss from Junior Deacon to most Excel.
lent Commander, his genial face met W ct the
Threshold ct the lodge ON each returning month.
and he always greeted Us with warm shake n
the ha1d Here we knew him best and
loved HIN most. Would that he still lived among
q, that ~ might profit BY his example. But
Providence has taken him from Ms Let us imi.
tate his virtues and keep his memory green in
oar miads. As nature each year puts forth her
bright and fragrant flowers, 90 may We each year
vis;t this hallowed tomb and refresh our recllec-
doa It the immortal dead.
And - 5a4 Is .ft
oes thses scopes our memories wake.
- AZ 5oedly brood With wiser care,
Ssr egsss a: :s5sng Es. make
y From The grave Of Gen. Wallace, the Com.
naadesy proceeded to the cemetery on the bank
oe the river west Of the city. The first grave
hses visited was that Of CspA Philo Lindley,
where the ceremonies were similar to those at
the grave Of Gen. Wallace. except that instead Of
an Grafton, beastiful poem was read by Sir
Knight DR.. 3. II Macarthur, Of which We have
been unable 70 procure . copy. And lastly, the
ssrsaoalss were again substantially repeated at
the grave OF Sir Knight Geo. s. stebbins, in the
course Of which. however, the following eulogy
a IL dscsaeed Wa pronounced by Sir knight
Joaa B. Rics, Esq.:
ADDRESS ny j. u. RICE.
6R KMGHrs-An old poet has said 'The
good die first, and those whose hearts are dry a.
summers dust burn to the socket"
When We zee those OF our companions whose
character, abilities and virtues most fitted them
f0r usefulness fall in the prime Of manhood, the
sentiment Of the bard becomes mere than mere
pI Sir xnis night w.ll.os and Liudlsy fell upon
tho battle field in unselfish devotion to their
country.
Sir knight Stebbins, around whose grave we
now stand, occupied different but not less use.
full sphere OF life, and one in which the virtues
and worth OF . man are less conspicuous and
stand out In less bold relief than in that Of
soldier. Bat he showed . devotion no less un.
selfish to his country than did his companion
Sir Knights who fell upon the battle field.
For many years be held high and responsi.
BE position several times given him BY the votes
q thsPeople Of this county, and with the most
unAinching integrity did he discharge the duties
Of the trust 20 devolved upon him. And the
county Of La Sale to-day owes much Of its
financial prosperity TO the labor and mind of
Sir Knight Stebbins.
Possessingja more than ordinary mind, which
he assiduously cultivated by the study Of all
branches Of literature, he was modest and unas-
suming; and few knew his real worth except
those vhe. were intimately acquainted with
him.
Az well a most of you, from long and init.
mate acquaintance with him, I knew him we'll,
and it would be to me exceedingly pleasant to
dwell upon his virtues and his many manly and
generous qualities, bat time does not permit.
We come here now to decorate his grave with
fowers-the purest and hottest incense which
nature offers up to her God.
The signifcancy Of this ceremony is well ex-
smpli6ed in the beautiful ritual to which we have
Just listened. A--f
Like Sir Knight Wallace and Lindley, Sir
knight Stebbins has hung his sword upon the
wall and laid down the warfare of life. But
also like them, he has left behind him an ex-
ample of unspotted integrity and honor. Let
US follow his example and emulate his virtues.
A solemn dirge, sung by the members of the
order, and the benediction, pronounced by the
Eminent Commander, ended the ceremonies,
upon which the Commandery marched back to
the hall and were dismissed
After witnessing all the ceremonies, so i'm.
pressive and solemn, we presume there were few,
1t any, in the largo concourse of citizens that
had gathered TO witness and participate in them,
who were longer disposedl to object to them
as inappropriate to the day. There was, how.
ever, occasion for regret, and we hope it may be
the last time for such occasion, that these solemn
and appropriate ceremonies, appealing SO strong.
ly to all ones nobler, patriotic feelings, should
have been in the keeping, and made the busi-
ness apparently Of couple of local societies,
but small portion OF the commu.
nifty, when the affair so appropriately belonged
to and should have been the business of, and
L. .A.l = ~