The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-28
THE LODGE OF SORROW.
A Singular Ceremony Last Night-Memorials Ser
vice for the Dead-Music, Flowers and Fire
AZ Emblems-"The Thirty-third Degree"

singular and very beautiful ceremony took
place last night at Irving Hail. being the opening
Of Lodge of Sorrow under the auspices OF the An.
cient and Accepted Rite OF Masonry Of New York
and Brooklyn. Most OF the officiating brethren
ranked in the thirty-third degree Of Masonry, and
large and very select audience OF ladies and gen.
tlemen, invited guests, occupied all the SPACE In
the hall not devoted to the ceremonial. The gal.
lery Of the hall was heavily draped in mourning
and at intervals on the walls were suspended en-
bematic banners in crimson and gold. In the
centre Of the floor was erected q cata-
faque, upon the upper tier OF which was
placed coffin. The catafalque was wreathed with
acacia sprays and laurel cypress and other plants
placed at the corners Of the das, at the foot
OF pillars bearing candelabra. At the further end
OF the hall platform, having on it table with
an open Bible, sceptre and other tools used in
WORKING THE THIRry-sECoNp DEGREE.
Between the foot OF the platform and the cata-
falque were I'VE large Gothic chairs, and
bearing shew bread and wine, and horned
altar. An orchestra OF sixty pieces, under the
Of Brother and chorus pra
cisely at eight O'Clock the doors were closed, and
the Officers OF the Lodge, consisting OF Q. T.
Thirty third degree; John W. Simons Thirty-third
degree; w. " Alexander, Thrty-third degree;
George A. Barney, Thirty. third degree; G. Roome,
Thrty.third degree and q. Il. Conant Thirty-thir
degree, entered and assembled the PLATFORM the
orchestra PLAYING q march from "Atalie." After
ence to the object OF the Lodge, the chorus gave
chant, "Put Us Not to Rebuke" The Lodge was
then opened In ample form. A 9asso solo, 20 Weep
Not, Mourn Not" was sung by ]. q. LuInbard, and
John W. simons, was Introduced, and made
AN APPROPRIATE ADDRESS,
touching the beauties Of the philosophy Of death
and the resurrection. Brother W: II. Davis then
W.
being rendered four brethren dressed in white,
with red sashes and blue chaplets, entered, carry
OF the catafaque and knelt with heads bowed on
the coffin, then arose and strewed flowers on the
casket and bier. They then made obe els and
the hall were extnguished. the orchestra
striking up . march-Tenebrc. The funeral pro-
cesson then slowly and with well-tmed steps en-
tered the hail. and was composed OF twenty torch
bearers dressed in white, with crimson sashes and
silver-plated frontets. These marched two abreast
and were preceded by the lieutenants Of the cap
tain OF the guard. atired in black, with frontets,
crimson sash and apron and reversed swords
THE PROCESSION
marched around the catalalque, and on reaching
the foot Of the cask ss., marched r between
a ae ten Separated into single ne passed se
down on each side OF the catafalque
and countsrmarching TO the right and left formed,
second procession Of twenty, bearing torches and
preceded by priest, tive prelates and two as
sistant prelates, the captain OF the guard and six
mourners or bearers, and an acolyte, with a
swinging censor OF incense. These marched about
the eatalalque as me former company mad done
torchbearers alternated, and the priest and pre-
lates were at their places near the chairs at the
THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD
at marble pillar near the priests chair, and his
bearers. The music ceased, and the censor bearer
kindled fire on the altar. The priest General
J. Il. H. Ward then offered up very impressive
ed, $50 mote IL be-" The priest and his assistants
then read the lesson consisting of series OF brief
scriptural sentences TO each Of which the chorus
responded. "Haste Thee to help us.r The priest
then advanced to the catafalque and delivered
neTa soS ch Sra eSsed BY
ers,n by Messrs. Willard, Hill and Malitt.
during which at signal given By the Captain Of
consisting OF two blows with his sword in the mar
BILE pillar, the torchbearers contaminated. The
priest, still standing At the foot of
THE cATAPALQUE,
uttered another sentence, and at another similar
signal the procession again countermarched.
prayer was then delivered by one OF the prelates,
and then all the torchbearers, ranged on each
side OF the catafalque were seated. These
evoluiions, in varied form with other &C.
clesastical oiiiccs were repeated several times
and then the entire procession closed mp 10 the
cataialque. The six bearers then took the casket,
and while the gong tolled soemng the conn
borne from the cataiaque towards tomb with
tesselated front and black doors erected at the end
OF the hall. Here the priest and prelates accom-
panied 1t, and the CONN was placed on the ground
at the open gates OF the mausoeum. Meantime
funeral march was being played and the gong still
struck Its solemn notes on the air as
THE PR0CEssIoStsTS KNELT,
while an admoRitlon and prayer were pronounced
by the priest to which all again responded, $50
mote 10 be.n The casket was then borne into the
tomb, and the chorus sung, Weep No More"
farewell was then pronounced by one OF the pref.
atcs Walter NJ Fleming, thirty third degree, and
the professionals, In twos, alternately black and
white retired from the hall. The gas was tnrned
on, all WAS bright again, and the ceremony was
concluded by the singing OF the prayer from
Moses" and the benediction by wilson Small.
The services were decidedly weird, beautiful and
impressive and were very successfully conducted.
TO those unacquainted with the object OF this SIN.
gular ceremony ii may be necessary to state that
they were memorial services In honor OF those OF
the Ancient Accepted Rite Of Masonry who have
died during the past year. The form Is peculiar to
this order, and so far as 1t and the costumes are
based upon any historic traditions or customs they
IeseIQhLe those VI the eIa Ql King Solomon.