Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-12
LODGE OF SORROW.
A Tribute to the Memory Of Past
Grand Master MeManus.
solemn and Imposing Ceremonies NJ
Masonic Hall Last Night-The Life
Of the Decreased ReHleHed.

solemn and Imposing Ceremonies nj
Masonic Hall Last Night-The Life
OF the Deceased Reviewed.
The sLOdge Of Sorrow" was publicly
held at Masonic Hall last night by the
Grand Lodge of Tennessee, in memory Of
Past Grand Master Samuel McManns.
With the large body of Masons present the
hall was crowded from the stage 10 the rear
wall. Among the spectators were many
ladies. The ceremonies were exceedingly
impressive, and though they lasted two
hours the utmost quiet and attention pre-
vailed.
The hall was fitted up and furnished
especially for the occasion, and presented
quite an altered appearance. Back Of the
stage was a dark screen bearing the square
and compass, surmOunted by draped por-
trait Of the deceased Master.
In the center Of the hall was erected a
mansOleum, appropriately decorated, and
with a passage way for marching around.
Festoons Of cedar spanned the hall entirely
around. At the rear end of
the hall, and on the east
side were canOpies erected for the
Senior Grand Warden and Junior Grand
Warden respectively, and these were sur
mounted BY portraits Of eminent members
| Of the Order.
FThe ceremonies were too lengthy and in
tricate TO admit Of detailed report, and
much of the awe and interest which they
| Inspired in the spectator would be lost to the
reader, If fully chrOnicled. They were
conducted by the following named officers:
j. ID. Richardson, NJ W. Grand Master;
G. G. Conner, r. w. Deputy Grand Mas
ter; J. S. Dawson, K. w. Senior Grand
Warden; John G. Brown, r. w. Junior
Grand Warden; Rev. NJ. B, Dewitt, r w.
Grand Chaplain; Z. L. c. White, w.
Senior Grand Deaeon; Ed. Worshah,
W. Junior Grand Deacon; A. b. Jones, w.
Senior Grand Steward; j. W. Judd, Junior
Grand Steward; T. 0. Morris, w. Grand
Marsinl; George Sieferle, W. Grand Tyler;
Thomas Fishes Jacob Gingry, Sam. Lam
bertrand Us. Emerson, guards ofcatafalque.
These were assisted by an excellent
choir OF male voices, and an or
gan played by J. NJ. Thatcher. The
musir fbrned mcst interest
ing part of the ceremonies.
All of these exercises, occupying from
u to 81 O'Clock, having been finished,
Grand Master Richardson introduced Mr..
A. j. Wheeler, of South Memphis Ledge,
No. lis, who delivered a memorial address,
Of which we give cOpiOus synopsis:
fHE 1issCRrAL ADDRESS
samuel McMaIuIs first saw Masonic
life in the city Of Nashville when he was
twenty-eight years of age. He was a young
man Of fair promise, very goOi education,
and possessed of good mind, intellect and
correct habits. lie had energy, character,
quick temper, good heart and charitable |
and humane dispositions lie loved honor. |
truth and justice, and in Masonry he fJund !
an outlet for all the better qualities of his |
nature. He was not piOus; but he was |
moral, social and Intelligent. he was |
not 4 Christian, yet in after years |
he prOfessed the Christian faith |
and endeavOred TO lead a Christian life. |
He loved Masonry, and, when not con
trolled by prejudice or passion, gave out its
pure teachings and noble aspirations. He \
sought honOrs through iiierit, and arrived at /
distinction through energy, capability and
a knowledge of our art. He learned the
ritual as our fOrefathers learned it, and he
adhered TO il up to the day Of his death.
He read, he studied, he cOnversed, with
well informed Aias0ns. This soon
ga7e him prominence and charac-
ter among tie craft. Cumberland
Lodge first made him Senior NaTdeH in
1922, and his first Masonic address was de-
livered that year. In 1928, he became
the Master Of his Lodge, and twice elected
to the same position in 1924. For his zeal
and fidelity he was voted a diploma. He
continued in Office until contentious arose
in his Lodge, ,aAdbelieving himself right, he
was determined and unyielding. His dis
pute was with MaSOns of like eharac-
ter, determination and intelligence as HIM
self. A Tannehill opposed him. Suspen-
sion, restoration, compromise, and again
official position followed each other In rapid
succession. In 1872 we find him working
on an important committee in the Grand
Lodge. In 1923, Andrew Jackson, as Grand
Master, appointed him as Senior Grand
Deacon, and on a committee to amend the
An effort was made that year
By the Grand Lodge to elect its Deputy
Grand Master and give him power to grant
Bro. McManus bitterly and
opposed it. He prevailed also
upon the Grand Lodge to adopt a monitor
Or the use Of subordinate lodges.
In 1874 he was appointed chairman of
he Committee on Returns, and one Of the (
committee to compile rules and regulations
or the government of the Grand Lodge. |
ae prevailed upon that grand body to loan
Ter surplus means and make the interest a
.harity fund.
In 1925 he was reappOinted Senior Grand
Deacon, and made chairman Of the Com
nittee on Lectures. During the year he | ,
Icted as Deputy Grand Master i'm LAYING
he corner stone of a Masonic Hall at
franklin.
In 1876 he again represented Cumber- ,
and Lodge in Grand Lodge, and was elect
d Senior Grand Warden. Soon after this,
lisSentiOns arose in Cumberland Lodge ,
-quarrels, chickering's and strife; political ,
nimOsities entered, and our brother being ,
Master, We must presume that he was hasty I
nd unadvised in his action, as the commit
ee of investigation passed censure on its
onduct, but recommended his restoration. ,
lis offence was in arreSting the charter of :
us lodge aud taking possession OF his 7
'oOks and papers. In reviewing these un-
appy proceedings, we can but admire the I
determined, and as we believe honest and
traight forward action of our brother. ;
he was wrong he did not
elieye it, if he was right his conduct was
rave and praisewOrthy. The Lodge lost :
3 members by demit that year, and but !
wO We're initiated. Total membership 81. .
We find no record of Brother McManuS in | /;
irand Lodge again until 1885. In 1897, /,
e again appeared and was appointed :
hartman of the Committee on DiSpensa- I;
ions.
About this time Bro. McManus left :
and removed 10 West Tennessee. !
n 1888, we find him in Grand Lodge as
he Representative of Clinton Lodge, =
10. 81, at Bolivar. The Grand
laster, Deputy Grand Senior and
union Wardens being absent, Bro. Nc
lanus presided as Grand Master-only ten c
,Odges represented. The session of the n
Irand Lodge that year was peculiarly G
lOOmy and dark. One might suppose by v
eading the proceedings that Masonry was v
} be eXterminated from the State. The b
My Lodge in Memphis had surrendered h
S charter. Several Lodges, said the Com a
littee, "Had left their Lodge rooms open e
nd exposed like deserted barns,a and had Fl
Did their jewels and furniture-twenty- ii
lree Lodges were stricken from the Il
Dlls - twelve were censured and Q
rdered TO make returns and send delegates Il
D the next Grand Lodge. Twelve only Z
lade returns; and many, in which no 4
ction was taken, were reported as dead or 5
wing. But three out of the thirteen Grand r
)fficers were present. II was at such a a
me as this that Brother McManus showed 4
is energy and his greatness. He was n
lected Grand Master, and went to work !