National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-09
MASONIC MOURNING GO2 THE DEAD.
GRAFTON BY. DR.. CHARLES F. sTAASBURE
The Late DR.. Holster and jeff Rives.
Imposing CeremOnies-Large Attend.
ance of Masons and Rriends-Fit.
ting EuIOEies on the Deceased
A Glimpse OF their Lives
and Characters, &C., &c.

Jefferson Rives, 18th degree, was held recently
by Mithras Lodge of Perfection, No. 2, at their
hall, corner Of Seventh and d streets northwest
The walls Of the room were draped with black
haDginRs: the coffin rested upon q cstafalque,
hung with black, adorned with flowers, and sur
mounted with appropriate Masonic emblems.
Around it were disposed three black candelabra,
in which candles Of black wax were burning.
Suspended IN the east was the escuteheon Of each
held. '--'-O - ','''
T. p, Edwin B. MacGrotty, s2d degree, Grand
Master, presided, and conducted the ceremonial
in accordance with the established ritual assisted
by Ri. Rev. Bishop Pinkney, Brother W. r. Sim
gletOD, SD degree master Of ceremonies, and the
was effectively rendered by the choir, under the
leadership Of Brother H. H. Bradley, 10th degree.
The chants, De ProfUndts, htserers, hGgnifcGt
and TIE Deum were most beautifully and impress
emory.
Pike, Sow. G. Commander: Rt. Rev. Bishop VIM.
Pinknev, d. D.. Rev. DIR. W. A. Harris, 3Oth de-
gree; Ills. Bro. W. NJ. ireland, SD degree; NJ. W..
Isaac L. johnson, Grand Master Of Masons Of
this jurisdiction, a large mum Der Of brethren OF
the Rite and ladies' and gentlemen, friends and
relatives OF the deceased.
at the close Of the solemn and impressive cere-
uonial DIR. Charles F. Stansbury, 18th degree
orator Of the lodge, deliver: an eloquent
MEMORIAL DISCOURSE,
of which the following is full synopsis:
"lt is the beautiful custom OF the Ancient and
, Accepted Scottish Rite Of Masonry to hold
memorial service in commemoration Of the death
of each of its members, and to place in its ar
chVes some permanent record of the lie and char
acter Of every departed brother. And IL is our
aim in these obsc quies, while dealing gently and
kindly with the memory of the dead, to give -.
Just 5tlmate Of their characters, 50 that the!
not distorted by prejudice or disguised by the
fulsome and indiscI inmate eulOgy which Is the
common CHARACTERISTIC Of ordinary obituary trib-
utee.
"Honors to the dead are useful only to the liv-
ing; and we could do Jew things more detri-
mental to public morality and virtue than TO
teach by our example that, NO matter what q
mans life may have been the only language
permitted to his survivors IL that OF praise. De
mOrtUfs nil niSi boRIm is maxim from which 1t
is often lawful to depart; for the voice Of warning
is sometimes the only voice that issues from an
open grave, and one It were sin and folly to dis
"1f, in the world to which our dead brethren
have gone, they have had all the mists and OBJ
seuritles OF this dark life cleared away, and md
themselves enabled to pass On impartial judy
sure that they crave no unmerIted encemium at
our hands, but ask us only for justice.
"oUR FRATERNITY TO-DAY
comes TO give utterance to its sorroT at q
its principles and warmly attached to its brother
hood, have passed aWay-one in the riPeness OF
age after Long useful and un'sl'6 life Of sys
very prime Of his manhood, with the bright PROM
Use Of high and honOrablei career just opening
before him.
"Our lamented brother, DR.. John G. F. Holstol,
was born in the city Of Hamburg, Germany, in
the year 1902 and died in this city May !, 1874 in
the sixty fifth year Of his age.
"His father was physician to . hospital in
Hamburg, aud the early pre dilection Of the son
was strongly in favor Of the same honorable pro
Tession. He left home at an early age, seeking
bis fortune and taking up his permanent resi-
dence in the New World. He landed at New Or
Of 4 houisi8na but again went to seS and Visited
the East Indies, China, and ether Aslatic coun-
tries; after which he again came to the United
was raging in that city at the time, and, with
that spirit of active and fearless beneVolenee
nurse in the cholera hospital, and thus obtained
his first practical Introduction to the profession
which he afterwards adorned.
"At the close Of his selfdenying service in this
capacity he started on foot for the West, accom-
panied by companion, Who in the neighb0r-
hood Of Canons6urg, Pc, robbed and deserted
him, leaving him
STRANGER AND PENNILzss
| in q strange land. With commendable independ-
ence and energy, he accepted the first employ
ment which offered, and engaged as laborer In
q brick-yard, not far from the college. One day,
chanced to overhear some Of the students Of the
college pulling over some difficult tranSlations.
The offer Of assistance from poor brick-maker
was at first received with jeers: but being finally
accepted, more In sport than earnest, the aston
ished young gentlemen found their superior 10
borer: The facts reached the ears Of the presi.
| dent and professors OF the college, who imme
diately sent for the needy scholar. They found
| by the unaceustomed labor and exposure. They
| kindly attended him during the attack. On his
recovery, having received funds from home, be
entered Washington college, where he after.
wards graduated with the highest honors. He
pursued the study Of medicine at the Medical
college in Cleveland; Ohio, and received from
| After reciting his professional career and death
he closed as follows:
MANY Of those here present had the melan
choly privilege Of uniting In the last honors thai
were paid to mis- remains In this city prior to thel
removal to GAINESVILLE, Ohio, for interment, snt
| OF listening to the warm eulogium pronounced BY
his pastor upon his character as man and {
Christian. Even TO those whose own hearts are
torn with doubt and fear as to the great ques
tions which concern the unseen world, It mus
| ever be o source Of rejoicing that those whom
they have loved have been borne peacefully oVel
| the dark stream OF death on the sersphie wing
| Of the Christian hope. This assurance offers L
us the one, the only consolation which such I
grief admits.
TIE LATE JEFFERSON RIvRs.
ave turn now from the contemplation Of thu
| life of this good old man, who has gone down Il
the grave full Of years and Of honor, to common
crate that Of young brother, cut of in the yer!
flower Of his days, when apparently the brightsS
fore him, his pathway smoothed by the concur
rent advantages Of vigorous health, ample means
great personal popularity, and temperament
"Our beloved brother, Jefferson Rives, wal
born on the 4th OF July, 1884, and died the 2Ott
Il D6CemDeI, .,
was named in honor OF the author OF our Declare
ton OF Independence. From his earliest child
hood he displayed those traits Of character WhIct
Was always lively, playful, smIable, kind, loving
natural, familiar and free In manner; artless
candid, unselfsh, sympathetic, constant, earnest
patient OF wrong, forgiyinE and charitable. II
bis case the child was in all respects, father Il
the man. In manhood, therefore, he was only
pWcity Of character that made him dear to hI
friends, yet which also rendered him too liable 4
be deceived by the selfish and designing. Fond
of outdoor sports and exercises he was apt to be
restless under reItrsint, and so did not In child
hood seem to display that liking for study which
is often more conspicuous In these who are phys
vigorous and active. Yet his mind was always
quick and his memory retentiye, and It cost hin
little effort to acquire knowledge.
"At the Rectory school, HamdeR, Connc ,tiout
he received April 10, 1858, when net yet sixt
years old,
THE FIRsT PREMIUM FOR RxCRLLENCE IN VIRGIL
and, according to the testimony Of younger
S GISi MARYLAND, in is.s4, he was often q
Iected by the professors to hear the recitations
pupils not only In the lower classes in Latin, bu
also in his own class, during temporary absences
After the death of his father, which tool
place April 10, 1884, he was sent TO Dickinson
| and later to Princeton College, where he passed
about thrC years. On his return to Washington
he engaged with his brother, Franklin Rives, IN
Iopp cOpdTctsS By his fatSer. John O Riyes Is Is
his Intercourse, necessarily large, with men Of ali
| classes, in Congress and elsewhere. he displayed
| in o remarkable degree those affable social
| qualities which speedily won him the affection
| and respect Of the high and low and this high
| appreciation OF him, resulting from first impress
| sion, was ever fully justified by his consistent
| practice Of every manly virtue. It speaks well
for the purity Of his character and the strength
| bis principles that, accustomed as he had beer
| from childhood to the Indulgence Of every wish
| by kind and wealthy parents, and thrown from q
very early period into the society Of men Of every
shade Of character In q city SO full Of temptation
as Washington, he yet passed through the ordeal
| as nearly unsullied as humanity, not directly
sustained by Christian faith and fellowship, evel
remains under SO severe test Of Its power Of re
Eistance"
MS visits to Europe his marriage. his profes
sion OF faith and his sudden demise were ALI beau
tifully illustrated by the orator. and sketch o.
bis Masonic history given. Referring to his death
he said: at is due to the memory OF our brother
to refer to the painful doubt which some have
Yentured to express, as to
THE MANNER OF HIS DEATH.
In venturing upon this topic, am not guided
alone by my one judgment, but speak upon the
suggestion, and almost In the words, of those who
were nearest and dearest to him. His family
| physician declares that II he died under the In
uence Of narcotic the fatal use Of It WAS in hiI
opinion, purely accidental. This opinion is ire
sistibly confirmed by the fact that, in the con
yersation held with friend in his last conscious
hour, he mentioned an engagement for the AFTER
noon OF the same day, made an engagement to
meet his friend the following day, and spoke
eheertully OF his business prospects and inten-