National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-06-27
CONSIGNED TO EARTH
WITH IMPOSING MASONIC HoNoRs.
The Last Sad Rites Over the Remains OF DR.. A. G.
Mackey-Impressive Funeral Obsequies-
Ceremonies Performed ut the
Church and Grave.

quaintance which Dr. Mackey had in this city,
the high regard in which he was held as citizen,
friend, and true and upright man; the emil
hence to which he had risen in the Masonic
fraternity, to which order he had devoted the
ripper years of his life, all combined to make his
loss peculiarly felt and to induce exceptional
honors to be paid his memory. The services were
held in All Souls Unitarian Church, corner of Four
teenth and L streets, of which DR.. Mackey was
member. The masonic procession started from the
Temple at two o'clock in the order as was
published in THE REPUBLICAN on Saturday,
and proceeded to the late residence of the deceased
on Qstreet, where the body was received and taken
to the church. The procession was an imposing
one, embracing delegations from Washington Com
mandery, K. T.; Columbia Commandery, K. T.;
De Molay Commandery, K. T.; the Scottish Rite
bodies, consisting of Lodge of Perfection, Chapter
RoSe CrioX), Council, Consistory, and the Supreme
Council of the Southern jurisdiction, other Royal
Arch Masons Grand Chapter of the District of Co.
lumbia, to which Dr.. Mackey was attached the
Grand Lodge of the District, and Master Masons.
The body ofthe church reserved for the Masonic
bodies, and at first the only decoration seen was
beautiful floral cross resting upon table in front
of the pulpit. This was the gift of the church to
| its late member. Just before the arrival of the
procession the cross was removed and a
| MASSIVE FLORAL ARCH
embiematie of the Masonic Royal Arch degree was
! placed upon the table in its stead. This arch was
about four feet III height, and was formed of
Marshal Neil roses The capitals of the columns
were of scarlet geraniums, and the same beautiful
! blossoms formed the keystone and were scattered
in the broad base. In the Keystone were encircled
the mystic letters, H. T. w. S. T. K. s."
! in purple violets Resting upon the base and be-
| tween the pillars of the arch was a floral gayel,
cmblematic of the authority that the deceased had
| exercised among his fellow Masons. Upon the
| I'm, tho
| massive wreath inclosing cross, and upon the
| circle, in blue immortelles, was the inscription
! "Our Father" and an anchor, typical of the
! fidelity of his life here and faith in his
bliss hereafter There was also beautiful floral
| star, and at the head was a square and compass
| The royal arch, however was the most massive
and imposing floral offering that has ever been
seen here. 1t was the artistic work of Mr. j. H.
Small, and was the gift OF Lafayette Chapter TO its
dead brother and friend At ten minutes to four
o'clock the marine band, stationed in front of the
| church, commenced playing
NEARER MY GOD To THEE"
which announced to those in the church that the
body was being taken from the hearse, and as the
pall-bearers slowly bore their solemn burden
dawn the north aisle of the church to its tempo
rary resting place upon the catafalque in front of
pulpit the rich toned organ pealed forth mourn
full dirge under the skillful manipulation OF Mr..
Harry Sherman. After depositing the body the pail
bearers took seats in the front pews and then the
Masonic bodies filed in and occupied the body of
the church, the chapters taking seats the south
and the Blue Lodge Masons ON the north sides.
When all had been seated the Rev. Rush R. Ship
pen, pastor of All Souls Church. rose in the pulpit
and read the burial service, commenc-
ing, 81 am the resurrection and the
life" in most impressive manner He
then gave out hymn 621, Nearer My God to Thee
which was sung by the choir of the church. con-
siSting OfMss Eva S. Mills, Mrs Il. c. Sherman Mr.
S. H. Witherow, and Mr.. W. A. Widney who had
kindly volunteered their services DR.. Shipper
then said that good man had passed away Tho
was highly and widely honored, as a great as
sembly testified by its presence who come to these
last obsequies to pay tribute of respect and cast
their garlands in his grave as an honor not only
to him, but to themselves; that
ALBERT GALLATIN MACKEY,
among other honored and rly-distinguished
citizens of the Republic, was himself of Scottish
descent, from family who have resided
for more than one hundred years at
Charleston. S. c., and i'll his personal
appearance he bore strong likeness to the
people of the land of Knox, Wallace, and Bruce
that on his mothers side he drew strength of char
acter from the Huguenots, who were among the
first settlers of the State. Taking up the
life of the deceased, the speaker gave
brief sketch of his early struggles for
an education, and Of his graduation with high
distinction at twenty five years of age that in his
maturer years the deceased had devoted himself |
to Masonry and none in the ranks of that ancient
and honored fraternity had worn more distin- |
guished honors or better deserved them; that in |
his religious faith he a Unitarian, and |
throughout his life was faithful disciple of the
Great Captain of our salvation, Jesus Christ |
In touching upon the position of Dr. Mackey at |
the outbreak ofthe late war, the reverend speaker
said that 1t was a peculiarly trying one; that in |
arTayng himself against the popular feeling in his
State DR.. Mackey exhibited a devotion to the |
Union and degree of patriotism that had been |
exceeded by no one among the thousands who !
made sacrifices for their country in those dark |
days; that this earnest devotion had even been
appreciated by his neighbors, who, while |
they condemned his adherence to the cause
Of the Union, respected the manlness of character
that impelled him to sacrifice everything to prin-
ciplc, i'll so far that he was allowed to remain at
his home when every other prominent Unionist
had been sent into the Federal lines At the close
of his remarks Dr. Shipper offered up a touchingly
eloquent prayer, III which he asked the Giver of
al good to comfort the bereaved family in their
deep GffCti0n in the loss CT a husband and father
The venerable Albert Pike, whose long white hair
and imposing presence gives him patriarchal ap-
pearance, then assembled the pulpit and COM
mcnced the beautiful ritual of the
LODGE OF SORROW
Of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. This
Lodge of Sorrow, while it has been held in this
city three times previously, has never before had
the remains of the deceased at its working. The
impressive and exalted language of the ritual
was most effectively rendered by Mr.. Pike, grand
commander Of the Supreme Council, acting as
master, Samuel T. Schoield, of Albert Pike Con-
sistory, as senior warden, and John Wilson, also
ofAlbert Pike Consistory, as junior warden. The
long friendship and frateTual relation that had
existed between the deceased and Mr.. Pike evil
IDENTIFY deeply affected the latter and his stern voice
trembled with emotion many times, and especially
as he stepped from the pulpit and took the lighted
torch iii his hand, waving it and repeatedly call
ing Brother, we mourn for thee; call upon
thee to answer US. Dost thou hear the calI?" Just
as he did this ray of sun light from the window
at the west streamed across the church. and lit up
his venerable head with a halo of light that gave
him the appearance of some grand old
saint; and the tinge of sadness in his ;
voice as he continued the ritual" Our ]
Brother answers not our call"-heightened
the Illusion. The music consisted of the ritual
istic chants and hymns, and the singing of Handels
charming air. Angels Ever Bright and Fair" ex- ,
quisiely rendered by Miss Eva Mills As her pure
sweet voice vocalized the beautiful melody which
reverberated through the yaulted arches Of the 8
building, sincere hope in the heart of every Ma
son silently harmonized the phrase Take OH I
take him to your care" At the conclusion of the
Masonic services the plate was removed from the
cssket and the family and friends took last fare
well of the deceased.
THE PROCESSION THEN REFORMED, +
and the line of march for Glenwood Cemetery was
taken up via NJ street and New York avenue,
Upon arriving at the grave the line halted, and {
the coffin passed the front of the communicates.
who stood with swords presented and flags
dropped to its last resting place. Then followed
The short but beautiful services for the burial of
The dead under the rites of the "Blue Lodge" I