Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
ODD rk1Lows PKorzsr.
Emphatic Condemnation OF |
RacIar NIcKi ua,s Aefi0n.s

Emphatic Condemnation OF the
Rector McKini's Action.e
The committee appointed by Charity
Lodge, No. "a, /. o. o. T., 10 attend the
funeral Of the Rev. q. W. johnson. send
to the GAZETTE the following report;
The Rev. George W. Johuson. a clergy
man Of the Protestant Episcopal Church,
and an ardent and jealous member OF tho
independent Order OF Odd Fellows, Null
VILE, N. j., aud also Of the Order Of Nelson's.
Btidgeton, N. j., departed this life Aprn
29th ulttmo, at Laurel, Sussex county. n
aware, and was Inferred at " George
e. Church. same county, Friday, NJ
He was great sufferer from q rup' Uf
the stomach, result OF which wac Q.
ment 10 MS room ard bed. Bever his
prior to his deeease, during oil hi be-
ment the members OF Charity Loo B. ~
OF Laurel, Dell. by the reques. OF his
lodge at Miil7ille, N. j., administered
and attended to the wants OF Brother
johnson, and repeatedly he requested
that he should be buried by Charity Lodge.
assisted by Union Lodge, No. o, OF George
town, Del. The order Of both lodges,
about 60 In number. went To the place oil
interment to give the deceased brother the
last rites of the order he so much loved
and esteemed, and in order to comply with
the request made by him only a day or two
before his death, quite o number drove In
private oonveyances, a distance OF 80 miles.
After doing all we could for the brother as
Odd Fellows while living, and going such O
long distance with his remains after death,
We were met at the entrance OF the oeme.
terry by one who claims to be called Of God
to preach the gospel and 10 teach bic fol-
lowers to deal Justly, love mercy and walk
hurubly before their God, and such
person was the distinguished John l..
Mckim, who said the ground which
was to be the last resting place OF one who
had done so much for the chapel, Was SO,
consecrated that the Odd Fellows as an
order would not be allowed to enter, nor
their burial ceremony tolerated. We can
ouly say, "Oh consistency thou art jewel"
We then thought 1t wise 70 abandon
our burial ceremony In order to avoid a
scene which would have brought disoredtt
to our noble order, realizing that It was
better to please crank tnAn to eonteGd
with him. We have been informed that he
said recently that he would like to live to
see the order OF Odd Fellows, Masons aud
Methodism abolished or blotted out of exi5-
tence. For the truth Of such an expression
we do mot vouch but we bslieve from his
actions he made the assertion, but we are
happy to say Mr.. MeKlm will not live to 500
the time. SAMUEL II. SMITH,
JoBN II. ELLIOTT,
JAMES II. GRAHAM,
Committee.
ATLANTIC LODGE SPEAKS SHARPLY.
The Atlantic Lodge, l. o. o. f. COM
mittee, has reported the following for
publication
Last week witnessed two manifestations
OF the exercise OF pontifleal power. One In
France where council OF Roman Cotholic
bishops and cardinals passed resolutions
demanding the return of the temporal
power to Pope Lso, but that will end 10 de.
mand. The other was at ST. Georges
Chapel, In Indian River hundred, where
Pope McKtm refused to allow the Odd
Fellows to perform the burial service OF the
order at the grave OF their deceased fellow
member, the Rev. G. W. johnson, late
rector OF st. Andrews Church, near Laurel,
Del, though they had been request TO do
SO BY the deceased and by his widow, and
Bishop Coleman had expressed his entire
| willingness that the services OF the order OF
which Brother johnson was member
should be conducted at the grave, and the
1 little pope declared that he "would not b.
lleve that Mr.. johnson made such request
II every member In the lodge should say
So" Afterward he asserted that Mr.. John.
son chad no business to make such re.
| quest, and his widow had no business to
make the request"
i What is tho matter with the man? Does
he not know that the dark ages are past
and 1t is time for owls and all other night
birds to retire from slght2
This is the first time we have ever known
our order to be prevented from conducting
their services at the grave Of a member, OF
pG-'0rr''1r tHeIr eegaTifTy w',l'u tl6 h
closure VI cemetery, and We serve notice
on Pope MeRir- tNaf 4 surh interference 4
! attempted again, On IA similar occasion, oui
order will see to 1t that the service Is con.
Quoted.
4 It is only just TO say, and we are glad t.
do 1t, that the church did not sympathlzt
with this act, but condemned 1t on the spot