Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-05-14
Midnight Funeral.

Midnight Funeral.
At midnight on Saturday the las! Offices
at the obseques of knight Kadosh were
celebrated over the remains of Edward
Fitzki, 33d degree, in the cathedral OF the
Scottish Rite Masons in Washington. The
walls of the cathedral were covered with
black cloth, and On trestle in the centre ol
casket with silver trimmings, containing the
body OF the deceased. The remains were
| dressed in the habit of the Kadosh, the legs
crossed, the arms folded on the breast. Nine
candesticks stood in three trianges on the
east, west, and south Of the casket.
On the upper end of the casket lid was a
chapet of white roses and below it the in
sigma of the order and the sword of the de-
ceased knight in lis scabbsrd. Upon ia.
BILE near the casket was skull wreathed
with evergreen, surrounded by seven large
pandlesticks bearing no lights,
at the head OF the casket was great iron
cross painted black. The floor of !hs room
was also covered with black cambria. The
gas was dimmed and deep gloom pervad.
cd the spacious cathedral.
ct sharp II O'Clock those Invited to the
number of 400 were seated. There were
many prominent and distinguished Masons
present. The Scottish Rite choir were in
the choir gallery.
The officers taking part in the ceremonies
formed a possession in au adjoining room.
Each wore dark clothing, and across the left
shoulder fell q black crepe sash Their en-
trance into the cathedral was announced by
the organist playing the dead march from
Saul.
These officials represented with due honor,
the supreme council of the southern iuris-
diction of the United States, of which the
deceased was member.
Grand Master Browne began the service
for the dead, which was antiphonal in char
acter It was an impressive one, and filled
with many scenes.
When the grand master asked if any one
could stand forth and ''accuse OF wrong this
knight, now dead, let him stand forth and
80 declare"
After silence Senior Warden Roome ad-
vanoed 10 the head of the casket and plac-
ing his right hand upon it asked permission
to speak "Grand Master" he said, thou
wouldst call in vain, for we are all brethren
n the bonds of knghthood and do reverence
our dead"
The grand master, after making many ap-
peals and hearing no response, said in
loud voice "If there be no accuser, there can
be no judgment. Doth no man accuse the
dead ?'' At this the twenty.one knights
knelt and answered "God is his Judge and
ours"
Then followed short questions and re.
sponses, at the conclusion of which the
organ played soft and plaintive music, dur
ing which the casket lid was removed, and
thus exposed the body of the knight.
The service then continued, and at the
proper moment the officers designated for
such duties removed the chaplet from the
head, the cross of gold from the breast, the
cords from the feet, and bunch of violets
from the heart.
Tho officers then In turn felt the head,
mouth, hands, and feet, and all reported
that their brother was dead.
After the duties had been performed in
accordance with the ritual, the choir sang
the "Miserere," then the De Profundis, In
Latin, was chsnted, during which the
knights in succession sprinkled water on
the casket, and as they did 80 each said,
my brother, now thou art dead to this
world, and ivest in the Lord"
Following this was sung the "Libera Nos"
in Latin, the voices seeming to sound fur
Their and further off, and finally dying, as 1t
we're, in the distance Each taper was ex-
tnguished, except that of tie grand master.
Ali knelt with their arms crossed, and pray
ed silently for few moments.
The grand master broke the silence by
striking the iron cross three times with an
iron hammer, and in deep voice prayed /:
"I bless thee, o dead brother, in the name
of Almighty God, in the name of the Order
of the Holy House of the Temple, and in
the name of the knights and brethren here
assembled. May the light of the face
of God shine upon thee and bless thee.
Amen"
This closed the ceremony, which was
most solemn and impressive.