The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-12
AMONG THE LODGES.

w. III. Maokay returned yesterday
from Washington, where he had been
attending the funeral obsequies OF Gen.
eral Pike. Mr.. Mackay says the funeral
services at tho First Congressional
Church wero tho most impressive he
ever witnessed. 1t was at the dead
hour OF midnight. Tho church was
packed and all the lights were turned
down. He thus describes the scene:
1.-The scene in the church was pecu-
liarly solemn, the dead hour of night
the assembled knights, and tho som Der
trapplngs combining to make an i'm
pressive picture. The walls of the
church were covered with black cloth,
while on n catafalque on 4 platform,
extending out twenty feet from the pull
pit, was the casllet containing tho body
of the deceased knight. There wore
nine cand lesticls, four feet in height,
in three triangles, on the east, west,
and south of tho caskct, each having
upon it lighted candle. Otherwise
the large church was unlighted. On
the upper end of the casket was a
chaplet of white roses, and below it tho
insignia of the order and the sword of
the deceased knight in its scabbard.
Upon table near the coffin was skull
wreathed with evcrgrcens, surrounded
ty seven large candiesticks bearing no
lights. At the head of the caskct TODD
great iron cross painted black.
"When all was quiet and tho organ
played softly, Grand Master Holt, bear
ing lighted candle and an iron ham
mer, walked slowly in from n room on
the left and stood at tho foot of the cas-
ket. Then twenty-one knights followed,
all bearing candles and attired in black,
with scarfs of Grape and their heads
bare. They entered almost like
Shadows and arranged themselves III Il
semicircle on the west, south and north
sides of the cashet, facing the east.
For q few moments there was perfect
silence, trumpet sounded in plaintive
notes in an adjoining room, and after
the last faint echoes had died away, the
grand master began the ceremonies ac-
cording to the ancient knightly custom.
"The beautiful ritual was then re-
peatod, after which tho grand master
asked If any one could accuse of wrong
the loved knight. All was silent Then
the grand master said it was lot for
man to Judge, but God. The beautiful
-str ices were continued by taking the
chaplet from the temples of the deceased
the cross from the breast, the cords
from the feet and hands, and then in
succession each attendant approached
the caskct and laid his right hand upon
the eye check, mouth, heart, hands,
and feet, each repeating blessing.
, When the last attendant had touched
the body Of the dead, again they walked
slowly back into the outer room.
The lights were turned up, and after
all had left the church the remains were
carried to tho Scottish Rite Temple"
Mr.. Mackly remained until Thurs
day and attended the burial. Tho re-
mains arc supposed to be inferred in
Oak Hill Cemetery, though none but
Masons vouch for this fact.
Mr.. MacKay and Mr.. Winch are the
high st degree Masons in Roanoke,
each having attained tho thirty second
degree. Not only have they taken tho
degrees in the Ancient York Masonry,
but branchcd off aId took tho Scottish
Rite up to the thirty second degree
also. Tho thirty-third degree is re-
served for those only who have becom @
famous in the order.
MN
Southwest Council, No. 81, Jr. o. u
a. NJ, made good showing yesterday
morning when they turned out to pay
the last tribute of respect to their de-
ceased brother. Joseph Jones. The pro-
cession was formed at the lodge room
and repaired to the residence of the de-
ceased in East Roanoke. The remains
were then escorted to the depot and n
delegation of six members sent on with
them to Montgomery county, where he
was inferred yesterday evening. The
now funeral badge adopted by Reliance
Council, and used by both, was de-
cidedly neat and suitable to tho occa-
sion.
Peasants Lodge, No. 63, A. T. and A.
NJ, was named for Prof w. II. Pleas
ants, of IIollins Institute, one of the
most distinguished Masons in this Sec
ton of the country.
The lodge was organized May 9TH.
1889, an chartered the following Decem-
Der 18th. The lodge was then composed
of few members of Lakeland lodge
and others who were in the city as Wis
itors. The growth of the lodge has not
been marked with boom, but it has
been healthy and flourishing, and now
numbers about so members. The first
officers were III. N. Claxton, master;
John Chalmers, senior warden; George
c. Mccain, junior warden; &. q. Ander-
son, treasurer; II. c. Macklin, secretary;
Walter Budwell, senior deacon; F.. l.,
Wood, junior deacon; w. II. Walthall,
tyler.
MN
The representatives to tho Grand
Lodge of Odd Fellows of Virginia will
leave for Richmond to-day. They are
G. w. Chevault, Mountain Dale Lodge,
No. 40; w. +. Eutsler, Mount Vernon
Lodge, No. 70, and A. I,cning. Magic
City Encampment, No. 80. The grand
sire will be present at this session, and
a great public demonstration will be
given on Wednesday night.