Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-10
A SOLEMN MIDNIGHT SERVICE.
Masonic Ceremonies Over the Remains o
Gen. Albert Pike.

THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH THRoSaEr
WITH MEMBERS OF THE CRAFT AND THE PUB
LIc--THE wALLs- DRAPED IN soMBKR BLACK
EXTRACTS FROM THE RITUAL.
The First Congregational Church was no,
near large enough to hold the immense throne
Of people who went there last night to witness
the Masonic ceremonies over the remains OF
the late Gen Albert Pike
Long before the hour Of midnight several
thousand persons were at the church door
anxious to gain admittance. but the doors were
not opened to the public until after the men,
| bers of the Masonic orders had been accommo-
dated.
The lower floor had been reserved for Masons
only, but when the doors were opened the
ushers found it wholly impossible to keep back
the vast crowd.
THE SOLEMN PROCESSION.
few minutes before the midnight hour, and
after the relatives and members of the de-
ceased 8 family had been seated, the solemn pro-
cession entered the church and the body of the
deceased knight was placed on the catafalque,
which was en- platform that had been erected
for the occasion. The ancient ceremonies used
at the obsequies of Knight Templar were
employed. They are a modification Of the
Original ceremonies and were written by the
late Gen Pike.
In compliance with the requirements Of the
ceremonies the walls were covered with black
cloth and the remains of the dead chief placed
on trestle nea- the center Of the church.
The body was dressed in the habit of the Ka-
dosh, the legs crossed and the arms folded
across the breast Nine lighted candles in
three triangles stood at the east west and south
OF the casket, while to the north were the pill
lows and skull, the skull wreathed with ivy and
su,rounded by seven candlesticks, which were
not lighted.
A heavy iron cross, painted black, stood at
the head of the coffin and directly in front of
this stood Grand Master Holt, who had charge
OF the exercises,
just at about the hour of midnight Grand
Master Holt and twenty-one knights follow
ing came from the chapel at the sound of
trumpet, each bearing lighted taper. They
came one by one and formed semicircle
about the remains of the deceased.
JUDGMENT OF THE DEAD.
Grand Master Holt, standing at the head of
the coffin, broke the death-like silence by say
ing: "Dcar brethren and Knights of the Holy
House of the Temple, it has pleased our
Father. who is in heaven. to take away from lis
the living soul Of our brother and to leave unto
us his body. of which we are about to dispose
according to our ancient khightly custom but
we are first of all to hold judgme mt upon him
whose mortal remains lie before us.
1T is midnight, and new day begins for u.s.
Our brother has finished his earthly probation.
Death Is the memorable creditor. whose indul-
gence nothing in the world can purchase
Every moment that sees O newborn child
laugh at the light sees also man die, and
hears the cry OF a breaking heart. and the
lamentations of those who sit lonely and in the
desolation of affection, no longer seeing the
faces Of dearly loved Ones Round the little
island OF our being on which we follow our
various pursuits of toll or craft, os usefulness
or mischief, throbs the illimitable ocean Of
eternity, upon which, round the isle, broad
circle of impenetrable darkness brooding lies.
But beyond that zone the outer ocean sparkles,
and its white crested waves dance in the light
and somewhere in the distance the islands OF
the blessed are dreaming. girdled by the peace
full waters. Here, in our present home, we live
our little life, waiting to be called to other
duties elsewhere, and one by one our loved ones
and our cherished friends glide away from us
unseen. and are swallowed up in the darkness
whicE is the shadow of the broad wings of
death.
Each of US belongs to some little colony of
hearts that hath life of its own. its private
and inner life, apart from that of the mass of
humanity which eddies round it in endless agi-
tations. having with it no sympathies nor any
memories of association. When one Of its
members dies it is as if O limb were severed
from the body. The wound heals. but the limb
Is missed as long the body lives. This is the
body OF our order here mutilatei today and
therefore we mourn"
THE RESPONSES
Then came the responses and the knight in
charge said: Let us look back upon the life of
the brother whose spirit has departed from his
body and sec if he be entitled to honorable
mention and to be remembered with affection
Ii any one OF you, or any one who hears me-
can accuse OF wrong this knigh: now dead let
him stand forth and SO declare
One OF the twenty-one knights followed:
rAf hal -
God to judge the dead. He alone can with per-
feet justice reward and punish. He alone can
look INTO the soul and know it's most secret mo-
lVes and at once see and know all that from
birth until death, man hath thought and said
and done. Therefore if thou vert even thrice to
cali upon US to accuse our brother whose Iips
are closed SO that he can no longer answer for
himself, thou wouldst call in vain. for we are
all brethren in the bonds Of knighthood and do
reverence our dead"
NO ONE ACCUSES HIM.
at is my bounden duty again. brethren"
said Grand Master Hol. I'VE are free MEM
beers Of the Order Of the Holy House of the
Temple Of Solomon. Speak If We have aught
whereof to accuse the brother whose body lieth
here awaiting burial"
There was death-ike silence for few mo-
ments and then the gran0 master said in loud
voice: If there be no accuser there can be no
Judgment. Doth no man accuse the dead?''
God lis his judge and ours"
Three blows on the iron cross and the knights
arose and continued the service.
FURTHER CEnEMoNIEs
The Grand Master-'Let the grave, then, be
ready to receive this body. Brethren, who
command in the west, hear and make answer.
When will God judge?''
Responsible his own good time"
"Who will be man accuser?"
His conscience"
"Who his defender?''
mo one"
"Who will give testimony against him?'
"No one?'
God. who will judge, knoweth ALL
few more responses and then three blows
on the iron cross were followed by soft AID
plaintive music. The coffin lid was removed
and the body prepared for burial.
THE FINAL BLESSING.
Music by the choir of male and female voices
followed and Acting Grand Commander Batch
eller. Gen. Pixies probable successor, con-
Guided the ceremonies by SAYING Il bless thee,
U dead brother. il the name of Almighty God,
III 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 and bless thee. Amen"
The church, which was in darkness during
the ceremonies, except the light from the
candles, was lighted and the body was taken to
the Scottish Rite Temple.