The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-04-12

IL
32o; Meyer Hermann, 32e; Henry Hoffa, 800.
April o. Z. McC. Criswell, 800: William Oscar
Roome, &0; l.. r. Ninton, 32o; NJ j. Hull,
320; E. w. Anderson, 32o; j. II. Trimble 32o.
April 10, the entire membership of the CON
sistory as escort.
The midnight services on Thursday evening
attracted very large attendance. The body
of the church was reserved for the Scottish
Rite the Masonic fraternity of the District of
Columbia, and the Masonic Veteran Associa-
tion. About u o'clock the above.named
bodies marched into the church and occupied
the pews assigned to them, the galleries and
remaining space being filed with spectators
1t was solemn scene and one long to be
remembered. Among all the magnificent rit-
uals of the Scottish Rite there is none more
beautiful and solemn than the last Offices at the
obseouies of Knight Kadosh, the ceremony
which was held over the remains of Gen. Pike
The services are nearly identical with the an
clent ceremonies used at the oosequies of
Knight Templar When the remains of the
Grand Commander were brought into the
church Thursday evening they were
placed within the boundaries of
nine candles, arranged in triangles
on the east, west, and south of the
casket. On the upper end of the coffin-lid
rested chaplet of white roses, below it the
insignia of the order and the sheathed sword
of Knight Kadosh. Upon tablet near the
coffin was skull, wreathed with evergreens
and surrounded by seven large candlesticks
~
stood large iron cross, painted black, and
the presiding officer held in his hand an iron
hammer OF similar color Shortly after the
stroke of twelve the presiding officer, followed
by twenty-one knights, all bearing tapers, at
tired in black, with scarfs of crepe. and their
heads bare. filed one by one upon the stage as
silently as shadows and arranged themselves
in semi-circle on the west, south, and north
sides of the coffin, facing the east, while the
presiding officer took his station on the east
side of the coffin, behind the cross and facing
west. After standing thus silently two or
three moments few notes Of plaintve music
were heard, and the presiding officer began
the reading of the ritual. For want of space
this beautiful opening cannot be printed. One
paragraph is so touching that it is given:
"lt is midnight and a new day begins for
us. Our brother has finished his earthly pro-
baton. Death is the inexorabe creditor
whose indulgence nothing in the world can
purchase. Every moment that sees new
born child laugh at the light sees also man
die and hears the cry of breaking heart and
the lamentations of those who sit lonely in
the desolation of atfction, no longer seeing
the faces dearly loved. Round the little
island of our being on which we follow our
various pursuits of toll or craft, of usefulness
or mischief, throbs the illlmitable 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
peaceful 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 which is the shadow of the
broad wings of Death''
One of the most dramatic scenes occurred
after the conclusion of the opening colloauy,
the presiding officer twice demanding of the
knights present if they have aught whereof
to accuse the brother whose body awaits
burial. There was an impressive pause for
some moments, during which the entire audi
ence was as silent as death, when he exclaimed
in loud voice, 'If there be no accuser there
can be no Judgment. Doth no man accuse
tn the dead? ?' Then all the knights, bending to
the right knee, answered in Unison, "God is
his Judge and ours" Then the presiding Of
ficer, giving three blows upon the iron cross
with his hammer, declared, ''Let the grave,
then, be ready to receive this body" Further
colloquy followed, and then as soft, plantive
music filled the church two knights stepped
forward and removed the coffin lid, exposing
to view the body, the hands and feet tied with
accord, the temples adorned with chaplet of
laural and vine leaves, on the heart bunch
OF freshly culled violets, and on the breast
cross of gold sparkling with jewels, the first
symbolizing that in life man is the slave of
his habits and the bondman of circumstances:
the chaplet that man lives for honor
ana enjoyment; tne cross OF gold that
dignities and splendor are the great
prizes of life, while the violets were symbol
of affection, the Offering of brothery love to
one who deserved to be remembered and
whose death created sorrow and sadness.
Several knights then approached the coffin.
One by one each laid his hand upon the head,
eyes, cheek, mouth, heart, hands, and feet of
the deceased, each accompanying this rite
with blessing, after which the presiding Off
Ger closed the ceremony, concluding as fol-
lows: "We will lay tenderly and reverently
this body of our brother In the bosom of the
earth, it's great mother. Let the tears of
love raining upon it hallow his grave Then
leave it lying there in its bed of honor If
the SHOWS spread for time their white mantel
over it they, too, will soon dissolve into tears;
and when the fair days of spring return again,
and time begins to soften sorrow into more
measured grief, the grass watered by tears will
grow upon it, and the flowers planted by gentle
hands will bloom there; and round it for long
guard of immortal honor. May our Father
Up to this point there had been no vocal
music, but as the presiding officer ceased
speaking a low accompaniment sweled
from the great organ and a solemn chant
from the choir of male voices filled and
throbbed in beautiful harmony through
the edifice, during which the knights sprink-
led water upon the coffin, each with his
benediction The music of the chant sounded
further and further off, dying as it were in the
distance, when each taper except that of the
presiding officer was extinguished, and the
knights, kneelng with their arms crossed,
DraYed silently. DR. j. c. Batchelor the act