Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-10
WEIRDLY SOLEMN.
Masonic Midnight Services Over
Gen. Albert Pike.
A soMBRE AND STATELY CEREMONY,

The Church wrapt in Gloom Save for the
Trappings and Ritual-The Ancient
Rites Duly Performed in Almost Dead
silence-A Weird and Mystic Scene
Burial of p. t. Barnum.
WASHINGTON CRY, April 10.-Long be-
fore midnight yesterday hundreds of peo-
pie had gathered in front of the First
Congregational church, waiting to wit
ness the midnight services over the re-
mains of the late Gen. Albert Pike. So
dense was the crowd that it was with
great difficulty that the bearers of the
casket from the Scottish Rite sanctuary
could force their way into the church,
followed by the long line of Masons who
wished to pay high honor to the deceased
brother. It was quarter of an hour
after midnight before the services began.
Impressive Scene in the Church.
The scene in the church was peculiarly
solemn, the dead hour of night, the assem-
bled knights, and the somber trappings,
combined to make an impressive picture.
The walls of the church were covered with
black cloth. while on a catafalque on
platform extending out twenty feet from
the pulpit was the casket containing the
body of the deceased knight. There were
nine candlesticks, each four feet in height,
in three triangles, on the east. west, and
south of the casket. each having upon it a
lighted candle Otherwise the large
church was unlighted. On the upper end
of the casket was chaplet of white roses,
nd fc1n ha IF ha
and the sword of the deceased knight in
its scabbard. Upon tablet near the coz
fin was skull wreathed with evergreen,
surrounded by seven large candlesticks
bearing no lights. At the head of tie
casket stood a great iron cross painted
black
Beginning of the Ceremony.
When all was quiet and the organ
played softly. Grand Master Holt, bearing
lighted candle and an iron hammer,
walked slowly in from room on the left,
and stood at the foot of the casket. Then
twenty one knights followed, all bearing
candles and attired in black, with scarfs
of Grape, and their heads bare. They en-
tered like shadows and arranged them
selves in a semi-circle on the west, south
and north sides of the casket facing the
east. For a moment 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 according to
the ancient knightlo custom.
Solemn Prologue.
All was quiet as death as he said: at
is midnight and new day begins for US.
Our brother has finished his earthly pro.
baton. Death is the memorable creditor
whose indulgence nothing in the world
can purchase. Every moment that sees
new born child brought to light sees a
man die, and hears the cry of broken
hearts and lamentations of those VINO sit
lonely and in the desolation of affection,
no longer seeing the faces of dearly loved
ones Round the little island of our be-
ing, on which we follow our various pur-
suits of toll or craft, of usefulness or mis-
chief, throbs the illimitable ocean of
eternity, upon which, round the isle, a
broad circle of
Impenetrable Darkness Broodins Lies.
But beyond that zone the other ocean
sparkles and its white crested waves dance
in the light, and somewhere in the dis
lance the islands of the blessed are dream
ing. girdled by the peaceful waters. Here
in our present home we live our little
life, waiting to be called to other duties
ELSEWHERE anu one Dy one our lONeQ 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"
Closing Scene of the Services
The beautiful but weird services were
continued by taking the chaplet from the
temples of the dead knight, the cross from
the breast, the cords from the feet and
hands, and then in succession each at
tendant approached the casket and laid
his right hand upon the eyes, cheeks,
mouth, heart, hands. and feet, each re-
peating blessing. When the last atten-
dant had touched the body of the dead,
the lights were turned up, and after all
had left the church, the remains were car
ried back to the Scottish Rite temple.