Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-05
IN MEMORY OF The DEAD.
Beautiful and Impressive Services by the
Scottish Rite Masons.

Scottish Rite Masons.
The scene was peculiar one Of gloom
and sorrow, and yet the services were
beautiful and grand in their solemnlty.
The occasion was the Lodge of Sorrow
held at st Adams Hail Sunday afternoon
under the auspices of Libertas Lodge, No;
5. Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite OF
Free Masonry, in remembrance OF the late
Grand Commander Albert Pike and Rich
mond brethren who had died since the
Lodge of Perfection was organized IN 1873,
Edwin Mccarthy, James +. Riddick. Wal
ter Moore, and j. A. Wolfe.
THE ASYLUM.
The public ceremonies took place in the
Asylum of the Knights Templar. The
room was draped in mourning and dimly
lighted by three tall candles OF black
wax placed about the altar in triangle
form.
Over the chair of the Venerable Master
in the East was displayed large shield,
quartered according 10 the heraldry Of the
Scottish Rite, bearing the name OF ALBERT
Pike. -Four smaller shields similarly
quartered, bearing the names of the other
dead brothers. were placed on standards
near the East. These escutcbeonS were
covered with thin wells of crepe. The
asylum was divided in the middle by
small black veil caught up by rings or
hooks near the ceiling. SO
That part of the room Inside the veil
was reserved for the Scottish Rite Masons'
| and there the ceremonies took place. Near
the East was a small altar covered with
black cloth strewed with tears OF silver, on
| which rests the open Bible, square, and
compass and midway between the altar
and the veil rested black coffin on two
| high tables properly draped. On the III OF
| the coffin was the plain white apron OF a
| Master Mason and the sword Of the thirty
third degree in gold scabbard, the
whole presenting a weird and gloomy ai'-
| pearance.
THE CEREMONIES.
Promptly at 3 o'clock tho Lodge of Per
| lection entered the asylum headed by Mr..
| Charles A. Nesbett, master Of ceremonies.
| All were seated except nine. These nine
! with the Venerable Master of the Perfect
| Elus, Rev. Hartley Carmichael, at the head,
wearing the black collar Of the kadossh
! and the apron OF a Prince Of Mercy learly
! Christian dcgree) formed in circle around
! the coffin, and then the ceremonies began
| The ritual was beautiful and Impressive
! Mr.. Carmichael was in fine voice and his
reading was in his very best style.
The music for a Lodge of Sorrow ~ OF O
very high order. 1t was composed by
! Matthew Cooke, of London, organist IN
| one Of the ROYAL chapels and also organlst
| Of the Supreme Chapel Of England and
| Wales. and dedicated to the late Grand
! Commander. General Pike. At certain
| points in the ceremonies DR.. Leweuberg,
| as Server, ond dressed rs q Knight OF the
Fast and West. extinguished the lights ana
later Telighted the candles.
BADR FAREWELL.
| Toward the close of the ritualist service
! the nine brethren folded their arms over
! their breasts and marched slowly around
! the coffin three times. and at the compile
! ton OF each single they halted, faced In
ward and gave the grand honors for a
| Lodge of Sorrow accompanied with the
word Farewell" twice repeated. The
| Venerable Master was assisted IN the
reading by +. p. Knipe and j. '. Bldgood.
! The orator Of the Lodge OF Perfection,
! w. O. English, delivered an address on the
! departed ones, in whose memory the lodge
was held, and II was pronounced by all
present chaste, scholarly, and altogether
| appropriate. During the ceremonies the
Inspector-General for Virginia. John r.
! MAYER, occupied a station IN the East AT
| the right of the presiding officers char.
| Honorary-InspeCtor-G William Ryan
sat ON the left of the char. Mr.. Ryan was
! clothed as master of the Rose Croix.
The services lasted about an hour and
! half.
Mr.. Knipe, who has recently located in
| Richmond, is known among the Masons as
| having superb voice.
! A letter was received from the Grand
| Master of Masons of Virginia, Mr.. j.
| Howard Wayt. expressing his deep regret
at not being able to be present as he had
| hoped to do.