The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-12-27
HELD AT MIDNIGHT.
A Weird and Spectacular Sc8ne ct
the Masonic Temple.
HIGH MASOES IN BLACK GOWNS



Young son Given an AdJurAtion.
at midnight last night the burial ser
vice for the dead was said over all that
was mortal Of Frank Drummond, accord
ing to the ritual Of Knights Kados b,
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Of
Free Masonry. 1t was the first time the
ceremony was ever attempted 10 Kansas,
and sad, impressive service it was. 1t
has been performed only once in Mis-
souri,, and that at Kansas City recently.
The service was restricted in attendance
to Masons their wives, and the more in
innate friends Of the deceased Mason.
There were $50 people present
The coffin lay in the center OF the room
with the entire top removed, leaving the
life like features Of the deceased in full
view. Three long candle-stlck5 were a.
the head aud foot Of the casket
Promptly at the hour Of midnight the
room was darkened, and at the sound Of
a trumpet twenty-one shr0uded Masons
filed slowly into the room They wore
long black gowns aud Their heads were
uncovered Each man carried lighted
taper. They took places in a circle
about the coffin. and knelt while a choir
concealed behind til g curtains sang Rock
Of Ages. NJ ii. Miller, the Venerable
Master of the lodge. read the i'm pressive
dead He also euIogized Dir. Drummond
and said he had kept the faith and had
been faithful to every trust. This done, the
Mas0ns filed about the coffin and each
after taking a last look at the remains
repeated the benedictIon, Brother, thou
art dead to this world, but liveth to the
Lord" blowing out the lights from their
tapers as they passed.
A large cross which stood at the foot
of the coffin was struck three blows and
the shrouded Masons filed soIemnly
from the room. In a moment they re-
turned and knelt again while the choir
chanted the 23d psalm The casket was
closed and the sword was crossed upon
the top.
An impressive feature of the service
was Frank Drummond's eldest son. Har-
ry was led to the side of the
coffin. The venerable master said: six
teen years ago we placed this ring
your fathers hand in token of pledge.
He was faithful to the pledge, and now
at his request, we place the ring on your
pledge, but believe you will try to be
faithful to the virtues which made your
father beloved among US" The young
man stood with hands behind him and
head bowed. The announcement of the
funeral at o'clock this afternoon at the
First Congregational church concluded
the service. The ceremony was impress
sive to the extreme. It was under the
general supervision Of Charles g Col
burn The other Knights Of Kadosh
who participated in the ceremony
were: n. n. Miller. venerable master;
Evan Davis. senior warden; Homer G.
Bowman. junior warden; w. G. Chafee,
chancellor; g. B. Hamilton, orator; J. A.
Hass. secretary: VIM. Elder, treasurer:
S l.. Sea brook, experts J. E. Moone. as
sistant expert; c. G. Colburn, director; j.
ID. Mcclure, James Quine, Fred Low
man, John Norton, Olof Eek berg, John
Radges, r. L Cofran, William Green, w.
III. Wilson and Harrison Smith
There were also two uniformed guards
OF honor stationed in the background Of
the room They were g. B. Jennings
and Jacob Keener. Two other Mas0ns.
John Sargent and James Cufhbert,
guarded the body all the remainder Of
the night
The ceremony was witnessed by a
number Of visiting Masons from kansas
City.