New-York tribune., 1896-05-31

this we are reminded OF the universal dominion Vi
death The arm Of friendship cannot interpose 70
prevent his coming: the wealth or the Worlu can
not purchase release.
EMBLEM OF FAITH.
Then. taking a spr.g OF evergreen, the Master
SAYS: This evergreen is emblem OF our iaith
in the Immortality OF the soul. BY this we are
reminded OF our high and glorious destiny be-
yond the world Of shadows and that there dweIis
within our tabernacle of clay an imperishabe' I'M
mortal spirit. over which the grave has no DO
mlnon and death no power" The sprig Is dropped
into the grave, while all who stand ABOUT 1t "a
CLAIM. ALAS! Ny brother''
The Junior and the Senior Wardens then cast
handfus of earth upon the coffin. and the Master
once more addresses his brethren. The chaplain
delivers a short prayer. end then the Master APP
proaches the head OF the grave and with these
words closes the ceremony: Soft and safe to thee.
M brother be this earthly bed. Bright and
glorious be thy rising from It! Fragrant be the
acacia sprlg that here shall flourish! May the
earliest buds of spring unfold their beauties DER
this thy res,ng-place and here may the sweetness
Of the summers last rose linger longest lhouggh
the cold blasts Of winter may lay them IN me
dust. and for time destroy the oveliness OF tnelr
existence yet the destruction ,s not hnaI; ana ~
the sprnetme they shall surely bloom again 90
the bright morning OF s the Tob b gsi by hc
chilling blast Of death. shall come again into new
LESS OF e ana nc, ses eXpsn' NTH M hen dear brot2cr
until then-farewelE
THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR RITUAL.
The knights Templar burial service is highly cere-
monious On the 'offn OF the dead knigh; are
placed his plumed hat and sword, and II an officer
his jewel When the public or religious services are
over the face OF the deal is uncovered. and
an arch Of steel is formed over the coffin by
the swords OF the members OF the commdndery.
The Commander then makes a brief address. In
which he speaks of the certainty OF death. All
that remains OF beloved companion sir knight
lies mute before us. and the light OF the eye and
the breathing Of the lip. in their language OF fra
ternal greeting have ceased for us forever on
this side OF the grave. His sword, vowed only to
be drawn in the cause Of truth. justice and Ma
tonal liberty reposes St in its scabbard. and
our arms can no more shield him from any wrong
their swords and series OF prayers and responses
follow, in which the prelate leads. hymn Is then
This ceremony all takes place in the house of
mourning. At the grave the knights form trl-
livers an address, in the course OF which he says
The memory of his virtues fingers in our remem-
portals Of 't the tomb The earthen vase which has
contained precious odors vi" lose % none & Of rs
So be IT with our .rother.'
The Junior Warden then removes the sword and
hat from the coffin which is then lowered into the
grave, while the Preate repeats. II am the resur-
rection and the life The Junior Warden then gives
plains Its significance The same is done with the
cross which the Preate & describes and then casts
Prelate gives short history Of the orders OF Chris
was prescribed It united with the fraternity Of
Free and Accepted Masons After repeating the
the grave and the benediction is pronounced.
THE SCOTTISH RITE CEREMONY
More elaborate than either Of these two cere-
monies is the funera, service in the Ancient and
Accepted Scottish Rite. The ceremony consists Of
two parts One takes place in the chapter or church
the house. and the second at the grave. The
chapter Is prepared for the occasion In the place
formerly occupied oy the deceased knight chair.
covered with black CLOTH 'strewn with tears of
silver" is placed and upon it an escutcheon In blue
white green and crimson. quartered and bearing
the of the dead man in black letters. This IL
surmounted by deaths head and cross bones and
SURROUNDED by collar Of the highest degree pos
sessed by the dead man. At the base of the escutch
con hangs the jewel Of the order and behind IT IS
sword across It's scabbard. the point downward
The walls Of the hall are hung with black gar
lands and with wreaths OF ivy. In front of the
bearing the word Immortality" lighted.
The coffin is placed near the centre OF the room:
On II lie the apron. Gordon and jewel. sword and
sword belt, and above II hangs sepulchral lamp
All about the room there are emblems OF mourning
and OF hope The service In the chapte" IS long ana
embraces an explanation OF the many symbols and
dissertation on mortality At the grave one OF the
most dramatic features OF the ceremony Is when an
officer takes cross Of roses from the cofin and
holding 1t in his right hand says: Il adjure you.
brethren. by this holy symbol OF the rosy cross the
emblem of Faith Hope Loving Kindness and I'm
mortality, not to permit your duties to the dead TO
with these sad ceremonies adjure you TO
right his causes TO do justice TO his memory to de-
fend his reputation. And do especially charge you
that YOU do watch and give protection and as
sistance to any whom he hath left unprotected and
destitute who suffering wrong or injury. may
appeal to you in his name"
The burial service of the odd Fellows and the
various higher and side degrees OF that popular
order modelled after the Masonic rites 10 great
extent, and while the symbols. emblems and tho
words of the service different. the general tone
is the same and the service for the dead Is used as
a lesson to the living.
In the various Jewish fraternal organizations. OF
which the Bnai-|rith Is the largest the funeral
ceremonies a:e Scrptural TO great extent although
certain forms and ceremonies Of other fraernal go
cieties followed. In some OF the societies, com
posed Of orthodox Jews. charity box is placed on
or the coffin. into which those who attend the
funeral deposit money each In keeping with his
ability.
In all OF these ceremonies the Bible plays an i'm
portant part. because passages appropriate to tho
occasion quoted by master commander, chap
lain. noble grand. whatever the title OF the Of
fciating person may be. The ceremonies pertaining
the Masonic burial said to have had their
origin in the days Of King Solomon and many OF
the other orders lay claim to extreme antiquity.
MODERN AND NOT BIBLICAL.
The Benevolent and Protective Order OF Elks is
an exception to the rule. I'VE have beautiful and
impressive burial service" said a member OF tho
order. but 1t is unlike any other in two particulars
1t has Biblical quotations and It Is not old Tho
most extreme agnostic could not take exception to
it. and the who is a thorough believer in the
Bible could find nothing In 1t crticise." The
wa A C. MOreland and