The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1897-02-25


that We are all subject to that dread
decree, the solemn cause of our present
! meeting, the daily observation of our
lives, and the mournful mounds which
indicate this population OF the dead
furnish evidence not 10 be forgotten.
Seeing, then. my brethren, that life
is so uncertain. and that all earthly
pursuits are vain, let US no longer post
pOne the all-important concern of pre-
lparing for eternity; but let us embrace
the present moment, while time and
IOppOrtunifv are offered, TO provide
against that great change when all the
pomps and pleasures of this 1eeting
world viii pail upon the sense, and the
recollection of a virtuous and we'll
spent life viii yield the only comfort
and consolation. Thus we shall not, un-
prepared, be hurried into the presence
of that all-wise and powerful Judge,
TO whom the secrets of all hearts are
known; and on the great day of reck-
oning we shall be ready to give a good
account of our stewardship while here
on earth.'
| Following this, at the close of the
| Masters remarks, at this point, re-
! sponseS were given by the members
gathered around. The apron of the de-
ceased brother, which had been bound
by piece of crepe, was taken from
the coffin by the Master and the serv-
ice continued:
''This lamb-skin, or white apron. is
al emblem of innocence, and the pecu-
| liar badge of a Mason. 1t is more an
cient than the Golden Fleece or Roman
Eagle, and, when worthily worn. more
| honorable than Star or Garter, or any
other order which earthly power can
confer. This emblem I nov deposit in
the grave of our deceased brother By
this act we are reminded of the univer-
sal dominion of Death. The arm of
friendship cannot oppose the king of
terrors; the shield of fraternal love
cannot protect his victim; nor can the
charms of innocence avert his fatal
touch. All must die. This grave, that
coffin, and this circle of mourning
friends, remind us that we, too, are
mortal, and that ere long our bodies,
also, shall moulder into dust. How i'm
portant then it is for us to know that
our Redeemer liveth, and that He shall
stand at the latter day upon the earth!
''This evergreen, which once marked
the temporary resting place of one il
lustriouS in Masonic history, is an en-
blem of our enduring faith in the IN
mortality of the soul. Py it we are re-
minded that we have an imperishable
part within us, which shall survive the
grave, and which will never, never die
By it we are admonished that, though
like our brother, whose remains now
lie before us, we, too, shall soon be
clothed in the habiliments of death,
and be deposited in the silent tomb;
yet, through the loving goodness of our
Supreme Grand Master, we may con-
fidently hope that, like this evergreen,
fidently hope that, like this evergreen
our souls will hereafter flourish in
eternal spring.
Here the brethren marched in a cir
Gle around the coffin, and the band
playing solemn dirge. AS each mem
ber of the lodge reached the coffin he
dropped the sprig of acacia.
Eminent Commander Cooper, repre-
senting the knights, read the follow
ing:
"The great Creator having been
pleased, in His infinite wisdom, to re-
move our brother from the cares and
troubles of this transitory life, thus
severing another link in the fraternal
chain by which we are bound together
let us, who survive him-be yet more
strongly cemented by ties of brotherly
love; that, during the brief space allot-
ted to us here, we may wisely and use
fully employ our time, and, in the re-
ciprocal intercourse of kind and friend
ly acts, mutually promote the welfare
and happiness of each other.
unto the grave we have consigned
the body of our deceased brother-earth
to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust;
there to remain until the last trump
shall sound on the resurrection morn.
We can trustingly leave him in the
hands of a benefcent Being who has
done all things we'll; who is glorious
in His holiness; and it should only be
our endeavor so to improve the solemn
warning now before us, that, on the
great day of account, we too, may be
found worthy to inherit the kingdom
prepared for us from the foundation of
the world
The services closed by the Master
reading the following:
''Soft and safe to thee, my brother,
be this earthly bed, Bright and glor-
ious be thy rising from it! Fragrant be
the cassia-sprig that here shall -four
ishi May the earliest buds of spring
unfold their beauties DER this thy rest
ing place, and here may the sweetness
of the summers last rose linger long
est Though the cold blasts of autumn
may lay them in the dust, and for a
time destroy the loveliness of their ex-
istence, yet the destruction is not final,
and in the spTing-time they shall sure
" bloom again. So, in the bright morn
ing of the worlds resurrection. thy
mortal frame now laid in the dust by
the chilling blast of Death, shall spring
again into newness of life, and expand,
in immortal beauty, in realms beyond
the skies. Until then, dear brother, un-
til then, farewellr'