New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26
THE SICK AND THE DYING.
DrATHRED MARRIAGE.

ofty
duties amounting TO n sacred obligation; ana IL
ona ~ our Masonic fanily-that Is a member OF
our lodge-was reported sick, that every pro'her
should bc ready 10 serve on the SICK committee
Most lodges met weekly then. ana 1t was Il coih-
mo, thing for the Master to call for seven voun-
,eers one for each night OF the week TO SIT up
u,,h s,ck Bro A. or watch by the caskct which
contained the mortal remains OF Bro. H. ANA ne
seldom called IN vain. for 1t was looked upon as
a matter Of course. especially among the newer
and younger brethren. that they must contribute
some practical aid to the good and welfare OF the
craft There was less of fuss and fury then
Work was well enough done at the limitations. but
the real work In visiting the SICK, In AIDING
the widow and her little ones and In stretching
forth a helping hand to assist worthy brother
that vas idle phrase then TO be sure we h'u
less parades less shows, and the social feature
WAS less observed than ii Is now; and as the latter
Is messed forward and into prominence. the visit
ing part is more and more neglected. and it seems
TO me we gradually drifting into the ways oi
our English brethren across the big pond-that IS
Of making the fraternity more of social circle
with monthly meetings, and the inevitable banquet
at each meeting. Brethren may belong to dozen
n acJsce Rnt then the English Masons point with
lust pride their various great beneNoIeht IL
sututionS erected and maintained by ING craft
their Orphan Asylum for Masonic Waits, theli
Masonic Home for boys and girls, which almost
equals great college and where me sons ', f
lifes work and Ife's struggles and their Ola
Peoples Home for aged and INDECENT brethren
magnificent Home in the Mohawk Valley ana 10
the less pretentious but cosey and fine Home al
Fortunately individual lodges have done and are
constantly doing good work. silently, patiently aha
humanely assisting each other and caring for thcir
widows and orphans. and in quiet ana un9sIch,,
tatious way accomplish a great deal OF good ana
benevolent work drying many tears OF sorrow
and grief and helping the poor mother to bring up
her fatherless children in the way OF recuiude ana
1t requires peculiar temperament to he sue
cess as a visitor or 10 be OF any use IN Il SCH
room; to talk at the right time and in the right
way. and not TO talk too much; in short. TO Know
know when 10 be silent although to know and and
fully understand all this Is very yaIuaDie s'''
II has been my misfortune to be present d at many
sad of y br t4 have Often seem the hard
struggles Of the strong man suffering With pam
yet s'T wigrsd 10 me T Ee9ccf passing away the
gradual sinking and ebbing out OF hit tNisaI
ence, although | feel that have never been equa!
TO the situation. ......,,,.n
one very peculiar deathbed scene re ,nrInb
have not In this case in most OF my RCminis-
CenccS." any data memorandum, the whole SUP,
tect including the scene referred to- is so impressed
upon my mind that think can rGlat, II WIN Inc
same accuracy and truth as though aided 10y ms
brother Talbot had bce1 sick long time. AZ
this rapidly developed into a malignant form 81
typhoid fever and ne had very severe ana Atrru
lodge everybody was ready 10 SIT up win MN
Brother Talbot had always been an active mdmr,r
w"u liked by everybody: bu, when gradually the
nature Of his dsefse beam mr. n 0
there were always some OF The brethren VINO would
ster his wants ON one Of '6esG niEns m -
with Bro,her bSns son s fIcg S Gs'd agreed 10 SIT
brother Benson was a shpjoiner and hard
working man. He had been out in the air al d11y.
and l found myself alone WIN very y, S Tx
man side and very sound sleeper on ,'I
tried to read, and became Interested IN It's p'EEcy
Only casting an occasional gi@ncr az ~" H.
tened to his whispers ana incoherSn T il nc
eur very often ] knew Brother Talbot was en-
gagged or expected to be. to very estlman1 youtt
tha ia his feverish tossing about the name Of his
afanced often came 10 the surface, ,o, - engage
the sick brother in slight scraps OF convsr,alon,
but his thoughts were constantly S . maj
something weighed upon ms mind in GSnnSrSSn
with his Lulu At one Of those bright mon"n'S o hg
Brother Benson asleep" When / nodded yes, h.
s9ia 10 tnUngh an 3d. ntG by frequent
Of his mind. he asked me TO go TO NO ~ NJ
am very sick and would like to see her. She may
bring her aunt with her but be sure ana urge ho'
Though frequently INTERRUPTED by vague and incoi
herent sentences the above MA hin, 1DopI would TO-
but ala not. could not trust MN aIonr Wiz
Sa1iheI igSU and vi" besides hc doctor had
!sed TO call once more during the evening, ana Pu,
the sick brother made. me promise 20 20 IN the
morning and bring his Lulu to his bedside
refreshing Dshi Sleep and awokc much improved ana
clear in his mind He remembered well, h0wgygr.
h henson hdd dSPaTed the Sick seemed
tcs Te ME ga and and is sae his lady, Ths III az
as my relief came and, going TO IN. nurnh,r ihal,
Common IN those days in he Tenth Ward Of ths
city An elderly woman received me IN cosey h''l,
the house and the aunt Of Miss Lulu made my
mission known to her, insisting ho%tVer' 10 zee
Slight tInge Of curiosity In this. but I wanted to
carry the wish Of Brother Talbot ana GeN,,
the appearance Of Misc Lulu. J expected to nnd a
very sedate and rather trim woman. past the giddy
season of teens and whose only really ngnntiiimo
through rather dreamy, eye; She Gomsun,d Win
her aunt in whisper ana me d1'no rysed mr.
through and find out how much OF truth or honesty
ho,b w@5 an9Hi me- to Brr bo
way thither the aun, inquired Of me the partlcu-
frankly what allied him. but neither Of the women
seemed TO mind the nature or danger Of the dis
Upon arriving at the sick chamber we found
was delighted 10 see his Lulu, but unfortunately
ne not strong enough % bear me exciteIIntn'.
by the hour. My business by this time called me
away. and had to leave the two women ana nurse
alone with the sick man. PROMISING hover; -
call again In the evening ana see that s2me Gr1,heT
there TO stay up WIN sYfn mn o GG ina foth
Talbot rapidly failing disratched MESSENGER ,d
az home and came at once As soon as h. entered
the room his practical eye saw with certainty that
medical skill or human power was OF no avail, ana
that our brother was doomed: that death had
marked him as his own. and was only toying with
his victim and would shortly lay his cold hands
upon him and call him hence. ! Informed Miss
Stratton as tenderly as ] could OF the state on
affairs but was IN doubt what 70 do about Brother
Taibott whether TO breach the subject to him or
lei him die with sweet hope IN his mind to the last
Phvicians tell that the senses of the dying are
sharpened etherealtzed; II seemed so IN this case
Whether the sick brother heard the whispered con
versatjon OF the doctor Miss Lulu with myself
or whether he saw by our faces the condition Of
things never knew; but he seemed to be fully
aware Of his approaching end. ard calmly asked
wpor, could call on and, II So please 10 do so at
once. -, . ,,..--
ond chrvstio ais St stephens Episcopal Church.
the Rev Or. Price. rector. With this old and ven;