The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-02-23

dwelling Ceremonies.
q The members of the Knights of Pythia
: in this state were out in force on Wed
] nesdaY afternoon and visited Mount Holly
to participate in the services connected
} with the unwilling of the monument tc
, the memory of Samuel Read, the first Su.
preme Chancellor of the order in this
country.
The first delegation to arrive came from
Bordentown and Burlington and was
headed by Phillips band. They waited
at the railroad station until the arrival of
the special from Trenton, which contain
ed the members and officers of the Grand
Lodge and members from various parts OF
the state.
The grand officers we're:
Grand Chancellor, William E. Hitch
cock, Newark Grand Vice-Chancellor,
Daniel s. Rockafellar, Someryllle; Grand
Prelate, Rev. Dewitt G. Cobb. Medford !;
Grand Keeper of Records and Sea, George
E. Pierson, Woodbury.; Grand Master of
Exchequer, John Patrick. Rutherford
Grand Master at Arms, Somers 7. Cham
pion, Atlantic Highlands; Grand Inside
Guard, John P. Dexheimer. Orange ;
Grand Outside Guard, William Launer,
Salem. They were accompanied by an
escort of Excelsior Commandery, with
Winkler's Seventh Regiment Band.
The visitors were received at the sta
ton by the local committee, consisting of
Edward S. Troth, George w. Hand,
George ]. Robertson, George w. A. French,
Robert L. Nixon and ]. Fred Kiner, and
the members of New Jersey Lodge, No. l,
of Mount Holly, of which Mr.. Read was a
member.
The line of march was formed with
Captain E. II. Kirkbride, of Mount Holly,
chief marshal Of the ununiformed Knights,
his assistants being J. Frank Cline, of
Burlington William M. Potts, Medford !;
Winfield S. Gale, Mount Holly. Colonel
Colgrove marshaled the uniformed
Knights.
The line marched up Main street to
Judge Gaskill's, countermarching to the
opera house, where the ceremonies were
held.
Ralph Donath of Jersey City, a Past
Grand Chancellor, presided. Rev. De-
Witt G. Cobb, of Medford offered prayer,
after which Past Chancellor Philip
F. Stanley, chairman of the monument
committee, was introduced. He congrat-
ulated the members upon the success
which had attended their efforts, result
ing in the purchase of a fitting memorial
to the memory of one who, by his tireless
devotion, placed this order in the high
position it now occupies.
Mr.. Stanley then presented the mon
ument to the Grand Lodge. 1t was ac-
cepted by the Grand Chancellor, w. E.
Hitchcock, who delivered lengthy ad-
dress. in which were many statistics show
ing the growth of the order and its pres
ent standing. He said the years came and
went since August 10. 1888, the date of
the death of Past Supreme Chancellor
Read, and all that is mortal of him rests
peacefully and calmly in an unknown
and forgotten grave with none to do him
reverence. unmarked save by the wild
flowers that grow from the sod which
covers his last resting place.
The Grand Lodge became cognizant of
this fact three years ago and in Justice to
him appointed committee which en-
deavored to fulfil the purpose of erecting
suitable monument to his memory.
The order throughout the state took an
active interest, and mainly through their
efforts is erected this loving tribute to the
virtues, attainment and memory of Past
Supreme Chancellor Read. who still lives
in the hearts and memories of his Pyth-
ian brothers.
The speaker referred to the organiza-
ton of the order. Among those who
were foremost in the movement was Sam
uel Read, whose heart was aglow with
enthusiasm over the principles set forth
by the order, and be worked with all his
might to spread throughout the entire
country those tenets to which he held SO
loyalty.
Mount Holly, where we now assemble
to revere the memory of Samuel Read,
was his birthplace. With educational
facilities far behind those of the present
time, Samuel Read secured knowledge
of practical value to him in later life. His
nature was generous to fault. His was
the towering spirit of the order that led
it on to the high position it now holds
Language cannot describe the value he
was to the Knights of Pythias.
Hon. Philip I. Colgrove, of Michigan,
Supreme Chancellor of the order, was the
next speaker. He said he had been
thinking how poor this world would be
without it's noble dead, for it is the voice
less forms that lie in their last sleep that
are continually speaking to us. The
speaker had listened to the tributes to
one who had grown very dear to him in
the past two hours. The time when a
leader is needed is passed Supreme
Chancellors may travel from ocean to
ocean, but the leaders will be found in
the windowless palaces of the honored
dead.
When he was boy, the speaker had
an idea that the foremost bird in the migra-
tory focks was a leader; that if it swerv-
ed from It's course the entire flock would
become confused. But the bird that de-
viates would soon find himself alone The
instinct which guides the winged inhabi-
| -, &c %ha 81 L.
deserted years ago. So with this order.
Those who have mapped out the way and
who have directed the lines to be follow
ed have passed away. Mr.. Colgrove con-
tinued
while in this neighborhood l thought
it fitting to stop at the grave of one who
did SO much for the order. This is the
first letter in our marble history. hope
we may soon be able to erect similar
testimonial to the founder of Pythianism.
but while we are paying tribute to the
memory of the illustrious dead, should
we not remember the living? Is it not
right for every member to erect a monu-
ment more lasting than granite? Build
while it is day such personal monument
that will rob the sculptor of his powers.
Admit no one to your order that you
would not permit to enter your own
home.
81 point to our ritual, which is jeweled
on every page. That is piece of marble,
a chisel and a hammer with which we
can build the grandest shaft imagi nable
When we come to the grave it is not what
we have, but what we are.