The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-09
IMPRESSIVE RITUAL.
Many Officers of Grand
Lodge Present.

Major Nathan Taylor was held at the
First Universalist Church, yesterday
afternoon.
Or all the public obsequies that have
been observed in Worcester in honor
OF deceased members of the commune
ty within recent years, none has been
more heartfelt tribute to the life and
works of a citizen than those which
marked the last rites over the body of
Major Taylor. Rarely have such uni
versal sorrow and respect been mani
rested by public gathering as were
exhlo1ted by the great congregation
that attended the services and listened
10 the glowing eulogy passed by Dr.
Gunnison of the life and character of
the deceased
mat the tribute was genuine was
amply testified to by the rapt atten-
tlon with which the remarks of the
speaker were listened to and the solemn
hush that pervaded the church, broken
only by the stified sobs that came from
all parts of the house as the tender,
manly character of the dead man was
recalled and his strong, worthy char
acter outlined in eloquent sentences.
Every seat in the large church was
filled. The right hand third of the audi
forum was set apart for the use Of
the delegations representing the va
nous bodies and orders to which Ma
Jor Taylor belonged. The audience in
GUIDED people of every rank in the city
from the wealthiest and most promi-
nent business men to the humblest
member OF society, who had at some
time experienced the good offices of the
kindly hearted man who mas gone to
his reward
The ritua! of the Odd Fellows was
conducted by the officers OF Central
Lodge, of which Major Taylor was a
member, Gen. Charles W. Wood act
ing as chaplain and Past Grand Ben
1amln Satchell acting as noble grand.
The secret societies remained stand
ing during the exercises and joined in
the responses with most impressive eff
feet. The Odd Fellows quartet rem
dered music during the services.
The remarks of Rev. DR.. Cunnison
were of an unusual order of elouuence
and We're a most fitting tribute to a
man whom all knew and respected.
The speaker said in part: After all
our hopes and fears, the thing we
reared mas come to pass and the life
OF this honorable business man and
beloved brother has come to an end
as the result of the fell disease against
which he so bravely battled. Not only
was ne strong man, a man whom
all honored and respected; he was also
the genial friend and brother whom
to know was to admire and love.
we are all co-workers in the fields
OF life, and in every phase of life he
was worthy laborer, bearing orave-
~ his own burdens and willingly shar-
ing those Of others. In all the connec
lions of life, in business, in society. in
the nome in prosperity and distress, in
JOY and In sorrow, we meet our fellow
men. In every one of these spheres of
influence our departed friend has done
that which he should do. He has done
well in all the concerns of life. Ills
HE mas been monument to duty we'll
done
In his early years when the country
was IN danger and the dreadful clouds
OF war hung heavy over the land. he
willingly made the offer of his services
and il need had been he would have
given his life to the cause of the gov
eminent.
lie went out with that famous old
command, the Sixth Massachusetts
regiment, that made so glorious a rec
ord, and in all the battles of the early
part OF the war, he participated with
distinguished courage. During his
many months of service, he bore a mart
Of unquestioned bravery, and proved
himself to be true soldier and self
sacrihclng citizen. 1t was during this
tine. no doubt, that he acquired the
taste for military affairs that has since
characterized his life.
He has been long an influential mem
Der of the semi-military and social or
ganization that Is 80 largely repre-
scented here today (the Worcester Con-
tlnentals). He has held the highest
office in the gift of the order, and has
long oeen known as one of it's best
members, one who was inspired by the
highest regard for the aims for which
the order stands-the perpetuaion of
the memories of the brave old DAYS of
the revolution.
He was not only good citizen in the
scenes of war but also in the activi-
ties OF peace. He had high ideals of
citizenship. He had a very deep seat
et! regard for the duties that are in
cumbent on citizen. He believed in
all the things that are right He was
an honest business man, and he never
lowered his standard of business integ-
rlty. His word was always as good as
his bond.
There are many men of high charac-
ter against whom the voice of re-
proach can never be raised, who are
respected for what they are, yet they
are not beloved among men. In addi-
ton to all the respect which his virtues
demanded, Mr.. Taylor had the esteem
and cordial regard of all who knew him,
for ne possessed in a remarkable de-
gree those gentler qualities that bind
hearts together with the manifold in
visible ties of love. He had the in
stinct, the talent for friendship of the
truest nature. Men came to him for
counsel not alone because they trust
ed him. but because they loved him
One Of the most touching symbols of
mourning that / see here before me is
mound Of flowers sent "by the men
who worked for him." and marked
across it's face with the significant
words Our Friend" He was indeed
a friend to those who served him, and
was ever willing to prove that he SYM
pathized with them in all their troubles
am rejoiced with them in all their
pleasures.
DR. Gunnison referred at considerable
length to the connection of Mr. Taylor
WITH the odd Fellows, and the long and
honorable service he had rendered the
order in various capacities He said:
With singular unostentatiousness
the order cares for the needy. 1t is
the good Samaritan of those who are
IN want of friend. There are none
who more broadly typify the life of
nm who went abroad doing good to
others, than do the members of this or
der. il seems almost providential that
when Worcester was selected as the
site of the home of the order, where
those who have attained ripe years can
go to pass their declining days amidst
the influences of brotherly love, that
this strong. true man was chosen to
have prominent part in its erection.
1t was truly said that Mr.. Taylor
built himself into the wallis Of that
building. He put into tho work that