The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-08
OF COL. RUCKLE
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES AT THE
CHURCH AND GRAVE.
The Episcopal Service and the Ma
sonic Ritualistic Service Used
High Officers Present.

yesterday afternoon after the imposing
ceremonies of the York and Scottish Rite
Masons and the Episcopal Church.
The funeral services began at st. Paurs
Episcopal Church at 2 p. m, after the re-
mains Of Colonel Ruckle had been escorted
from his late home at No.. 2O11 North ILL.,
nois street. to the church by the officers of
the Adoniram Grand Lodge of Perfection,
the officers and past grand masters of the
Grand Lodge, F.. and A. Masons, the Of
fcers and past commanders of the Grand
Commandery knights Templars and Raper
C~ommandery. No. 1, Knights Templars. of
this city.
The cortege left the house. going to
Twenty-first street and east to Meridian,
thence south on Meridian 10 New York
street and west, to the church. Members
Of Pentalpha Lodge. No. 564, F. and A
Masons, the surviving members Of the
Eleventh Indiana Regiment, OF which Col.
Ruckle was a member, and the I~ndianapo-
lis Light Infantry, which was originally or
ganized by him, Joined the procession at
North street and proceeded to the church.
THE CHURCH SERVICES.
The church services opened with the
professional by the vested choir, while the
organist, C.. A. Carson, played a beautiful
burial chant by Chauvet. This was followed
by the singing Of Peace. Perfect Peace"
by Mrs. Aquilla Jones, at the special re-
quest of Mrs. Ruckle, and assisted by the
chorus.
The Episcopalian funeral service was
given in full by the Rev. Lewis Brown,
pastor of st. Paul's Church, assisted by
the Rev. A. j. Graham, of Christ Church.
After the singing of Shadows of an Even
ing Hour" by the choir, the Rev. Mr..
Brown delivered a brief eulogy upon the
life and work Of the deceased. He said. in
part:
Life at it's best is but an evanescent
thing. Behind everything that is noble, and
strong, and good is the specter that men
call death. Yet death really g~lorifies hu-
manity. for in those hours at the close of
a career, when all that is mortal lies be-
fore us, shrouded for its last resting place,
we live again. Then the deeds, the words,
the circumstances which made up our little
day are rehearsed; then comes the spon-
taneous tributes from the hearts which We
have touched; the fulness Of emotion
speaks forth. and we realize that radiance
has crowned us with an immortal diadem.
We are gathered together in this re-
ngiouS temple to-day to do honor to one
whose life was passed in this great city. a
man among men, b~rave-hearted, true, con-
slant, fraternal. AS a citizen, a patriot, a
Mason. a friend. a husband and a father
every department of his experience was
Wei nigh ideal. To bring from these condi-
tons their intrinsic merit is difficult, be-
cause the best that Is I'm man is known only
TO God. But to give witness to the unvary-
ing excellence with which each department
was occupied is a duty of unusual privilege.
The early days of our brother were passed
on the battlefield. and from that baptism of
shot and shell he came forth to stand as
fulfilling every requirement. The great COL
ors and the mournful marks OF his COM
panions in arms attest the passing away
or one imbued with heroism. In business
circles ne was the soul OF probity. 1t is a
delight to know that his best friends are
those who knew him TO be honest, Just
and upright to a fault.
AS a Mason this notable gathering to-
day is the best proof of his worth. There
has been drawn about his bier the MEM
bers OF all the orders connected with
Masonry in this city and State and
throughout the country. but this throng
is but as a stream compared with the
ocean Of hearts from far away sending
sympathy to-day to those bereaved ones.
Wherever Colonel Ruckle has participated
in our matchless ritual and his voice has
hidden men take those vows so solemn
and all-embracing, the charm of his pres
ence fingers. He not only talked the pure
principles - our fraternity, but he lived
them as wSll And so to-day, being dead,
he yet speaketh. and from the unselhsh
devotion that he exercised, even in his
falling hours, there springs the lily of
peace; We honor him with unfeigned ad-
mfration: we will follow his virtues as we
consign him to the tomb, and we will leave
him with the poets exquisite salutation:
Let angels on imperishable scroll
Record the wond'rous beauty of his SOUL :"
RITUALIsTIC SERVICE.
The ritualistic service of the Scottish
Rite Masons was given in full at the close
of the church exercises. being conducted
by Thomas E. Balding, of Milwaukee,
| Wis, master of ceremonies of the Supreme
| Council. of which Colonel Ruckle was O
member.
A double quartet. consisting of T.. W.. s.
Belscher. Horace Caldwell, Fred NJ. Loom
is, Bert A Boyd. S. L. Morrison, M. ID.
Butler. o. w. Williams and Chauncey II.
Clark, sang Lead Kindly Light" as ar
ranged by Dudley Buck, and Passing
Over" This concluded the ritualistic serv-
ices In the church, and to the strains OF
made its way toward the door. followed
by the casket in charge OF the active pail
bearers, Albert Gall, j. -. Leighty. Aller
| w. Conduit, William s. Fish, Frank ID
Stalnaker and James r. Carnahan.
The funeral party took carriages at the
door and proceeded north on Illinois street
to st. Clair street and thence to Capitol
avenue and the cemetery, the procession
Gus Masonic orders and friends in car.
riages. The carriages were dismissed fol
the time at the entrance to the cemetery
and the funeral party made its way &c
the grave on foot.
All of the carriages in the city were en-.
gagged by Funeral Director Kregelo fol
the occasion. and the procession to the
cemetery was at least a half mile In
length.
There the lodges formed in proper order
about the grave and the Episcopaliar
burial service was completed and followed
by the usual burial service of the Crane
Lodge OF Masons, which was conducted By
Grand Master William Geake. AT ths
conclusion of the service many floral deco
rations were placed on the grave by III.
several lodges and immediate friends o.
Colonel Ruckle.
BEAUTIFUL DECORATIONS.
The chancel of the church was beauti
fully decorated with purple and whit
flowers. and the casket. upon which ha,
been draped an American flag. was covere,
with white flowers. Many of the fora
tributes came from out of the city. on
being from the Sovereign Grand Ccnsis
| tory.
There were many prominent Mason
from various points of the country pres
ent, among them being General John c
Smith, of Chicago. deputy of the Suprem
Council for the State OF Illinois; Georg
III. Benzenberg. of Milwaukee; Thomas Z
Balding, of Milwaukee, master of cere