The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-19
With SOLEMN CEREMONY
MasOns Hold Services in Memory
Of Thomas II. Caswell.
The Late Sovereign Grand Commnn-
der of the Supreme Council of the
Scottish Rite EuIoEized by Secre-
tary General webbcr-T'he Impress
sive Rose CrOix Ritual Read.

Services were held in this city, stimuli
taneously with the ceremonies conducted
in San Francisco over the remains Of
Judge Thomas H. Caswell, Sovereign
Grand Commander Of the Supreme Coun-
ell, Ancient Scottish Rite Of Freemasonry
Judge Caswell expired in San Francisco
November 10. In the Supreme Council
| chamber, in the House of the Temple, 43a
| Third Street northwest, the ceremonies
were commenced promptly at 5 o'clock.
| The impressive Rose Croix Ritual of the
| Ancient Scottish Rite OF Freemasonry was
read. An address was made by the Sec
rotary General. Frederick, Weber. Pray
er and Bible readings were conducted by
third degree, rector of Trinity Episcopal
Church. Vocal music was rendered by a
| quart ette, under the direction of DR.. F.
j. Woodman, thirtythird degree.
Heavy black crepe draped the Supreme
Commanders chair and pedestal in the
| council chamber. A large floral represen-
F., tation of the Grand Commandery Cross, Of
| scarlet immorteles rested upon the seat
y
rested the Rose Croix, OF white roses
with a red rose centre, which was used
during the reading of the services to
which it gives title.
The ceremonies were opened with vocal
music. rendered by the quartette, COM
posed of Brothers Douglas G. Miller, Alex
ander Mosher, ]. Henry Kaiser, and
Charles Hancock. Following this, Rev.
Brother Williams read sentences from the
Bible, discoursive of death. These are:
1t is appointed unto men once to die,
but after this the Judgment
The days Of man are but as grass, for
he fourisheth as flower of the field for
DIS soon as the wind goeth over it, it is
gone. and the place thereof shall know it
no more. But the mercifu goodness of the
Lord endureth forever and ever upon them
: that fear him. and his Righteousness upon
children's children
ut is the Lord; let him do what seemeth
him good
Selections from the ninetieth Psalm.
used in the Episcopal burial services, and
extracts from the third and fifth chapter
of the Wisdom OF Solomon, were also read
by the clergyman.
The impressive and solemn Rose Croix
ritual was then read by Secretary General
Frederick Weber, assisted by DR.. F. J.
Woodman, thirty-third degree; Joseph C.
ueRTee, anu Dy the
Rev. Brother Williams. The readings con-
sisted of apostrophes to death, of the SYM
bolism Of death. abjurgatons to the liv
ing for the forgiveness of the transgres-
sions Of the dead and for silence upon all
but the virtues of the dead. 1t concluded
with the solemn kissing of the cross, with
the attendant obligation.
After the rendering OF quartette vocal
music, the following address was delivered
h,yC
Il have been urged to say something
on this solemn occasion in regard to our
late grand commander. whose funeral
services are at this hour being celebrated
at his home in San Francisco.
Il have known him intimately since
1865 when at st. Louis he received his
thirty-third degree honorary, ant on that
account. and being the only member of
the Supreme Council present, and its old
est member, as well as being officially
associated with him for over five years.
felt that ought not to refuse. yet some
one more gifted ought to perform this |
duty. for duty it is.
Since | became a member of the SUI |
preme Council in March, 1859. have seen !
laid away in their last resting place. IN |
GLIDING Brother Caswell, four grand COM |
manders. two past grand commanders. six !
lieutenant grand commanders, five treas |
and a host of active and honorary nlem- |
bers of this Supreme Council.
These officers were all advanced In I
life They had many of them passed the /
allotted span of three score and ten; all
of them had filed positions of honor,
either Masonic political, or social while /
| am alone left today to stand here in this /
ma gnificent room. the creation in great
measure of him in whose memory we meet
today.
Brother Caswell was born in the State
of New York; went to school when
young lad in my own State, Kentucky.
From there he went to Hampstead County.
Arkansas where his uncle lived. Studied
law and was admitted to the bar IN DC
tober 1S4S There he got the gold fever
and started overland on April l, 1912 for
California. where he arrived the October
following Later he went to Nevada City,
California. where he was elected judge
over six other candidates and subsequently,
was reelected His office at that time
was not a bed of roses. for the country
had great many rough characters but
his integrity and force of character car
ried him through all the troubles arising
in mining country.
I'm April, 1852 he was granted leave OF
absence by the Legislature and went
East. where he was married January 3.
:. vi
If DR. Isaac " Jones' of Washington, Ark.
On his return he and his bride came up
On the steamer Tennessee from Panama.
Tne steamer was wrecked, as Will he re-
membered outside the heads. and the
Mace has since been known as Tennessee
cove. A tug brought the passengers to
The city San Francisco, and on the way
il was nearly wrecked by running 4
rock: so that they had quite an exciting
experience in reaching the city.
His Masonic life began in 1850 in
Nevada City. He was crowned Active In
,pector General at the meeting of the
supreme Council in May. 1870; held sew
,ral Offices in the Supreme Council, was
, Past Grand High Priest and Grand Com
nander of Templars of California. and was
elected Grand Secretary and Grand Re
order OF those bodies in 1873, resigning
hem two years ago the better to attend
o the duties of Grand Commander. to
which he was elected to succeed Grand
Tucker in 1895.
Brother Caswell was a genial and COM
man, one who made friends
eadily. He was a great reader, and re-
rendered what he read. so that in con-
'ersation he could quote from memory
matters pertaining to the subject under | :
discussion. He was fond of poetry also
Well he has gone and solved the mys-
cry he so often has discussed at social
He left behind him a loving
aithful companion. two daughters, two | :
ons. and four grandchildren. all to mourn
lis loss, as will this Supreme Council |
lis health had been bad for several
months, and it was well that he remained
It home and died in the midst of his
amily and the friends of fifty years
lie adds another to the calamities this
'ouncil has suffered since 1891, when
Brother Pike called home. He was
he author of a monitor of ROYAL Arch .