The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-16
KNIGHTS HONOR TIE DEAD
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY REM
DBRED WITH GREAT SOLEMNITY
AT THE MASONIC TEMPLE
WAS AN IMPOSING TRIBUTE
Kadosh Funeral Services Held in
Honor of Jean Conrad Fischer
Sixth Celebration In the
United States.

More than 600 people witnessed an event
last night in Masonic Temple, which bears
a solemn distinction among the fraternal
organizations that is attached to but few
such events. Only five times before In
the history of this country has the cere-
mony which was gravely performed at
the Temple last night been rendered In
the United States. And once before was
it seen in st. Paul. 1t was upon the oc-
casion of the death of the late O. G.
Miller. in 1894, that the Scottish Rite
bodies celebrated the funeral services of
the Knights Of Kadosh. Last night this
solemn office was performed over the re-
mains Of the late Jean Conrad Fischer.
Just as the cfock in the lofty tower Of
the city hall began to strike the hour of
IL the interior Of the Masonic Temple as
sumed an appearance which was little
less than avte-inspiring and fraught with
a degree of pathos which commanded the
utmost silence and. attention upon the
part of it's hundreds Of occupants. It
was the beginning of the Kadosh service
rendered by the De Molai Preceptory
Knights of Kadosh, Lodge No, l..
The large hall was dimly lighted with
a few half shining lights in the extreme
top of the building. and a few moments
prior to the strokes of the clock three
three pointed candle receptacles were
lighted. At the hour of 12 the other
tights were extinguished, and none but
the family burning candles were left,
Until, however. they were reinforced by
other small candles. A procession of
westures of their high positions. entered
the hall, nciselessly, as the ceremonies
began, from a door to one side, and each
in their left hands bore a candle. At
the head of this small procession was
Dr. E. w. McCord, who occupies the po-
sition of preceptor of the order. and fol-
lowing him were twenty-five other mem
bers of the same degree OF Masonry,
among them being the officers and the
palfbearers of the deceased brother.
The lights dissolved into an almost i'm
perceptible gf1mmer. except Immediately
around those holding them, and the ef-
feet was one which only such solemn oc-
casions as death itself could invite The
most profound silence reigned in all parts
slowly around the casket of their dead
brother. where rested the sifent remains,
the organ, invisible to those in the hall,
pealed slowly and softly a most app-o-
pirate dirge, and the ceremony was be-
gun.
The casket was placed in the center
of the hall; at its foot stood a large
cross, and around it. was placed eight
large pillars, heavily draped Emblems
Of the order was each in its respective
place, and there was deep significance
in everything that was done, which, la
though not understood, yet was appre-
ciated by all those who witnessed it.
Preceptor McCord stood at the foot of
the casket beside the emblem of the
Christian faith, upon which rested
large ritual The other officers and the
pallbearers had positions surrounding the
casket, each holding the candle in his
left hand the while. DR.. McCord led
in the ritualistic ceremony, and the 9TH
ers took well their parts There is an
impressiveness about the ceremony that
is perhaps not attached to any other
fraternal ceremony of it's character ever
seen in the lodge room or beside the
open grave. There is a high moral and
spiritual tone to every feature, which
is At once noticeable. During the cele-
pFdItOn Oh lHlS solemn junction the most
absolute silence pervaded the entire
temple.
There may be objections to ceremony
over the dead, but there was one feature
of the solemnfties last night which was
strangely attractive. After the preceptor
had called in vain for any brother to
come forth and accuse his deceased broth :
er, he commanded the casket to be OPEN
ed and the face of the deceased made Wis
ible. This done. the preceptor called for
the emblems of flowers and the glitter
ing treasures which were laid in the cas-
ket to accompany the dead to the grave
The formality of describing the insignifi-
canoe of each was gone through with.
and, in accordance with the. custom, of
the order, they were cast aside. The gilt
tering emblems bore no significance which
the dead could feel or know. There was
a simplicity in the meaning OF it all which
commended the act to those to whom the
entire ceremony was foreign. Though
very intricate and replete with formality
itself, the ceremony is meant, it would
seem, to teach lesson of simplicity.
INTO A sYMBOL1CAL TOMB.
After the ceremonies had been conclud-