Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-10-24
[From Thursdays Daily.l

[From Thursdays Daily.l
Death, though sad in itself, is not
necessarily cause for universal sor-
rowing. Although the memories con-
nected with the departed are sad at
the best, there is much consolation in
rejecting upon the good characters
tics of those who have gone before,
and, in reviewing their past life, to
live over again the pleasant days that
were spent when they were living. A
feeling of grief, but of grief tempered
with sort of triumph. is the newt
able result of such reflections.
Such was the sentiment at the SER
vices held last night in the Masons'
hall in the Sax building, the occasion
being the Lodge of Sorrow, which is
held once in five years by the order
tabove named, and which is the only
session of the organization to which
non-members are admitted.
Last evening the two local lodges of
Masons, Ottumwa lodge No. 16, and
Empire lodge No. 269, joined in hon
oring the memory of departed mem
bers of the order. This service was
especially impressive, as those whose
memories are revered are not alone
the departed members of the Ottumwa
Masonic lodges, but two of them were
among the most celebrated men of the
age, one nationally, and both in the
eyes of Masons. The late President
William Mckinley was an honored
Mason, and the local lodges paid trib-
ute to his memory, together with that
of the late T. S. Parvin, formerly of
Cedar Rapids, who for SO many years
Cprrltqcv
for the state of Iowa.
Trappings of mourning in various
parts of the hall proclaimed the spir-
it of the meeting. In the center of
the room stood a catafaIque under a
canopy of black and white drapery,
and OH shields set along the sides of
the catafalque were the names of the
departed Masons in whose honor the
service was held The chairs of the
officers and the affairs were draped in
black and white, and at the front of
the room were large portraits of Will
liam Mckinley and T. S. Parvin, ap-
propriately draped. The members of
the lodge and the visitors were seated
along either side of the room, and
four Masons sat at the corners of the
catafalque.
according to the ritual, and were i'm
pressive and beautiful in the extreme.
The odes were sung by quartet con-
sisting of L. A. Culbertson, Judson
Trenneman, C. e. McElroy. and Burch-
ard Peck. After the opening songs and
prayer the interval Of silence began.
The lights were turned low. everything
was still and solemnly the twelve
CIV IA wv
sounded. At the twelfth the tapers
which burned on the catafalque were
snuffed out, significant of death. The
officers of the lodge formed process
sion around the catafalque and depos'
tied wreaths, prayer was said, and,
as the beautiful notes of Nearer, My
God, to Thee" were heard, the room
again became light The service is
very similar to the regular funeral
service of the Masons.
Eulogies.
The tributes to individuals followed
the ritualistic service. A. w. Enoch
delivered an address touching upon
the life and services of William Nc
Kinley, and DR.. L. j. Baker, grand
master of the Iowa Masons, spoke OF
the late T. S. Parvin, who was for sew
eral years grand secretary for the Ma
sons of this state. Tributes were
paid to seem of the departed members
of the Ottumwa lodges, by their fellow
Masons, who survive them, as shown
below:
R. H. Warden, by E. M. B. Scott.
DR.. b. F. Hyatt, DR.. c. G. Lewis, DR.
r. S. Gilchrist and DR.. j. G. Hinsey
by Dr. D. A. LaForce.
David Gephart, by j. E. Wilson.
Levi Hills. by John l.. Moore.
L. e. Gray, by H. p. Colt.
The last address was by Joseph E
Morcombe of Cedar Rapids, chairman
of the grand lodge committee on frater
nal correspondence. He spoke in gen
eral terms, expressing the sentimen
lhat pervades and promotes such ser
vices as those held last evening