The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-07
AT DEAD OF NIGHT.
Funeral Service of w. w. Phil
lips Held at Midnight.
Impressive Ceremony of Scot
fish Rite MaSOns.
CHAPEL WAS CROWDED
About 200 People Witnessed the
Weird Observance.
Room Was Darkened as Sir
Knights Filed In.

Funeral offices for Sir Walter w.
Phillips were performed by the mem
bers of the Ancient and Accepted Scot
fish Rite of Freemasonry at the chapel
of the order in the Masonic building at
midnight last night. Two hundred per
sons witnessed the solemn service that
has been handed down to the present
generation of Masonry from the days of
the Knights Templar, over whose
bodies the ritual was performed when
they fell in the crusades in Palestine.
The service bears deeply the imprint of
the Catholic church, in which it had
its origin. Altered and modified a lit
tie by modern usage, it adheres closely
even in details to its original form. and
such changes as time may have made
have certainly detracted nothing from
its impressiveness and beauty.
1t was at the stroke of y that the
sir knights silently took their places
about the body of the deceased knight
kadosh. The casket rested upon the
elevated dais of the chapel. and upon
it lay the cha7let Of white roses, the
insignia Of the order. and the sword
OF the dead knight in its scabhard. as
prescribed by custom. Upon a tablet
near at hand Law skull wreathed in
evergreens. surrounded by seven large
candlesticks, unlighted. At the head Of
the coffin stood a great iron passion
cross upon which, from time to time
the grand preceptor struck with an iron
mallet to summon the sir knights to
their respective duties in the obsequies.
The chapel was darkened the sir
knights filed in, each bearing a lighted
candle in its tall candiestick. These
were placed about the cOrse N a
semi-ctrcle, each before the knight who
bore it. At the head Of the casket
stood the preceptor, whose duty was 10
conduct al cfr-
KNIGHT IN the Jurisdiction is supposed to
attend the funeral services. but the lin
heq possibilities Of the chapel forbade,
and but about twenty-five members
- stood about the coffin When the
knights had stood in silence for u mo-
ment a few plaintive notes of a dirge
were sounded by trumpet in an ad-
joining room.
Sir John Daley. the preceptor. then
announced to the assembled knights.
who stood, black-robed and silent about
MN, tnat they were called to dispose
of the body of the sir knight who Law
before them. Then followed the fornu-
Ia OF service, the commencement ofwhich
was a call upon those assembled to
stand in judgment and TO declare IN
any knew, what grave wrong had
been committed by the dead sir knight
during his life time. In response the
sub-preceptor stepped forth and pro-
tested that to God alone belonged the
right to examine into the motives and
actions Of the living. To this the pre-
ceptor asSented.
During the responsive service which
followed. Sir Knight William NJ Shay
er played softly the strains OF Latin
music, which are the accompaniment
20 the burial service. At its close the
10 OF the coffin was removed. The body
lay with hands and ankles bound with
cords, significant of the bondage OF
man TO his worldly habits. Upon the
temples rested a chaplet of laurel and
vine, the emblem of mans strife for
nonor and enjoyment. These and the
CORDS were removed by order of the
preceptor On the breast of the de-
ceased knight rested a jeweled cross
likewise symbolic of the dignities and
splendor which man seeks TO enjoy
rms IN turn was laid aside. A simple
punch OF fresh violets. the Offering OF
the sir knights to their dead brother. is
alone permitted to remain. The several
functionaries then approached the body
TO see II life indeed had left it. When
each had pronounced the sir knight
dead, the mourning knights joined In a
song OF suppliance in the Latin Ian