Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
MONUMENT DEDICATED
ODD FELLOWS HONOR MEMORY
OF DEAD MEMBER.
Exercises at the Tomb Of the Late
Grand Secretary, Rev. Parker
Hall Sweet

The monument erected to the memory Of
the late grand secretary, Rev. Parker Hall
Sweet, by the Grand Lodge, I. o. 0. F..
was dedicated yesterday afternoon. The
monument stands in Oak Hill cemetery.
1t is a plain oblong granite block, simple
but impressive. 1t is inscribed "A tribute
from the Odd Fellows of the District OF
Columbia to Rev. Brother Parker Hail
Sweet grand secretary of the Grand Lodge
of the District Of Columbia from January
IL, 1864, to March 16, 1887. Born August.
1915, died March 16, 1887. Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord"
This monument erected sixteen years
after the death Of the well-loved Odd Fell
low it commentaries is an appropriate
tribute to man who served the Grand
Lodge and Odd Fellowship in general with
marked fidelity for nearly q quarter OF a
century.
Fellows at the ceremony of dedication, In
Guiding many of the most prominent vete-
ran Odd Fellows and representatives from
nearly all the lodges and encampments OF
the District. They formed at the lodge
room of Covenant Lodge, No Ii, ana pro-
ceeded thence to the cemetery. Ihe oouy
was escorted by Grand Marshal E. w.
Bradford of the Grand Lodge, who is also
brigadier general of this grand Jurisdiction
The Grand Lodge was represented uy
Grand Master George q. Colison. deputy
Grand Master J. H. Crew, Grand secretary
E. T. Pettengill Grand Chaplain Joh1 w.
Hollyday and Grand Conductor Phhp
Walker The Grand Encampment was repre-
sented officially by Grand Patrlarch gon.i
H. Wood and Grand Scribe Joseph PuI-
roughs The Sovereign Grand Lodge, l. ~
O. F., was represented by Grand Represen-
tatives William P. Allan, Frederick "A,
Stier and Thomas w. Fowler Past Sran9
Masters J. T. Petty. Theodore Meau anu
other dignitaries of the order were present:
The exercises at the grave occurred at
o'clock. The grand master introduced
Past Grand Edwin B. Hay as clalImai.
and the following ing POSTED pr Thee sung by an
octet Of ladies and gentlemen; invoca,
ton, Rev. J. D. Kinzer; Asleep IN JESUS
dedication of monument, Jonatn i.o "A
Csthell one of the Oldest of Washington
Odd Fellows: placing of floral trlpute' fas'
Grand Master Theodore Mead anu pr
sentation of monument 10 oiaho eo'
Past Grand Edwin b. hay.
Address by Grand Representative S'1e1
Tho nrincinal address of the day was maoe
nv Rev. Frederick A. Sitter. grand repre-
sentative of the Grand Lodge, VINO accep'eu
the monument on behalf OF the Irailo
Lodge. He said, in part:
"Rrethren of the order of ODD FelioWs'
we honor ourselves today as we asseIlole
to do honor to the illustrious dead. rom
the earliest history of time, nations nave
erected monuments, bulded pyraInios, ~
umphal arches and costly mausoleums 10
perpetuate the memory of their deceaseo
heroes States, cities and villages nave
raised the memorial shaft to mark the
resting place of those whose lives nave
been eminent for the public good 6e-
lig;on has embalmed in memory, perpet-
uated in denomination and canonized mar
tyred heroes, and in living eplstles Demon
strated the power of their lives Clvllzd-
ton has written its name lndeLbly along
the course of the centuries in the march OF
time no less distinctly in the sacredly kept
cemeteries, in the faithful guardianship
and the monument-marked graves OF the
teeming millions of those who sleep beneath
the sod, and every grave however marked,
is an additional evidence of faith in the
resurrection of the body unto life eternal.
''All along the lines of this orders exist
ence, whose remarkable growth and Won
drous beneficence, emitting 1t to stand hrst
in the magnificent charities of the worlds
history. we have buried our heroes. men
who died in the harness pouring out the
lbatons of their lives upon the altar OF
self-sacrfice. causing it to move onward to
greater achievement because of the noble
example OF their deeds of love. We are
sembed my brethren. to honor the MEM
Dry of one who, living, stamped upon the
community in which he moved the impress
of an exalted manhood, and dying, left
priceless legacy. AS a representative of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows he was
one of its brightest opponents. In his own
life and with a sublime Christian faith he
exemplified how much the order stood for,
founded In love and dedicated to highest
ideals of human exaltation. In erecting
this monument to the memory of Grand
Secretary Rev. Parker H. Sweet we do not
presume to lend any luster to his life or
add one gem to the brilliancy of his char
acter. We but mark the spot where his
ashes repose, with fitting tribute to the
nobility of soul that once made beautiful
the dust that lies buried beneath it. Mod
est and retiring, he set up no standard OF
human excellence, but walking in the foot
steps of his Master. he aspired only to the
attainment of divine favor. To make of
the name of him who sleeps beneath this
modest monument the germ of living good
to humanity, to elevate. hallow and broaden
our characters. thus swelling the current of
that river of love flowing on to the ocean of
eternity Is the duty of the hour to so in
vest the legacy of bright example be-
queathed us as to yield the rich results OF
penencence and bring relief to the burden
bearers in the struggles of life.''
AT the conclusion of Mr. STEERS address
the assemblage sang Lead, Kindly Light.
ana benedictfon was pronounced by Rev.
j. D. Kinzer '