The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-10
GEORGE SHERMAN LATHROP
ELKS' RITUAL IS EXENIPLIFTED AT HOME AND
 AT GRAVE.

AT GRAVE.
 Delegate from San Juan Lodge of
 E1ks, Porto Rico, Accompanied Re- . mains from Far or Tropical Chimes
 to Burial PIace-Sketch of Life of
 Deceased.
 All that was mortal of George Sher- man Lathrop only son of Annie R., and the late George R. Lathrop of this city was yesterday laid to rest in the fam ily burial plot in Mountain Grove cemetery From the tropical climes of Porto Rico three thousand miles away the remains were borne to this city where they were taken to the home of the mother of the deceased at 392 State street where the services for the dead were yesterday afternoon conducted. Surrounded by a wealth of flowers that completely hid the cas- ket from view the remains repoSed in the parlor of the spacious home where lives the mother and only surviving child of the deceased, Earl Sterling La throp. That splendid monument of floral emblems bore silent testimony to the regard in which was held the mem ory of the deceased
 From San Juan, Porto Rico, with the remains, came MT. l.. A. Frank member Of the San Juan lodge of Elks of which organization the deceased was a charter member. From the mo- nnent that the Porto Rican lodge of Eiks heard of the illness of their brother they assumed direction of his case and all that medical skill in the island could do was invoked to stay the inevitable i- MT. Lathrop whose health for some weeks had not been of the best was stricken with paralysis on Saturday May 9, while at work on his fruit plantation in the barrie of Espinoza. His business associate MT. A. S. Fiske notified the Elks' lodge at San Juan and he was removed within an hour in an automobile to the Pres byterian hospital at San Juan- There the skilled surgeons and physicians assumed charge of the patient. He remained conscious until the following Tuesday and hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery.
 Just before he sank into the final inconsistencies in which death found him he spoke of his "dear mother so far away and expressed the wish that he might live to see her and his boy, Earl" His brother Elks maint aimed unceasing vigilance at his bedside so that his every want was attended to. His sole thought seemed to be about his 'dear mother"
 I know a man who was so devoted to his mother He had recently com pleted on his plantation which is a few miles from San Juan a handsome home and he often spoke to his broth- CT Elks of the pleasure it would give him to surprise his mother and his boy for it was his intention to have them live with him at least during the winter months. It is not too much to say that George Lathrop was one of the best beloved members of the Am erican colony in Porto Rico and his untimely death has left a void that it of % honer Ss hard an tG Nas tns Food sou ss his bond. Although he has gone from us ever shall we cherish his mem ory."
 
 27 and the San Juan lodge of Eaks took charge of the remains, which were speedily embalmed and made ready for their last sad journey to the home of the bereaved mother and son. The Bridgeport lodge of Elks were com municated with and apprised of the coming of the body. San Juan lodge in special session convened, paid their respects to the memory of the deceas- ed whose remains lay in state under chosen as the committee to take charge of the body representing the Porto Rico lodge and from the time the remains left Porto Rico on the steamer Carolina, on Wednesday of last week until they were received at the pier in New York by MT. J. B. Shaw of New Haven. brother-in-1aw of the deceased, MT. Frank was with them-
 Although the deceased was a mem Der of other organizations it. was his wish oft times expressed to his moth during life that should she survive him he desired that the E1ks' ritual be used at the funeral. In accordance with this wish Mrs. Lathrop request ed the local lodge of Elks to take charge of the funeral which request was augmented by a similar one from San Juan lodge. Bridgeport lodge of Elks took charge of the final obse- quies and the beautiful and impres- sive ritual of the order was used both at the house and at the grave. The officiating clergyman selected by the family was Rev. MT. Barto. The pail bearers were members of Bridgeport lodge B. P. O. E., No. 36, two of whom Funeral Director Fred c. Mullins and pr. c. A. Ryder were warm personal friends of the deceased, MT. Mullins having been a school boy playmate of lthe departed.
 While there were many beautiful floral tokens aside from those of the of the rest were from San Juan lodge and Bridgeport lodge of Elks. Fol lowing the prayers by the clergyman Nr. Frank added a need of praise in behalf of the EIkS of Porto Rico. Then the remains were taken to their final resting place in the Lathrop family plot in Mountain Grove where they were inferred beside those of the wid- ow of the deceased and those of his father.
 George Sherman Lathrop was 4S years old and he was the only son of his parents, his father having died about 10 years ago. He was a native of Springfield, Mass, but during his his parents came to this city and made their home. While still in his teens George, who was educated in the local public schools, went to New Haven where he entered the em- ploy of the Sargent Hardware Co.,, of which concern his brother-in-1aw J. B. Shaw is general superintendent. It was there that he learned the pattern making and engravers' trade at which he continued to work until his eye sight became impaired. Some years ago he went to Porto Rico where he engaged in the fruit growing business of which he made a success.
 His uncle. brother of his mother, had been engaged in the same trade some years before he went there but George was not associated with his rela preferring to work indepen- dently. He lost his wife four years af-