The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1914-06-05
DEATH CLAIMS JOHN H. HOLMES

To the Officers and Members Of the
Grand Lodge:
ANNOUNCEMENT
1t becomes my painful duty to an
nounce the death Of our beloved bro
ther, John II. Holmes, at his resi-
dence in the city of st. Louis, Thurs
day, April 30. Brother Holmes, at
the time of his death, occupied the
position If Grand Keeper of Records
and Seal Of this Grand Domain.
Biography
John Hovey Holmes. twentieth
Grand Chancellor, was born in Boston,
Mass, April 25th, 1850. He commenc-
ed his education at Northboro Scmin-
airy and completed it ut Amherst At
an early age he went to sea, and for
four years was sailor. In 1871 he
came to st. Louis and engaged in
mercantile pursuit, met with reverses,
and became n shorthand reporter on
the leading daily in st. Louis, and
subsequently was stenographer for
the police department. In 1881 he
was selected as the secretary and su-
perintendcnt of the Humane Society
Of Missouri, which position he held
until his death.
He was admitted to membership in
our order in Siclian Camp Lodge No.
s, January 18th, 1872, and remained a
member of that lodge until the for
nation Of Cosmopolitan Lodge No.
%. which he joined as a charter mem
Der and became a Past Chancellor. He
represented that lodge at the Hanni-
bal session of the Grand Lodge in
1872, and commanded the first Pythian
parade ever held in st. Louis. At the
time of the surrender of the charter
of No. %, he was member of that
lodge, and obtained his card and join
ed Excelsior Lodge No. 10, of which
lodge he was a member at the time
of his death. He was n member of
the Military Insurance Departments.
Brother Holmes was chairman of
the Committee on Finance in the
Grand Lodge for several terms, and
in 1887, at st. Louis, he was elected
Grand Vice Chancellor, and during the
absence of the Grand Chancellor acted
in his stead, presiding at the session
of 1883 at Hannibal, when he was
unanimously elected Grand Chancellor,
In 1889 he was elected Grand Keeper
of Records and Seal at the session
held in 81 Louis. He was reelected
in 1890, and annually thereafter, and
held an honorary member of many
subordinate lodges of this order.
He was member of Missouri
Lodge No. /. A. f. and A. NJ, q
knight TcmpLar and Shrincr, Past EX-
alter Ruler Of the Elks, serving dur
ing 1908 and 1904; Past Imperial
Prince of the Dramatic Order knights
of Khorassan, and a member Of many
other organizations.
Burial
The mortal remains laid in state
in the pavlOrs of the Pythiar Temple,
35O7 Pine Street. from ten o'clock A.
NJ, Saturday, May 2nd, until two
thirty P. NJ, Sunday, May 3rd, guard
ed by two companies of the Military
Department. and surrounded by banks
of beautiful and fragrant flowers.
sent by those who loved him; during
which time n great multitude filed
silently past his bier, paying tribute
to our houorcd dead. Women gently
sobbed, while strong men wept.
His funeral was of military nature.
He was clothed in the uniform Of
General, such being his rank in the
Military Department A band, the
Brigade staff, and two companies Of
the Department preceded the hearse.
Following the hearse was riderlcss
horse, his relatives, representatives
Of the Supreme Lodge, officers ana
members of the Grand Lodge and sub
ordinate lodges, in bodies, marching
in the order named. forming funeral
cortege miles in length. The services
were in charge of our Grand Lodge.
At the grave an eulogy was pronoun-
ced by Brother Benjamin w Dalzcll.
The beautiful surial service was rem
dered by Brother George y. banks,
Of Excelsior Lodge No. 10, and after
the caskct was closed, said last
farewell.