New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29
JOHN BUNNY IN STATE,
ELKS GAYETY STILLED
Nlasons Also Conduct Service in Presence Of Dis
tnguished Gathering of Famous Comedians Friends
Film Stars Widow Almost Collapses

ing as heavily on the arm Of stout
man whom none needed to be told was
the dead mans brother, George. and
her two sons, arrived shortly after \
o'clock, the hour set for the service.
and were taken to seats near the altar
by way Of private entrance. Until
the last moments there had been
doubts Of Mrs. Bunny's ability to at
tend the service. Up TO the time that
the body left their home, in accord
ance with the last wishes Of the dead
that his brethren in the Elks and Ma
sons might pay him their last respects.
she held up bravely. Then she broke
down. But mind mastered weary
body
And then J. f. Dearden, exalted
ruler, called the lodge TO order, Chap
plain Arthur Van Buren, offering the
brief prayer Of the ritual. Thrice the
secretary, James II. Carroll. called the
name bestowed upon the dead man at
birth John II. Bunny and then after
a hymn by william Stephens, in order
Robert A. Reilly, esteemed leading
knight: J. II. Chris Mitchell, esteemed
loyal knight. and Frederick Goldsmith.
esteemed lecturing knight, testified to
the virtues of Bunny.
As they testified the lights in the
lodge were gradually eXtingulshed I'M
I'll only the lamps above the chairs
gave forth a dim radiance and William
Stephens read, HE Giveth His Beloved
Sleep" his words punctuated by sobs
from the widow and more than one Of
the 1900 present was glad of the dark
ness that covered the furtive use of
handkerchiefs. They were not ashamed
to weep. but somehow they welcomed
the semi-privacy.
The officers Of the lodge placed the
amaranth upon the coffin, there was
more testimony, and the Elks had paid
their last tribute 10 their own.
A brief recess, and the brethren
of St. Cecile, the worldfamous mat
inee lodge" of Masons, so called from
the fact that its members, mostly Of
the professions that engage men at
night, meets only in the daytime, came
with the centuries-old service OF the
order.
John Bunny was young in Masonry -
little more than a year ago he was
initiated into its mysteries but IN that
period the members of st. Cecile got TO
know a different John Bunny than most
of the millions to whom his face was
familiar knew. They saw the serious,
deeply religious side the screen did not
show, and with St. Cecile came men
whom the Grand Lodge had honored
with high rank.
To Right Worshipful August Eichel-
berg, Worshipful Charles F. Brodie,
master of st. Cecile, gave the masters
Cavel, he acting as senior warden;
William +. Hum. jr., was junior war
den, Right Worshipful George Loesch.
chaplain. George de Freestone was
marshal and Ernest +. Erdman direct
ed the string quartet of the lodge.
Impressively the ancient ritual was
exemplified, in due and ancient form
the brethren deposited twigs of acacia
upon the coffin, the worshipful master
invested the dead with an apron,
Brother Alva Z. Nichols sang Handels
Largo" and with benediction the ser
vice was at an end.
Then slowly the crowd filed out OF
the lodge room, leaving John Bunny 10
sleep under the amaranth of the Elk,
and the lambskin, the badge of inno-
cence and the Mason the world over.
Outside in the street the mourners
found even the newsboys silent, and
brilliant Broadway, less than a block
away, quiet.
John Bunny was dead, you know.