The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-02-02
Observation-Disclosures.

With all the honers beftting his
rank in Masonry and his achievement
for his people, the body of DR.. Mat.
thew Othello, Ricketts,, past grand
master of Masons of the jurisdiction
of Missouri, was laid to rest in the
beautiful Oakwood cemetery in St.
Joseph, Mo-, just as the shadows Of a
wintry evening indicated the closing
of fateful day.
Thousands of people crowded the
church and lined the sidewalks Of the
street along which the funeral cortege
'Wended its way to pay silent token
OF appreciation to one of the most
brilliant characters the race has pro-
duced in this western country. Ma
sons of high degree were present from
all sections of the jurisdiction and the
funeral was one Of the most impress
sive and largely attended ever wit
messed in the city of st. Joseph.
DR.. Ricketts, passed away Monday,
January Is, at 6:20 in the morning
and when the news flashed over the
wires that he was dead it created uni
versal sorrow in all those commune
ties where he was known. The body
was Immediately taken in charge by
St. Joseph's leading undertaken, B. F..
Graves, and under the direction Of
Wilkerson lodge, of which he was an
honored member, was laid in state in
the upper lodge room of their splen-
did temple at Second and Lewis
streets, where thousands, white and
colored, viewed the remains. During
his illness his half brother, Oscar
Ricketts,, of Omaha, was constantly
at his bedside also his daughter,
Helen, and his wife, who has been in
Wyoming for some months, was with
him during the last days of his illness.
Grand Master w. w. Fields paid a
number of visits to the city and in
conjunction with his close personal
friend, A. D. Butler, and the officers
and members of Wilkerson lodge, did
everything possible for his relief.
The Masonic services began Satur-
day night, January 20, when st.
Joseph Consistory, No. %, of st. Jo-
seph, assisted by Kansas City Con-
sistory, No. Z, held their Scottish Rite
services beginning at Low IL (mid-
night), which were exceedingly i'm
pressive as we'll as beautiful. Eigh-
teen members of the Kansas City Con-
sistory took part and the services were
conducted by Deputy Sovereign In
spector General Edw. S. Baker, S3 de-
gree, and the beautiful robes of the
Kansas City Consistory were used in
the ceremony. Excellent music was
rendered both at the midnight SER
vices and at the funeral proper by the
famous choir of Ebenezer A. M. E.
church, St. Joseph, Mo-, and the ser
mon and addresses were of the high
est order. At o'clock sharp Sunday
afternoon, January 21, the funeral
procession, under the direction of
Prof. VIM. H. Jones, grand marshall,
moved from the Masonic temple to the
church at Third and Antoine, headed
by the Knight Templar band of twen-
ty-eight pieces from Kansas City,
Mo-, the Grand Commandery of Mis-
souri,, Sir w. G. Mosely, grand COM
mander, and his staff, followed by
Northwestern Commandery and de-
tachment of the three communicates
Of Kansas City, the commandery at
Omaha and scattering sir knights
from \Moberly, St. Louis and other
towns: then came Wilkerson lodge
with it's banners draped, followed by
the grand lodge, with Grand Master
W. w. Fields and the grand lodge Of
6cers, and then a long line Of car
riages and the car containing the re-
mains of the deceased. The church
had been filled, to. its capacity since
morning, save the space roped Of for
the fraternity, and when the funeral
cortere reached the door it passed
through two lines Of the ladies Of the
Eastern Star, commanded by Royal
Grand Patron Geo. w. K. Love Of
Kansas City and Royal Grand Matron
Mrs. Virgie L. Walden Of Columbia
Mo-. and their full corps of officers.
The casket was literally buried be.
meath deluge of sprays, designs and
massive and magnificent floral pieces
from various sections of the country,
noticeable among which was beau
tiful harp from the contribution
raised by Allen Chapel and Mrs. John
Lange, magnificent floral char
from the Grand Lodge Of Masons OF
Missouri, massive "kcystone' from
the Grand Chapter Of Royal Arch Ma
sons and other beautiful designs which
were in the main prepared by Kansas
City's Negro floral establishments.
the Crosthwait Floral company and
the B. M. Weaver Floral company.
Both these ladies were in attendance
and rendered skillful assistance in