Year: 1867

DEATH OF P. G.. MASTER JAMES A. j. BoHEN.-
Sad, indeed, is the news of the death of our be-
loved friend and brother. We knew him we'll,
and as our relations of acquaintance approached
intimacy we more and more in his life and
character to love and revere. Few men have
ever attained to that degree of gaining the entire
confidence of his fellow men at so early period
of their lives. Long will his noble virtues rest
in the memories of all who knew him. We
gather the following particulars of the last mo-
ments of this good man from the Alta of the
2sth May :-'' The Odd Fellows Hall, on Mont
gomery street, is draped in mourning, and
eager stream of citizens constantly passing
into the building to take last gaze at the fea-
lures of Past Grand Master James A. J. Bohen


whose body lies in state at Covenant Hall. The
deceased was well known in this city at
, one time Deputy Superintendent of Public
EStreets, and Vice President of the Dashaway As
sociation. But it was principally member
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows that he
was prominently know to the public. Beginning
as an initiate OF Yerba Buena Lodge, No. Is
fourteen years ago, he had held almost every po-
stion in the gift of the Order. As Noble Grand
of his Lodge, as Grand Master of the State as n
Representative in the Grand Lodge of the United
States, he had ever distinguished himself and
won in a remarkable degree the respect and con-





branch of the Order he was not less honored and
esteemed. He had served as the chief officer of
Golden Gate Encampment No / and as Grand
Patriarch of the State. For several years pre-
vious to his death he had been President of the
Odd Fellows Hall Association. Perhaps in the
history of the Order in its teachings and secret
work, he was the brightest and most thoroughly
posted Odd Fellow on this coast, and his deci-
sions and authority carried weight equal to
those of any other officer. Nor was it alone in
the capacity of an officer that the admirable
character of Past Grand Master Bohen was con-
spicious-in his daily walk and conduct, his gen.
erosity his utter abnegaton of self in his efforts
to aid cthers, the goodness of his heart and the
streng h and solidity of his judgment, were en-
inenty marked During his long and painful
illness, wasting away, day by day, with dis
ease terrible insdious, scarcely a complaint
escaped him, and his mind seemed occupied in
devising schemes benefit others. On last
Thursday evening" word was brought to Yerba
Buena Lodge that brother Bohen was dying.
The Lodge was just opening, and it was with
difficulty the members could be kept together so
to adjourn in an orderly manner. The resi-
dence of the deceased was visited by eager
crowd of friends some Of whom made their way
into the chamber where the sick brother lay.
Waking from slumber which painfully resem-
bled death, he inquired the reason of the pres
ence of so many brethern. Being told that they
came to see him and learn his condition. he ex-
pressed his qualification, he wished to speak
with them before his death Having assembled
his brothers around his bedside, he proceeded to
address them in words that will never be forgot
ten by those who heard him. lie spoke of his
approaching death with calmness and satisfac-
ton, full of hope and confidence of n blissful
hereafter, and in perfect peace with the world.
He exhorted them to live moral and religious
lives; to be charitable, to be generous, to be
just. The ghastly looks of the Grand Master,
the strained and feeble voice, the conviction
forced upon each of those present that the
speaker spoke in the anti-chamber OF Death,
gave to his words a power and significance be-
yond description. But he is gone, and his
brethren mourn his loss men seldom mourn
except for dear relative"