A Christless Masonic Burial
REV. LYMAN WHITING furnishes to Chicago Advance an account of the burial of the deacon of a city in the West, under Masonic auspices. He says: The “Order” appeared splendidly. The pastor, after years of intimacy, brother deacons, old and tried brethren and sisters might get in—come into line, as they could. No place whatever was made for them. The grave was near the gate of the cemetery. The swords and aprons filled the way so that most of those behind them halted “without the gate.” A strange, mumbled recitation was heard while and after the coffin was lowered—but not a word from pastor or any Christian friend. A pert young man read the Christless burial service; literally Christless, the name Christ, or Jesus, not allowed in it; “for,” said an M. E. minister-member of the “Order,” on the way back from the grave, “for regard to Jews who are Masons, and hold that name in such abhorrence.” So a man professing Christ, ministering at a communion-table for forty years and more, buried from the house of God, where all his life had been spent, is laid to his rest by heathen-like ceremony, which is not allowed to have one mention of Jesus Christ, his Redeemer and hope in the resurrection.