Obituary.

Obituary .

( EAST LANCASHIRE . ) MASONIC FUNERAL OF Btto . RICIEAKD EAVES , P . M . AND S EC , LODGE OF FIDELITY , NO . 269 . The remains of Brn . Richard Eaves , who died suddenly , were interred m the cemetery at Blackburn , on Monday , 10 th April , and as the deceased was a much esteemed member and office-bearer of the Masonic brotherhood , the funeral took place with all the impressive solemnities of Masonry . By

a special dispensation of Bro . Le Gendre N . Starkie , Prov . GS-. M ., a Lodge of Emergency was summoned at the lodgeroom of the Fidelity Lodge , 209 . held at Mr . Mitchell ' s , the Whito Bull Hotel . The brethren who assembled were as follows : —Bros . W . Aim-worth . W . M . ; David Tliornher . S . W . ; James Bcardsworth , J . W . ; Thomas Clarks . m , P . M ., P . G ., and D . C . ; Charles Aspden ; John Clough , Prov . G . S . ; Thomas Sharpies , P . M . ; Ralph Livesey ; John Fisher ; Elisha Duckworth ; George

Deuvden , J . W . 345 ; Charles Tiplady , P . M . 315 , Prov . G . T . ; Edward Sourbntts , P . M . 146 ; Henry Ilindle , 3-15 ; James Entwistle , 269 , J . G . ; Charles Hughes , 315 ; Benjamin Ellston , 315 ; Samuel Howarth , 345 ; John Bell , 3 to ; John Robinson ; William Stuart ; Richard Sourbntts . P . M . 310 ; William Hilledge , S . W . 31 o ; Thomas Sourbntts , 316 ; W . C . Gelson . 315 ; W . H . Cunliffe , S . D . 2 G 9 ; Allan Blenkhorn , 269 ; R . Ratcliffe , Pi-ov . G . S . D . ; John Leaver , 315 ; W . Baron , 269 ; Robert Edge , 345 ;

John Thompson , 345 , J . W . Nicholas Gillett , 315 ; Joseph Callis , 315 ; Edwin Eastwood , P . M .. 3-15 ; John Green , 315 ; George Ellis , 315 ; W . Roylauce ; T . Howarth ; James Pye , 345 ; Peter Walsh ; R . Birkett , S . D . 345 ; Thomas Clough , P . Prov . G . R . E . L . Amos Armistead , W . M . 3-16 ; Thomas Bertwistle , 345 , P . M ., P . Z . ; H . Spur , P . M . 939 ; D . Towers , W . M . 345 ; John Ingham , 345 ; John Smallev , 34 G , P . M . ; H . Duckworth , 345 ; John Cleminson , 346 ; John Procter , P . M . 315 ; Thomas Counsell 346 ; W .

, Croft , 345 ; H . Abbott , 345 ; A . C . J . Duckworth , 345 , S . W . ; John Coupe , 346 ; John Rigby , P . M . 315 ; W . F . Townley , P . M . 262 ; Henry Sliuttleworth , I . G . 345 ; R . H . Hutchsoii , 345 , Prov . G . S . W . ; R . Ibbotson , 345 : R , Hacking , 345 ; John Cotton , 345 ; and Joseph Eatongh , 269 . The brethren on assembling marched to the residence of the deceased brother in

Brown Street , where they were met . by the hearse and mourning coaches , containing the sorrowing relatives . The cortege , accompanied by a large number of the public , then proceeded to the Church of England portion of the Cemetery . In the chapel the coffin—ono of varnished oak—was covered with a p . ill , and there rested on it a wreath of immortelles and the badges of acting Secretary and Past Master , offices held by the deceased . The service was read by the Rev . J . Baker , Vicar of St . John ' s , and

at the conclusion the anthem , " Vital Spark , " was most impressively sung by Miss Heaton , Bros . D . Towers and R . Birkett , and Mr . Anthony Green . Bro . H . Abbott accompanied on the harmonium . The coffin was then carried by several of the hrethren to the edge of the grave , camelias were placed upon it , and it was lowered into its last resting place . The church service at the grave was then read by the Rev . Charles Hughes , of Tockholes , Chaplain of the Lodge Perseverance , 345 .

Bro . W . Aiusworth , W . M . LodgeFidelity , then steppedforward and said : —Brethren , —Here wc view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life , and the vanity of all human pursuits . The last offices paid fo the dead are only useful as lectures to the living ; from them we are to derive instruction , aud consider every solemnity of this kind as a summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution . Notwithstanding the various mementos of mortality which we dail y meetnotwithstanding Death

, has established his empire over all the works of nature , yet , through same unaccountable infatuation , we are apt to forget that we are born to die . We go on from one design to another , add hope to hope , and lay out plans for the employment of many years , till we arc suddenl y alarmed at the approach of Death when we least expect him , and at an hour which , amidst the gaieties ol life , we probably conclude to be the meridian of our ixistence . Let us , while in this stage of existencesupport with

, propriety the characters of our profession , advert to the nature of our solemnities , and pursue with assiduity the sacred tenets of the Order ; with becoming reverence let us supplicate the Divine protection , and ensure the favi . ur of that Eternal Being whose goodness and power know no bounds ; and when the awful moment arrives that we are about to take our departure , be

it soon or late , may we be enabled to prosecute our journey without dread or apprehension to that far distant country from which no traveller returns . By the light of the Divine countenance we may pass , without trembling , through those gloomy mansions where all things are forgotten ; and at the great and tremendous day of trial and tribulation , when arraigned at the bar of Divine Justice , we may hope that judgment will be pronounced in our favour , and we shall receive our reward , in the

possession of an immortal inheritance , where joys flow in one continued stream , and no mound can check its course . The following invocations were then made by the Master , the usual honours accompanying each : —Master : " May we be true and faithful , and may we live and die in love \"—Answer : " So mote it be . " - —Master : May we profess what is good , and always act agreeably to our profession !"—Answer : "So mote it be . "—Master : " May the Lord bless us and prosper us , and may

all our good intentions be crowned with success !"—Answer : " So mote it be . " The Secretaries then advanced , and threw their rolls into the grave with the usual forms ; Past Master Clarkson brolce his staff of office , and threw it into the grave ; and the Master repeated ' Glory be to God on high ! on earth , peace ! good-will towards men ! " The answer was given— "So mote it be , now from henceforth , and for evermore ! " »

I be Master then concluded the service at the grave in the fol - lowing words : —From time immemorial it has been a custom among the Fraternity of free and accepted Masons , at the request of a brother on his death bed , to accompany his corpse to the p lace , of interment ; and there to deposit his remains with the usual formalities . In conformity with this usage , and at the special request of our deceased brother , whose memory we revere , and whose loss we deplore , we are here assembled in the

character of Freemasons , to resign his body to the earth , whence it came , and to offer to his memory , before the world , the last tribute of our fraternal affection ; thereby demonstrating the sincerity of our past esteem , and our inviolable attachment to the principles of the order . With all proper respect to the established customs of the country in which we live , with due deference to our superiors in Church Mid State , and with unlimited good will to all mankind , invested with the badge of innocence

, we humbly bow to the Universal Parent , implore His blessing on all our zealous endeavours to extend peace and good-will , and earnestly pray for His grace to enable us to persevere in the principles of piety and virtue . The Great Creator , having been p leased , out of His mercy , to remove our worthy brother from the cares and troubles of this transitory life to a state of eternal

duration , and thereby to weaken the chains by whieh we are united to man ; may we , who survive him , anticipating our approaching fate , be more strongly cemented in the ties of union and friendship , and during the short space which is allotted to our present existence , wisely and usefully employ our time in the reciprocal intercourse of kind and friendl y acts , and mutually promote the welfare and happiness of each other . Unto the grave we have resigned the body of our deceased friend , there

to remain until the general resurrection ; in favourable expectation that his immortal soul will then partake of the joys which have been prepared for the ri ghteous from the beginning of the world ; and may Almighty God , of His infinite goodness , at the grand tiibunal of unbiassed justice , extend His mercy towards him and all of us , and crown our hope with everlasting bliss in the expanded realms of a boundless eternity ! This we beg , for the honour of His Name , to whom be glory , now aud for ever .

Amen . Many of the brethren were visibly affected during tho progress of the service . Coming to the words " Unto the grave we have resigned tho body of our deceased friend , " emotion overcame the Master , aud the service had to be finished by the Chaplain . Before separating from the grave , the brethren joined in singing the

hymn—It is decreed in heaven above , That we from those whom best we love Must sever . But hard the word we have to tell , . Is when to friends we say farewell , For ever .

The brethren severally advanced and threw a sprig of Acacia into the grave , after which , they were formed into processional order , aud marched back to the lodge-room , where the lodge was closed .