Woodmen leave mark in Niles

Here even the trees tell a story.

Last week we learned about the tree within Silverbrook Cemetery that holds a portion of the wrought iron fence within its trunk. Today we look to where the trunks themselves commemorate the dead.

 

Come to the grave of our Sovereign,
Sweet emblems upon it we see.
Come to the grave of our Sovereign,
Strew flowers upon it with me.

 

This chorus, sung to the tune My Bonnie is part of an opening ode sang during a "Woodmen of the World, Ceremony of Introduction to the Protection Degree, promulgated by the Ritual Committee of the Sovereign Camp, 1903," according to the website:  www.phoenixmasonry.org/masonicmuseum/fraternalism/woodmen.htm.

Click here for the full article on the Niles Daily Star website

Published July 23rd, 2007