The account of the achievements of Ill. James Daniel Richardson, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council from 1901 to 1914, would fill volumes. In the new, one-volume history of the Southern Jurisdiction, Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle, Ill. William L. Fox, 33°, former Grand Historian of the Supreme Council, devotes a full chapter, titled "New Century, New Age, New Temple," to this great man and Mason. His most visible legacy is the House of the Temple, which was designed and nearly completed during his tenure as our Sovereign Grand Commander.

The final Masonic tribute to Ill. Brother Richardson was paid to him in his hometown of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, beginning on the night of July, 26,1914. The event was described in the pages of the Nashville Tennessean of July 27,1914. The article, edited for brevity, is reprinted here not simply as a tribute to the memory of an illustrious Past Grand Commander and true Masonic hero, but also as a reminder of the rites and honors, now seldom seen, then accorded deceased Knights Kadosh.

"The funeral of James D. Richardson, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, was conducted at the Central Christian Church on Main Street. The ceremony was conducted by the Nashville Council Knights of Kadosh and lasted for almost an hour. The Chapel was draped in black cloth, and on a trestle in the center of the church was laid the deceased Knight in the habit of the Kadosh. One hundred and fifty Nashville Masons came to conduct the funeral. Pallbearers carried the casket from the Richardson residence, a half-block from the church. The family followed the casket, and then came the Masons by rank. A thousand people sought admittance to the church nearly an hour before the funeral service began.

"Nine candles four feet high stood in three triangles on the east, west and south sides of the coffin. Each was lighted, but the chapel was otherwise dark. At the upper end of the coffin was laid a chaplet of white roses, and below was the insignia of the order and the sword of the deceased Knight in its scabbard. On the table near the coffin was a symbol of death wreathed with evergreens, surrounded by seven large candles, bearing no lights. At the head of the coffin stood a great iron passion cross, five feet in height.

"The Preceptor preceded the body of officers from the back of the church. The party bore lighted tapers and were attired in black with scarves of crepe. They entered the chapel singly, as silent as shadows. The Knights arranged themselves in a semicircle to the west, south and north sides of the coffin, all facing east. After a few moments of deathly silence, a trumpet in an adjoining room sounded a plaintive note, and the Master of Ceremonies opened the ceremony.

"The ritual was closely followed in the ceremony. The Master first asked for one who would accuse the dead [of any wrongdoing], and, when none appeared, the organ softly played, ‘Crossing the Bar.’ The Expert and Sub-Expert then lifted the lid of the coffin and exposed the body of the dead Knight to view. His forehead was adorned with a chaplet of laurel and vine leaves. On his heart lay a freshly cut bunch of violets and on the breast a cross of gold set with sparkling jewels. These were ceremoniously removed.

"The officers then approached the casket, and each in turn touched the body with his right hand. Each accompanied the solemn rite with a blessing. The de profundis was then chanted in Latin. The libra nos was chanted by the choir, their voices sounding farther and farther away. The coffin was then closed and taken aside to a part of the church which represented a grave, while the choir sang mournful music. The familiar strains of ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ carried the silent listeners back to earth again after the rites. All the tapers were extinguished except the Master’s, and all the Knights, kneeling, with arms folded, engaged in silent prayers. The Master [struck the iron cross three times producing a symbolic tone and] blessed the dead brother in the words of the ritual."

The account of the Knights Kadosh ritual ends here. The rest of the article names dignitaries in attendance and describes floral tributes. The report also contains the fact that "Only one Kadosh funeral has ever been held before in Tennessee."

Following the Knights of Kadosh ceremonial, our former Sovereign Grand Commander was accorded yet another Masonic honor and was interred as a Master Mason. Again we go back to the pages of the Nashville Tennessean of July 28,1914, for our account.

"The body of Major James D. Richardson now rests in beautiful Evergreen Cemetery, beneath a bank of flowers, the final rite having been said this afternoon with funeral services held at the Central Christian Church, conducted by Reverend Everett S. Smith, assisted by Carey E. Morgan, of Nashville, in the presence of one of the largest crowds that ever attended a funeral ceremony in this city. Men prominent in Masonic circles and national politics and citizens of all walks of life gathered to pay a last fitting tribute to the memory of the Masonic chief. The ceremonies at the church were very simple, consisting of a Scripture lesson and prayer by Rev. Morgan, a eulogy by Elder Smith, and the singing of ‘Asleep in Jesus’ and ‘Home Sweet Home’ by the choir.

"The altar of the church and the choir loft were completely hidden beneath the many floral offerings, representing the nation’s grief over the loss of one of her noblest men. The ceremony at the grave was under the direction of Mt. Moriah Lodge, No. 18, and consisted of the Blue Lodge ceremony, with Charles Barham, of Nashville, Senior Grand Warden, acting as Worshipful Master, and Past Grand Master Charles Comstock acting as Chaplain. The ceremonies were performed around the grave, and Worshipful Master Barham deposited the lambskin apron and evergreen in the vault with the body and paid a glowing tribute to the fallen leader, after which the Joe B. Palmer Bivouac, Confederate Veterans’ of this city, took charge and used their beautiful ceremony with Dr. M. E. Neely officiating. Then the grave was filled and hidden beneath the floral offerings. Rev. Smith pronounced the benediction, concluding the ceremony."

Ill. Richardson, a most uncommon man, went to his eternal rest as a Scottish Rite Brother and Mason. His funeral rites reflect the ideals he held most dear—his deep religious faith, fraternal bonds, and unselfish service to his country. He grew up in Rutherford County, Tennessee, the son of a respected physician who practiced in and around Murfreesboro, the county seat. The Civil War began when James was 18 and a student at Franklin College. He enlisted as a private and, after a year, was promoted, becoming the Adjutant of the 45th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. He served in that capacity until the surrender of the Southern Armies.

His public service career included seats in the Tennessee Legislature and the Congress of the United States. He was made a Master Mason in Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 18 and served as Worshipful Master there. He was elected Grand Master of Tennessee Masons in 1873, an Active Member of the Supreme Council, 33°, in 1885, and Sovereign Grand Commander in 1901, a post he held until his death in 1914.

Hugh H. Clements is a life member of Acanthus Lodge No. 558, in Michigan. A member of the Chattanooga Scottish Rite Bodies since 1983, he served as an Asst. Class Director until moving to Illinois in February 1998. He is a Past President of the Chattanooga Scottish Rite Society and has received the Venerable Master’s Award and the Society’s Award for Outstanding Service.