"The Gospel of De Molay" by Bascom B. Clarke and 7 similar items

Brave Fight With Heart Attack Fails Last of Madison's 33rd Degree Masons Dies at 77; Funeral Tuesday (By HENRY ROLL) BASCOM B. CLARKE, 77, president of the last of the Madison Masons to hold the thirty-third degree, and well known philanthropist, gave up a brave battle for his life against a heart attack when he died Sunday morning at 10 o'clock. Mr. Clarke was ill with influenza the week of New Year's, but after his recovery he was able to resume his duties as editor of the American Thresherman, published by the Clarke company. The influenza evidently had left him in a somewhat weakened condition, and while seated in his office in the Cantwell building last Monday he was suddenly taken ill with an attack of indigestion. He went home, and the latter part of the week his condition indicated a turn for the better. Saturday morning, however, he was stricken with a heart attack, and from that time until his death he battled bravely for his life. News Shocks Friends News of his death was received by thousands of his friends in Madison and elsewhere with a great shock. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon. A brief service will be conducted at the home, 611 South Few street, where he died, at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. A. H. Schoenfeld, Mineral Point, grand chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Masons of Wisconsin and an intimate friend of Mr. Clarke, will have charge of the service. The public service will be conducted in the Masonic temple at 2 p.m. E. E. Parkinson, who was formerly associated with Mr. Clarke in the Clarke Publishing company, will have charge of the Masonic service. Mr. Schoenfeld will also officiate. Edward Swain will sing at the house and in the temple the Masonic quartet will furnish the music. Active pallbearers will be Frank W. Cantwell, Robert Tyson, A. C. Larson, Dr. A. L. Bents, Frank Weinhold, Milwaukee, and Clayton Randolph, East Troy. Honorary pallbearers will be W. A. Devine, Leo T. Crowley, W. R. Bagley, E. F. Gibbs and Charles F. Lamb, all of Madison, Dr. E. A. Brown and Andrew Agnew, Milwaukee, and W. H. Newsom, Indianapolis. Had Interesting LIfe Graduating from the "University of Hard Knocks," as Mr. Clarke had often said himself, he had an interesting life. He was born at Lexington, Va., June 24, 1851. During the Civil war his parents died and at the age of 11 Union soldiers took charge of him in Arkansas and brought him north. He settled at Colfax, Ind., near Indianapolis. He was too young to join the army. Mr. Clarke grew up in Colfax, where he served as postmaster and also published a country weekly newspaper. Before coming to Madison he was connected with farm machinery companies. Arriving here in 1890 Mr. Clarke became the branch manager for C. Aultman and company, which had its headquarters at Canton, Ohio. Later he took up local management of the Port Huron company, dealer in farm implements. Mr. Clarke had a keen sense of humor and he was especially fitted for the work he engaged in when he founded the American Thresherman. In this monthly magazine he wrote under the heads of Uncle Silas, Aunt Malinda, and also conducted the editorial page. He has issued two volumes of the Gospel of Freemasonry and had written the copy for the third volume. Mr. Clarke also had all of his copy ready for the April issue of the American Thresherman. Mr. Clarke has written for every issue of the American Thresherman since its founding. Known as Philanthropist. As a public philanthropist Mr. Clarke was favorably known. For a number of years he was known as the "Bishop" of the Volunteers of America and each Christmas he made an appeal to the public for funds for the children at the Neighborhood house in Columbus Park. For a number of years Mr. Clarke's company also published the "Tractor and Gas Engine Review," which was merged in 1926 with the American Thresherman. Mr. Clarke was an intimate friend of Charles E. Whelan, who died last Thanksgiving day. Mr. Clarke was one of the most prominent Masons in the state. He sponsored the organization of the Madison consistory, added by Mr. Whelan, and was known as the "daddy of the Madison consistory." On Sept. 21, 1920, Mr. Clarke was elected to receive the thirty-third degree, a degree conferred upon Masons in recognition for what they have done for Masonry. He is the last Madison Mason to hold such a degree, but E. E. Parkinson has been elected to receive one. Mr. Whelan also held this honorary degree. Mr. Clarke was also the founder of the Dane County Telephone company which later merged with the Wisconsin Telephone company. The writings of Mr. Clarke have been read all over the world. The American Thresherman goes into every state in the union and also to every other grain growing country in the world. Married in 1873 Mr. Clarke was a member of Madison lodge No. 5, Royal Chapter of Arch Masons, Robert Macoy commandery of Knights Templar, the Madison consistory and the Mystic Shrine. In consistory work he had a prominent part in the conferring of the 29th degree, known as the degree of St. Andrew. Mr. Clarke was married to Miss M. Belle Watkins, Oct. 9, 1873, at Colfax. Survivors besides Mrs. Clarke are two sons: Frank Clarke, Marcellus, Mich., and James L. Clarke, treasurer of the Clarke Publishing company. He also leaves five grandchildren. Linn A. Clarke, a former councilman, is a nephew. Mr. Clarke emigrated with his father to Arkansas in 1857. The trip across the southern country was made in a wagon drawn by mules and required two months. Upon their arrival in Arkansas the family were the guests of Col. Robert Crockett, grandson of the famous "Davy" Crockett until their home was completed. Their new home was the forerunner of what is now the town of Mount Adams on the White river. Taken By North Troops Col. James F. Clarke, father of Mr. Clarke, was the founder of the town. Soon after the family had settled, the Civil war broke out. Bascom was present when Union forces shelled Mount Adams on two occasions. As the fleet under Admiral Farragut was proceeding down the river loaded with foodstuffs, ammunition and soldiers, it was fired upon by settlers on the banks. Shortly after his parents died, Bascom was brought into the Union lines at DeValle Bluff, Ark. In August, 1864, by a detachment of the Third Michigan cavalry which later made him an honorary member of the regiment. At DeValle Bluff Mr. Clarke fell in with the Second Indiana Battery, returning to their home state, and he traveled with them. In later years he was adopted as a member of the battery. Mr. Clarke found a home with the family of Capt. Milton R. Waugh at Colfax. The only education he ever received at this place was a few weeks in a district school. Leaving school Mr. Clarke received employment in a drugstore where he worked for his board. He was later appointed postmaster and finally became publisher of the Colfax Chronicle. Sold Machinery In 1870 he began the sale of threshing machinery as a side line and became branch manager of C. Aultman and company. Mr. Clarke was in the office of the Port Huron company at Port Huron on the day the battleship Maine was blown up. On the day the battle of Manila Bay was fought in 1898, the first issue of the American Thresherman made its appearance. Mrs. Clarke also wrote for the American Thresherman under the name of "Aunt Melinda." Mr. Clarke was one of the leaders in the movement which resulted in the building of the Masonic temple, one of the finest in the northwest. Three children have preceded Mr. Clarke in death. He will be buried at Forest Hill beside his son, Harry. Among other books Mr. Clarke published besides the "Gospel of Freemasonry" are the "Gospel of DeMolay" and "Bascom Clarke, Southern Refugee," by Charles E. Whelan. Many years ago Mr. Clarke was made an honorary member of the Dane County Veterans' association. In 1920 he was elected president of this organization. Honored By City Mr. Clarke was one of the biggest boosters Madison had. The common council evidently had in mind the charitable work of Mr. Clarke and his activities in all movements which resulted for the good of the community when it voted several years ago to name Spaight street park in honor of B. B. Clarke. This park will be completed this year. Mr. Clarke was a lover of children, and all the kiddies who knew him loved and admired him. Among some of the sayings Mr. Clarke wrote in the March issue of the American Thresherman under the head of "Uncle Silas" were the following: "One of the strangest things about the human family is how we are willing to broadcast advice to those who don't seem to need it." "Not altogether a consolation is it to know that when the banker gets trimmed in the stock market, he intends to pay back every dollar." "Maybe money talks, but the greatest trouble is that most of us fail to understand the code generally used." "The miserly man seldom finds himself in trouble from breaking down the family fences after other women." "It's a kind of natural trait in most of us to speak of the bad part of the world as "they," and the good part as "we." "Even when, down deep in his soul, a man knows he's unworthy of the woman he wants to marry, he's still willing to take chances on her." Published in the Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), on Monday, March 18, 1929, pgs. 1 4. ~~~~ Friends Pay Tribute to B. B. Clarke Bascom B. Clarke, president of the Clarke Publishing company, who died Sunday, was pictured as a man with a bleeding heart, as a man of undevoted love for the children, especially for those who because of circumstances did not enjoy all the privileges of life, and as an exemplary and useful citizen by the Rev. A. H. Schoenfeld, Mineral Point, grand chaplain of the Masonic Grand lodge of Wisconsin, at the funeral services held in the auditorium of the Masonic temple Tuesday afternoon. Men and women of all walks of life, of all creeds and of various races attended the services. Floral tributes from the various Masonic bodies and from relatives and friends filled the platform. Knights Templar in uniform escorted the body from the Temple to Forest Hill cemetery. "Nearer My God to Thee" and "Abide With Me" were sung by a quartet consisting of Dr. W. L. Gillette, O. M. Nelson, Edward Swain, and Leonard M. Nelson, Donald McGill played the organ. Mr. Schoenfeld, an intimate friend of Mr. Clarke, told how Mr. Clarke made it possible for the children of the Italian settlement to have a Christmas just the same as other kiddies because of his devotion to them. "If a man with a bleeding heart came to Bascom Clarke, his heart would also be bleeding soon," Mr. Schoenfeld said. E. E. Parkinson, who gave the Masonic service, also paid Mr. Clarke a high tribute. At the grave the Masonic service was also conducted and the quartet sang another hymn. Active pallbearers were: Frank W. Cantwell, Robert Tyson, A. C. Larson, Dr. A. L. Bents, Frank Weinhold, Milwaukee, and Clayton Randolph, East Troy. (description exceeds maximum possible length)