Lenoir County, NC - Governor Richard Caswell Obituaries, 1789 OBITUARIES for Governor Richard Caswell From Newspapers outside the State Pennsylvania Mercury 12-31-1789 On Tuesday of the 10th ultimo died, at Fayetteville, North-Carolina, the most Worshipful and Honorable RICHARD CASWELL, Esq. Speaker of the Senate, and Grand Master of the Masons of that State; a gentleman who has uniformly distinguished himself as a firm friend to the liberties of his country. He was a member of the first Congress, in 1775, and has repeatedly been elected Governor of that State. He was many years a member of the Legislature, and ever ranked amongst the first Patriots and best of Men. His remains were entombed with all the Honors due to so distinguished a character, & the General Assembly of that State have determined to go into mourning one month. ***************** MARYLAND Baltimore, December 25. On Tuesday the 10th ult. died, at Fayetteville North Carolina, the most worshipful and honorable RICHARD CASWELL, esquire, Speaker of the Senate, and grand master of the Masons of that state, a gentleman who has uniformly distinguisned himself as a firm friend to the liberties of his country. He was a member of the first congress, in 1775, and has repeatedly been elected governor of that state. **************** Died on the 20th ult. at Fayetteville, in North Carolina, the honorable Major General, RICHARD CASWELL, Grand Master Mason, Speaker of the Senate, and Governor of that Province. **************** A FUNERAL ORATION On the Most Worshipful and Hon. Major General RICHARD CASWELL, Grand Master of the Masons of North Carolina And all Judea and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah Ch. B. 2, v. 24 By Francois-Xavier Martin Worshipful SIRS, And Worthy BROTHERS, BEREFT of him who conducted our works, we are met to discharge the tribute of a tear due to his memory. How deeply the rest of the community of sympathizes with us, on this melancholy occasion, the attendance of a respectable number of our Fellow-citizens fully testifies. Shall our griefs terminate in sterile tears? Shall this Discourse, sacred to the Memory of the Most Worshipful and Honorable Major General RICHARD CASWELL, Grand-Master of the Masons of North Carolina, be, like the song of the untutored savage, the mere rehearsal of a Warrior’s achievements? No. In admiring the virtues that have rendered his death, like Josiah’s lamented in Judea and Jerusalem, let us, as Christians and Masons, be stimulated, not to offer idle adulation to his Manes, but, to imitate, in the practice of every virtue so bright a pattern. Nothing excites more powerfully to virtuous deeds, than the examples of those whom they have rendered conspicuous. Man generally desires what he finds applauded in others. And, either because Virtue appears more noble, when he hears it praised, or less difficult, when he sees it practiced, he is stimulated thereto—as the labour is not without reward, and reminisnes would be without excuse. The examples of the Dead are no less powerful than those of the Living. We look upon the Virtues of the former with a greater degree of veneration. As we view those of the latter with a greater degree of envy; perhaps, because Death having crowned them, we are willing to believe that posterity praises without flattery, as it praises without interest--or rather (for, why should the real reason be concealed in this temple of truth?) because, our pride will not suffer us to acknowledge them. To convene the people when some illustrious popular character had terminated his career, and to improve the opportunity of exciting them to Patriotic Virtues, is an ancient custom, frequent instances of which occur in sacred and profane history. The heart of man, however obdurate, when operated upon by grief, or the idea of a future state is prepared to receive such favourable impressions as the stiff and close grained stone becomes pliant and ductile, when heated by the fire of the furnace. Thus we read that the corpse of Caesar, having been brought into the forum of the metropolis of the world, Anthony, holding up that Dictator’s garment, addressed the Roman people, "You well know," said he, "this mantle. I remember the first time Caesar put it on. It was on this day he overcame the Nervii. If you have tears to shed, prepare to shed them now." With as much propriety, can I rise today, and, addressing you, say:- You well know these Badges. They are the insignia of MASONRY—of a society which for its antiquity and utility acknowledges no equal among the institutions of the sons of man. Behold the White Apron that was girded on him, the loss of whom we bemoan, on the day he became a Mason. He has left it to you, unsullied. He has left it to you, decorated with those marks of dignity, to which merit alone gives title. If you have tears to shed, prepare to shed them now. He is no more. No longer shall he, like the eastern sun illuminate our Lodges; no longer shall he plan or direct our works. You well know, Fellow-Citizens, that Sword, emblematical of Supreme Executive Authority. I remember the first time it was delivered him. It was on the day we shook off the oppressive yoke of British domination and became a People. If you have tears to shed, prepare to shed them now. He is no more. No longer shall he wield the sword of Justice attempered by mercy. No longer shall he preside in your Councils, of lead you in the hostile Field. To enter here into a minute detail of the services he rendered you, would be to promise that they may be obliterated from your memory- You remember them. Brothers and Fellow-Citizens, they cannot have been forgotten. ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Clair Hadley - donandclair@verizon.net ______________________________________________________________________