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| ON JUNE 13,1863 THE USS ALBATROSS, A UNION GUNBOAT, HAD BEEN BOMBARDING ST. FRANCISVILLE LA. FROM ITS ANCHORAGE IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE SHIPS CAPTAIN LT. COMMANDER JOHN E. HART, DIED FROM YELLOW FEVER. BROTHER MASONS, ALSO OFFICERS OF THE ALBATROSS, REQUESTED BRO. HARTS BURIAL IN ST. FRANCISVILLE. THE MASTER OF FELICIANA LODGE WAS SERVING IN THE CONFEDERATE ARMY, BUT THE LODGE'S SENIOR WARDEN, BRO. W.W.LEAKE, THOUGH ALSO IN THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE, WAS IN THE VICINITY. HEARING OF BRO. HART'S DEATH, HE FELT IT WAS HIS DUTY AS A SOLDIER AND A MASON TO HONOR THE BURIAL REQUEST. ALL THE HOSTILITIES WERE STOPPED, AND BRO. LEAKE JOINED THE UNION OFFICER'S FUNERAL CORTEGE WITH TWO OTHER LOCAL CONFEDERATE MASONS. AT GRAVE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, IN FULL MASONIC CEREMONIES, COMMANDER HART WAS LAID TO REST. SOON THE WAR RESUMED. BUT FOR ONE DAY IT STOPPED IN THE DEFERENCE TO MILITARY HONOR AND MASONIC BROTHERHOOD. |
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