Masonic Funeral for Brother Adel

We had a Brother die this week. Tonight we had a Masonic Funeral Service for him. This is a service which the Lodge performs for the Brother at his or his family's request. Our Brother had requested the funeral and twenty-five Masons came to the funeral home for his service. His funeral is at the Church tomorrow but often the Masonic Service is usually done at the Funeral Home Visitation or at the Grave site.

Brother Adel Throckmorton was a 50-year Mason. He was also a member of the York Rite, the Shrine - Well, here let me use the list we used for the service.

Initiated as an Entered Apprentice on September 8, 1955
Passed to the Degree of a Fellowcraft on October 20, 1955and Raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason on October 27, 1955.

He served the Lodge as Master in 1985.

He received his 50 year award on November 5, 2005.

In the York Rite Adel’s record is impressive:
He was a 50 year member of all of the York Rite Bodies.

Adel took his Chapter degrees March 26, 1956.
Order of Red Cross and Order of Malta degrees March 28, 1956
Order of the Temple May 2, 1956.
Royal and Select Master degrees May 28, 1956.
Super Excellent Master degree May 31, 1956.
He was Commander 1966 and 1976.
He was High Priest 1978
He was Illustrious Master 1979

Because of his service to the Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery he was elected to the Knights York Cross of Honour.

He was also a member of Iowa York Rite College #32, Za Ga Zig Shrine and the Story County Shrine Club.

He received the Ish Sodi (Man of my choice) from the Grand Council in 1991
and the Knight of the Royal Arch from the Grand Chapter in 2003.

Adel was also a member of the Affiliated bodies Laura Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; Judea Shrine, White Shrine of Jerusalem and Friendship Court, Order of the Amaranth serving those bodies in many capacities.

You can see that he was an active Mason. Aside from the above activities he held many other offices in the bodies and could also be found supporting the organizations on the sidelines. HE WAS ACTIVE.

He also participated in many, many other activities. He used to go around to the Nursing Homes and sing and read his poetry. He was a member of the senior citizen Song Birds.

Adel had been a teacher, a counselor and finally had so much education that he was unable to get another job in education because he was too high up on the pay scale and you know the administrators would not hire someone with that much experience. He became a rural mail carrier and I believe was even president of his association.

I said he liked to write poetry and also he was responsible for most of the special services which were given in the Commandery at Christmas, Easter and Ascension Day. His services were always appreciated and well attended.

Brother Adel leaves a void in our Masonic life. I had a difficult time giving his service but I was glad to do it for him as he has given so much to our fraternity. In the service I make this statement:

He has laid aside the working tools of life and ~ having wrought well and conscientiously he will surely hear from Him who reviews each human life, no condemnation, no censure, no reproach but those life-giving words, "Well done good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.

We will hold him in our memory with Brotherly love and affection and look forward to meeting with him again in the Grand Lodge Above. Good Morrow Brother Adel, we shall meet again.