Gravely Speaking

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania

The Knights of St. John, named for their patron saint, St. John the Baptist, is a fraternal organization for Catholic men founded May 6, 1886, in New York State.  The organization is the amalgamation of many organizations, such as, the Knights of St. George, the Knights of St. Paul, the Knights of St. Louis, the Knights of St. John, all of which were formed “to improve their moral, mental and social condition; to aid, assist and support members and their families in case of want, sickness and death; and to promote the welfare of the Roman Catholic Religion.” 

According to the Buffalo Commandery the Order took as its mission: “a filial, devotion to and respect for the authority of the Roman Catholic Church, a sense of honor, love of truth, courage, respect for womanhood and a indiscriminating charity motivated by love of GOD”.  The Order the Knights of St. John, now international, encompasses 17 countries numbering over 12,000 Knights.  (The units or posts of the Knights of St. John are formed into Commanderies.)

Above is a metal marker marking the grave of a member of the Knights of St. John.  The marker is in the shape of the Maltese Cross, the emblem of the order. It has eight tips. Each tip reminds the viewer of the eight Beatitudes found in the Gospel of St. Matthew (5:3-10):

• Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
• Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land.
• Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted.
• Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill.
• Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
• Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God.
• Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
• Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Miami Cemetery, Miamitown, Ohio

The metal marker above marks the grave of a member of the Daughters of America, a fraternal order founded in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, in 1891 as the auxillary organization of the Jr. Order of United American Mechanics. 

The eagle and the stars above the shield represent patriotism, the open Bible in the shield symbolizes religion.  Below the Bible are clasping hands, representing the unity of membership.

Miami Cemetery, Miamitown, Ohio

The Daughters of America organization was founded as part of the anti-immigrant movement in the later part of the 19th Century. The organization admits white males and females of good moral character.  Following are the main tennets of the order:

Resist unrestricted immigration

Help Americans find employment

Encourage the growth of American businesses

Support Bible reading in public schools

Oppose sectarian influences in state and national governmental affairs

Promote the Jr. Order of United American Mechanics

Provide funds to support orphans of deceased DOA members

Provide funds for the aged and infirmed members of the organization

Maple Grove Cemetery, Hooven, Ohio

Miami Cemetery, Miamitown, Ohio

St. Boniface Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois

The metal marker above marks the grave of a member of The Knights of the Maccabees of the World (KOTM OTW).  The marker displays a circle within a circle, with a tent in the inner circle.  The term “tent” signified the post or lodge.

The marker below marks the grave of a member of The Knights of the Maccabees which was formed in 1878 in London, Ontario, Canada. The Knights of the Maccabees was a fraternal organization that provided low-cost insurance to members, as well as, funeral expenses.

The Maccabees of the World was a related but separate organization which merged with The Knights of the Maccabees in 1914 under a shortened title, the Maccabees.  The organization takes its name from the Jewish leader and military genius, Judas Maccabeau, who led his tribe in revolt against Antiochus IV of Syria in the second century B.C.  The founding members of the organization admired Maccabeau’s qualities of steadfastness and perserverence, as well as, his admonition to his soldiers to reserve some of their spoils to be used on behalf of the widows and children of their fallen comrades.

Lakeside Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania

The the markers above and below have similar designs, both with a cross in the center of a circle with a cross surrounded by the Latin phrase, in hoc signo vinces, meaning “in this sign you will conquer” which was derived from Constantine I who used the phrase “in this, win” as a motto.

The early Christians adopted it as a symbol consisting of a monogram composed of the Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P), the first two letters in the name Christ. “In later periods the christogram “IHS” both stood for the first three letters of “Jesus” in Latinized Greek and “in hoc signo” from the legend.”

New Oxford Cemetery, New Oxford, Pennsylvania

Lakeside Cemetery, Erie, Pennsylvania

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds”

The inscription above is carved above the entrance to the New York James Farley Post Office.  Though the quote, derived from a passage in Histories written by Herodotus, has come to be known as the motto for the United States Post Office, it actually does not have one. 

According to their Website, the National Association of Letter Carriers was founded in 1889.  The “NALC is the union of city letter carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service. Letter carriers delivered 170 billion pieces of mail last year, six days a week, to over 151 million homes and businesses in every city, suburb and town in America”.