Chapter D: G. M.: Most Worshipful Grand Master, I find the stone to be square (1)

The Craftsmen have done their duty.

G. M.: R. W. Senior Grand Warden, what is the proper implement of your office?

S. G. W.: The Level.

G. M.: What are its Masonic uses?

S. G. W.: Morally, it teaches Equality; and by it we prove our work.

G. M.: Apply the implement of your office to that portion of the corner-stone that needs to be proved, and make report.

Level is applied to the top surface.

S. G. W.: Most Worshipful Grand Master, I find the stone to be level. The Craftsmen have done their duty.

G. M.: R. W. Junior Warden, what is the proper implement of your office?

J. G. W.: The Plumb.

G. M.: What are its moral and Masonic uses?

J. G. W.: Morally, it teaches rectitude of conduct; and by it we prove our work.

G. M.: Apply the implement of your office to that portion of the corner-stone that needs to be proved, and make report.

The Plumb is applied to the sides of the stone.

J. G. W.: Most Worshipful Grand Master, I find the stone to be plumb. The Craftsmen have done their duty.

Grand Master (striking the stone three times with his gavel), says:

This corner-stone has been tested by the proper implements of Masonry. I find that the Craftsmen have skillfully and faithfully done their duty; and I do declare the stone to be well formed and trusty, truly laid, and correctly proved according to the rules of our Ancient Craft. May the building be conducted and completed amid the blessings of Plenty, Health and Peace.

Response by the Craft: So mote it be.

Consecration.

Grand Master: Brother Grand Marshal, you will present the elements of consecration to the proper officers.

Grand Marshal presents vessel of corn to the D. G. M.; the wine to the S. G. W.; and the oil to the J. G. W.

Deputy Grand Master advances with the corn, scattering it on the stone, and says:

I scatter this corn as an emblem of Plenty; may the blessings of bounteous Heaven be showered upon us, and upon all like patriotic and important undertakings, and inspire the hearts of the people with virtue, wisdom and gratitude.

Response by the Craft: So mote it be.

Senior Grand Warden advances with the vessel of wine, pouring it on the stone, and says:

I pour this wine as an emblem of Joy and Gladness. May the great Ruler of the Universe bless and prosper our National, State and City Governments; preserve the union of the States in harmony and brotherly love, which shall endure through all time.

Response by the Craft: So mote it be.

Junior Warden advances with the vessel of oil, pouring it on the stone, saying:

I pour this oil as an emblem of Peace; may its blessings abide with us continually; and may the Grand Master of Heaven and Earth shelter and protect the widow and orphan, and vouchsafe to them, and to the bereaved, the afflicted and sorrowing, everywhere, the enjoyment of every good and perfect gift.

Response by the Craft: So mote it be.

Grand Master, extending his hands, pronounces the following invocation:

May corn, wine and oil, and all the necessaries of life, abound among men throughout the world. May the blessing of Almighty God be upon this undertaking. May He protect the workmen from every accident. May the structure here to be erected, be planned with Wisdom, supported by Strength, and adorned in Beauty, and may it be preserved to the latest ages, a monument to the energy and liberality of its founders.

Response by the Craft: So mote it be.

Proclamation.

Grand Master: (Addressing Architect.) Worthy sir (or brother), having thus, as Grand Master of Masons, laid the corner-stone of the structure, I now return to you these implements of Operative Masonry (presents Square, Level and Plumb), having full confidence in your skill and capacity to perform the important duties confided to you, to the satisfaction of those who have entrusted you with their fulfillment.

The G. M. strikes the stone three times with the gavel, and the public grand honors are given.

The Grand Master will then make report of his doings, as follows:

I have the honor to report, that in compliance with the request of the proper authorities, the corner-stone of the ...... building to be erected on this site, has been laid successfully, with the ancient ceremonies of the Craft. The Brother Grand Marshal will therefore make the proclamation.

Grand Marshal: In the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Arkansas, I now proclaim that the corner-stone of the structure to be erected, has this day been found true and trusty, and laid according to the old customs, by the Grand Master of Masons.

Closing Ode.

Oration.

Benediction.

Glory be to God on High, and on earth peace, good will toward men! O Lord, we most heartily beseech Thee with Thy favor to behold and bless this assemblage; pour down Thy mercies, like the dew that falls upon the mountains, upon Thy servants engaged in the solemn ceremonies of this day. Bless, we pray Thee, all the workmen who shall be engaged in the erection of this edifice; keep them from all forms of accidents and harm; grant them in health and prosperity to live; and finally, we hope, after this life, through Thy mercy and forgiveness to attain everlasting joy and felicity in Thy bright mansion, in Thy holy temple, not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

After which, the Grand Lodge, with escort, returns to the place whence it started, and is closed.

The Lodges, and other Masonic bodies, return to their respective halls.

* * *

DEDICATION OF MASONIC HALLS.

At the time appointed for the celebration of the ceremony of dedication, the Grand Master and his officers, accompanied by the members of the Grand Lodge, meet in a convenient room, near to the place where the ceremony is to be performed, and the Grand Lodge is opened in ample form.

The procession is then formed, under direction of the Grand Marshal, when the Grand Lodge moves to the hall to be dedicated, in the following order:

Music;

Tiler, with drawn sword;

Stewards, with white rods;

Master Masons;

Grand Secretaries;

Grand Treasurers;

A Past Master, bearing the Holy Writings, Square and Compass,
supported by two Stewards, with rods;

Two Burning Tapers, borne by two Past Masters;

Chaplain and Orator;

Past Grand Wardens;

Past Deputy Grand Masters;

Past Grand Masters;

The Globes;

Junior Grand Warden, carrying a silver vessel with corn;

Senior Grand Warden, carrying a silver vessel with wine;

Deputy Grand Master, carrying a golden vessel with oil;

The Lodge,
Covered with white linen, carried by four Brethren;

Master of the oldest Lodge, carrying Book of Constitutions;

Grand Master,
Supported by two Deacons, with rods.

When the Grand Officers arrive at the center of the Lodge room, the Grand honors are given.

The Grand Officers then repair to their respective stations.

The Lodge is placed in front of the altar, toward the East, and the gold and silver vessels and lights are placed around it.

These arrangements being completed, the following or some other appropriate Ode is sung:

Master Supreme! accept our praise;
Still bless this consecrated band;
Parent of light! illume our ways,
And guide us by thy sovereign hand.

May Faith, Hope, Charity, divine,
Here hold their undivided reign;
Friendship and Harmony combine
To soothe our cares--to banish pain.

May pity dwell within each breast,
Relief attend the suffering poor;
Thousands by this, our Lodge, be blest,
Till worth, distress'd, shall want no more.

The Master of the Lodge to which the hall to be dedicated belongs, then rises, and addresses the Grand Master as follows:

Most Worshipful: The brethren of ...... Lodge, being animated with a desire to promote the honor and interest of the Craft, have erected a Masonic Hall, for their convenience and accommodation. They are desirous that the same should be examined by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge; and if it should meet their approbation, that it be solemnly dedicated to Masonic purposes, agreeably to ancient form and usage.

The Architect or Brother who has had the management of the structure then addresses the Grand Master as follows:

Most Worshipful: Having been entrusted with the superintendence and management of the workmen employed in the construction of this edifice; and having, according to the best of my ability, accomplished the task assigned me, I now return my thanks for the honor of this appointment, and beg leave to surrender up the implements which were committed to my care, when the foundation of this fabric was laid, (presenting to the Grand Master the Square, Level and Plumb), humbly hoping that the exertions which have been made on this occasion will be crowned with your approbation, and that of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge.

To which the Grand Master replies:

Brother Architect: The skill and fidelity displayed in the execution of the trust reposed in you at the commencement of this undertaking, have secured the entire approbation of the Grand Lodge; and they sincerely pray that this edifice may continue a lasting monument of the taste, spirit, and liberality of its founders.

The Deputy Grand Master then rises, and says:

Most Worshipful: The hall in which we are now assembled, and the plan upon which it has been constructed, having met with your approbation, it is the desire of the Fraternity that it should be now dedicated, according to ancient form and usage.

The Lodge is then uncovered, and a procession is made around it in the following form, during which solemn music is played.

Grand Tiler, with drawn sword;

A Past Master, with light;

A Past Master, with Bible, Square and Compass,
on a velvet cushion;

Two Past Masters, each with a light;

Grand Secretary and Treasurer, with emblems;

Grand Junior Warden, with vessel of corn;

Grand Senior Warden, with vessel of wine;

Deputy Grand Master, with vessel of oil;

Grand Master;

Two Stewards, with rods.

When the procession arrives at the East, it halts; the music ceases, and the Grand Chaplain makes the following

Consecration Prayer.

Almighty and ever-glorious and gracious Lord God, Creator of all things, and Governor of everything Thou hast made, mercifully look upon Thy servants, now assembled in Thy name and in Thy presence, and bless and prosper all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee. Graciously bestow upon us Wisdom, in all our doings; Strength of mind in all our difficulties, and the Beauty of harmony and holiness in all our communications and work. Let Faith be the foundation of our Hope, and Charity the fruit of our obedience to Thy revealed will.

May all the proper work of our institution that may be done in this house be such as Thy wisdom may approve and Thy goodness prosper. And, finally, graciously be pleased, O Thou Sovereign Architect of the Universe, to bless the Craft, wheresoever dispersed, and make them true and faithful to Thee, to their neighbor, and to themselves. And when the time of our labor is drawing near to an end, and the pillar of our strength is declining to the ground, graciously enable us to pass through the "valley of the shadow of death," supported by Thy rod and Thy staff, to those mansions beyond the skies where love, and peace, and joy forever reign before Thy throne. Amen.

Response: So mote it be!

All the other brethren keep their places, and assist in singing the Ode, which continues during the procession, excepting only at the intervals of dedication.

Song.

Tune--Old Hundred.

Genius of Masonry, descend,
And with thee bring thy spotless train,
Constant our sacred rites attend,
While we adore thy peaceful reign.

The first procession being made around the Lodge, the Grand Master having reached the East, the Grand Junior Warden presents the vessel of Corn to the G. Master, saying:

Most Worshipful: In the dedications of Masonic Halls, it has been of immemorial custom to pour corn upon the Lodge, as an emblem of nourishment. I, therefore, present you this vessel of corn, to be employed by you according to ancient usage.

The Grand Master then, striking thrice with his mallet pours the corn upon the Lodge, saying:

In the name of the great Jehovah, to whom be all honor and glory, I do solemnly dedicate this hall to Freemasonry.

The grand honors are given.

Bring with thee Virtue, brightest maid!
Bring Love, bring Truth, bring Friendship here;
While social Mirth shall lend her aid
To soothe the wrinkled brow of Care.

The second procession is then made around the Lodge, and the Grand Senior Warden presents the vessel of wine to the Grand Master, saying:

Most Worshipful: Wine, the emblem of refreshment, having been used by our ancient brethren in the dedication and consecration of their Lodges, I present you this vessel of wine, to be used on the present occasion according to ancient Masonic form.

The Grand Master then sprinkles the wine upon the Lodge, saying:

In the name of the holy Saints John, I do solemnly dedicate this hall to Virtue.

The grand honors are twice repeated.

Bring Charity! with goodness crowned,
Encircled in thy heavenly robe!
Diffuse thy blessings all around,
To every corner of the Globe!

The third procession is then made round the Lodge, and the Deputy Grand Master presents the vessel of oil to the Grand Master, saying:

Most Worshipful: I present you, to be used according to ancient custom, this vessel of oil, an emblem of that joy which should animate every bosom on the completion of every important undertaking.

The Grand Master then sprinkles the oil upon the Lodge, saying:

In the name of the whole Fraternity, I do solemnly dedicate this hall to Universal Benevolence.

The grand honors are thrice repeated.

To Heaven's high Architect all praise,
All praise, all gratitude be given,
Who deigned the human soul to raise,
By mystic secrets, sprung from Heaven.

The Grand Chaplain, standing before the Lodge, then makes the following

Invocation.

And may the Lord, the giver of every good and perfect gift, bless the brethren here assembled, in all their lawful undertakings, and grant to each one of them, in needful supply, the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

The Lodge is then covered, and the Grand Master retires to his chair.

The following or an appropriate original oration may then be delivered, and the ceremonies conclude with music:

Brethren: The ceremonies we have performed are not unmeaning rites, nor the amusing pageants of an idle hour, but have a solemn and instructive import. Suffer me to point it out to you, and to impress upon your minds the ennobling sentiments they are so well adapted to convey.

This Hall, designed and built by Wisdom, supported by Strength, and adorned in Beauty, we are first to consecrate in the name of the great Jehovah; which teaches us, in all our works, begun and finished, to acknowledge, adore, and magnify Him. It reminds us, also, in His fear to enter the door of the Lodge, to put our trust in him while passing its trials, and to hope in Him for the reward of its labors.

Let, then, its altar be devoted to His service, and its lofty arch resound with His praise! May the eye which seeth in secret witness here the sincere and unaffected piety which withdraws from the engagements of the world to silence and privacy, that it may be exercised with less interruption and less ostentation.

Our march round the Lodge reminds us of the travels of human life, in which Masonry is an enlightened, a safe, and a pleasant path. Its tesselated pavement of Mosaic-work intimates to us the chequered diversity and uncertainty of human affairs. Our step is time; our progression, eternity.

Following our ancient Constitutions, with mystic rites we dedicate this Hall to the honor of Freemasonry.

Our best attachments are due to the Craft. In its prosperity, we find our joy; and, in paying it honor, we honor ourselves. But its worth transcends our encomiums, and its glory will outsound our praise.

Brethren: It is our pride that we have our names on the records of Freemasonry. May it be our high ambition that they should shed a luster on the immortal page!

The hall is also dedicated to Virtue.

This worthy appropriation will always be duly regarded while the moral duties which our sublime lectures inculcate, with affecting and impressive pertinency, are cherished in our hearts and illustrated in our lives.

As Freemasonry aims to enliven the spirit of Philanthropy, and promote the cause of Charity, so we dedicate this Hall to Universal Benevolence; in the assurance that every brother will dedicate his affections and his abilities to the same generous purpose; that while he displays a warm and cordial affection to those who are of the Fraternity, he will extend his benevolent regards and good wishes to the whole family of mankind.

Such, my brethren, is the significant meaning of the solemn rites we have just performed, because such are the peculiar duties of every Lodge. I need not enlarge upon them now, nor show how they diverge, as rays from a center, to enlighten, to improve, and to cheer the whole circle of life. Their import and their application is familiar to you all. In their knowledge and their exercise may you fulfill the high purposes of the Masonic Institution.

How many pleasing considerations, my brethren, attend the present interview! While in almost every other association of men, political animosities, contentions, and wars interrupt the progress of Humanity and the cause of Benevolence, it is our distinguished privilege to dwell together in peace, and engage in plans to perfect individual and social happiness. While in many other nations our Order is viewed by politicians with suspicion, and by the ignorant with apprehension, in this country its members are too much respected, and its principles too well known, to make it the object of jealousy or mistrust. Our private assemblies are unmolested; and our public celebrations attract a more general approbation of the Fraternity. Indeed, its importance, its credit, and, we trust, its usefulness, are advancing to a height unknown in any former age. The present occasion gives fresh evidence of the increasing affection of its friends; and this noble apartment, fitted up in a style of such elegance and convenience, does honor to Freemasonry, as well as reflects the highest credit on the respectable Lodge for whose accommodation and at whose expense it is erected.

We offer our best congratulations to the Worshipful Master, Wardens, Officers, and Members of ...... Lodge. We commend their zeal, and hope it will meet with the most ample recompense. May their Hall be the happy resort of Piety, Virtue, and Benevolence! May it be protected from accident, and long remain a monument of their attachment to Freemasonry! May their Lodge continue to flourish; their union to strengthen; and their happiness to abound!--And when they, and we all, shall be removed from the labors of the earthly Lodge, may we be admitted to the brotherhood of the perfect, in the building of God, the Hall not made with hands, eternal in the heavens!

The Grand Lodge is again formed in procession, as at first, returns to the room where it was opened, and is closed in ample form.

MASONIC FUNERAL SERVICE

General Directions.

1. No Freemason can be buried with the formalities of the Fraternity unless it be at his own request or that of some of his family, communicated to the Master of the Lodge of which he was a member at the time of his death, foreigners or sojourners excepted; nor unless he has received the Master Mason degree; and to this rule there can be no exception.

2. Fellow Crafts or Entered Apprentices are not entitled to these obsequies, nor can they be allowed in the procession, as Masons, at a Masonic funeral.

3. The Master of the Lodge, having received notice of the death of a brother (the deceased having attained the degree of Master Mason), and of his request to be buried with the ceremonies of the Craft, fixes the day and hour for the funeral (unless previously arranged by the friends or relatives of the deceased), and issues his order to the Secretary to summon the Lodge. Members of other Lodges may be invited, but they should join with the Lodge performing the ceremonies.

4. Upon the death of a sojourner who had expressed a wish to be buried with Masonic ceremonies, the duties prescribed in Article 3 will devolve upon the Master of the Lodge within whose jurisdiction the death may have occurred, unless there be more than one Lodge in the place; and if so the funeral service will be performed by the oldest Lodge, unless otherwise mutually arranged.

5. Whenever other societies or the military unite with Masons in the burial of a Mason, the body of the deceased must be in charge of the Lodge having jurisdiction, and the services should, in all respects, be conducted as if none but Masons were present.

6. If the deceased was a Grand or Past Grand Officer the Officers of the Grand Lodge should be invited; when the Master of the Lodge having jurisdiction will invite the Grand Officer present who has attained the highest rank to conduct the burial service.

7. The pallbearers should be Masons, and should be selected by the Master, with the approval of the family of the deceased. If the deceased was a member of a Chapter or other Masonic body, a portion of the pallbearers should be taken from these bodies severally.

8. The proper clothing to be worn at a Masonic funeral is black or dark clothes, a black necktie, white gloves, and a white apron, and a sprig of evergreen on the left breast. The Master's gavel, the Wardens' columns, the Deacons' and Stewards' rods, the Tiler's sword and the Marshal's baton, should be trimmed with black crape. The officers of the Lodge and Grand Officers should wear their official jewels.

9. As soon as the remains are placed in the coffin there should be placed upon it a plain white lambskin apron.

10. If a Past or Present Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master, or Grand Warden, should join the procession of a Lodge, proper attention must be paid to them. They take place after the Master of the Lodge. Two Deacons, with white rods, should be appointed by the Master to attend them.

11. When the head of the procession shall have arrived at the place of interment, or where the services are to be performed, the lines should be opened, and the highest officer in rank, preceded by the Marshal and Tiler, pass through, and the others follow in order.

12. Upon arriving at the entrance to the cemetery, the brethren should march in open order to the tomb or grave. If the body is to be placed in the former, the Tiler should take his place in front of the open door, and the lines be spread so as to form a circle. The coffin should be deposited within the circle, and the Stewards and Deacons should cross their rods over it. The bearers should take their places on either side--the mourners at the foot of the coffin, and the Master and other officers at the head. After the coffin has been placed in the tomb, the Stewards should cross their rods over the door and the Deacons over the Master. If the body is to be deposited in the earth, an oblong square should be formed around the grave, the body being placed on rests over it; the Stewards should cross their rods over the foot, and the Deacons the head, and retain their places throughout the services.

13. After the clergymen shall have performed the religious services of the church, the Masonic services should begin.

14. When a number of Lodges join in a funeral procession, the position of the youngest Lodge is at the head, or right, of the procession, and the oldest at the end, or left, excepting that the Lodge of which deceased was a member walks nearest the corpse.

15. A Lodge in procession is to be strictly under the discipline of the Lodge room; therefore no brother can enter the procession or leave it without express permission from the Master, conveyed through the Marshal. The Lodge is open and not at refreshment.

Service in Lodge Room.

The brethren having assembled at the lodge room, the Lodge will be opened briefly on the Third Degree; the purpose of the communication must be stated, and remarks upon the character of the deceased may be made by the Master and brethren, when the service will commence, all the brethren standing:

Master: What man is he that liveth and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the land of the grave?

S. W.: His days are as grass; as a flower of the field so he flourisheth.

J. W.: For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.

M.: Where is now our departed brother?

S. W.: He dwelleth in night; he sojourneth in darkness.

J. W.: Man walketh in a vain shadow; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.

M.: When he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him.

S. W.: For he brought nothing into the world, and it is certain he can carry nothing out.

J. W.: The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

M.: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

S. W.: God is our salvation; our glory and the rock of our strength; and our refuge is in God.

J. W.: He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

M.: Can we offer any precious gift acceptable in the sight of the Lord to redeem our brother?

S. W.: We are poor and needy. We are without gift or ransom.

J. W.: Be merciful unto us, O Lord, be merciful unto us; for we trust in Thee. Our hope and salvation are in Thy patience. Where else can we look for mercy?

M.: Let us endeavor to live the life of the righteous, that our last end may be like his.

S. W.: The Lord is gracious and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.

J. W.: God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide, even unto death.

M.: Shall our brother's name and virtues be lost upon the earth forever?

Response: We will remember and cherish them in our hearts.

M.: I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me: "Write from henceforth, Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord! Even so, saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labors."

Here the Master will take the Sacred Roll (a sheet of parchment or paper prepared for the purpose), on which have been inscribed the name, age, date of initiation or affiliation, date of death, and any matters that may be interesting to the brethren, and shall read the same aloud, and shall then say:

Almighty Father! in Thy hands we leave, with humble submission, the soul of our departed brother.

Response; Amen! So mote it be.

The Masonic funeral honors should then be given once; the brethren to respond:

The will of God is accomplished. Amen. So mote it be!

The Master should then deposit the Roll in the archives of the Lodge.

The following or some appropriate Hymn may be sung:

Ode--Air, Balerma. C. M.

Few are thy days, and full of woe,
O man, of woman born!
Thy doom is written, "Dust thou art,
And shalt to dust return."

Behold the emblem of thy state
In flowers that bloom and die;
Or in the shadow's fleeting form,
That mocks the gazer's eye.

Determined are the days that fly
Successive o'er thy head;
The number'd hour is on the wing,
That lays thee with the dead.

Great God! afflict not, in Thy wrath,
The short alloted span
That bounds the few and weary days
Of pilgrimage to man.

The Master or Chaplain will repeat the following or some other appropriate Prayer:

Almighty and Heavenly Father! infinite in wisdom, mercy and goodness, extend to us the blessings of Thy everlasting grace. Thou alone art a refuge and help in trouble and affliction. In this bereavement we look to Thee for support and consolation. Strengthen our belief that Death hath no power over a faithful and righteous soul! Though the dust returneth to the dust as it was, the spirit returneth unto Thee. As we mourn the departure of a brother beloved from the circle of our Fraternity, may we trust that he hath entered into a higher brotherhood, to engage in nobler duties and in heavenly work, to find rest from earthly labor and refreshment from earthly care. May Thy peace abide within us, to keep us from all evil! Make us grateful for present benefits, and crown us with immortal life and honor. And to Thy name shall be all the glory forever. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

A procession should then be formed, which will proceed to the church or the house of the deceased, in the following order:

Tiler, with drawn sword.
Masters of Ceremony, with white rods.
M Master Masons.
A Secretary and Treasurer.
R Senior and Junior Wardens.
S Past Masters.
H The Chaplain.
A The Three Great Lights
L on a cushion, covered with black cloth, carried
. by a member of the Lodge.
The Master,
supported by two Deacons, with white rods.

When the head of the procession arrives at the entrance to the building, it should halt and open to the right and left, forming two parallel lines, when the Marshal, with the Tiler, will pass through the lines and escort the Master or Grand Officer into the house, the brethren closing in and following, thus reversing the order of procession; the brethren with heads uncovered.

Service at Church or House of Deceased.

After the religious services have been performed, the Master will take his station at the head of the coffin, the Senior Warden at his right, the Junior Warden at his left; the Deacons and Stewards, with white rods crossed, the former at the head, and the latter at the foot of the coffin, the brethren forming a circle around all, when the Masonic service will commence by the Chaplain or Master repeating the following or some other appropriate prayer, in which all the brethren will join:

(Scripture can be used here.)

Prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

Master: Brethren, we are called upon by the imperious mandate of the dread messenger Death, against whose free entrance within the circle of our Fraternity the barred doors and Tiler's weapon offer no impediment, to mourn the loss of one of our companions. The dead body of our beloved Brother lies in its narrow house before us, overtaken by that fate which must sooner or later overtake us all; and which no power or station, no virtue or bravery, no wealth or honor, no tears of friends or agonies of relatives can avert; teaching an impressive lesson, continually repeated, yet soon forgotten, that every one of us must ere long pass through the shadow of death, and dwell in the house of darkness.

S. Warden: In the midst of life we are in death; of whom may we seek succor but of Thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased. Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not Thy merciful ears to our prayer.

J. Warden: Lord, let me know my end, and the number of my days; that I may be certified how long I have to live.

Master: Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee; Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; turn from him that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day. For there is a hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. But man dieth and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down, and riseth not till the heavens be no more.

S. Warden: Our life is but a span long, and the days of our pilgrimage are few and full of evil.

J. Warden: So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Master: Man goeth forth to his work and to his labor until the evening of his day. The labor and work of our brother are finished. As it hath pleased Almighty God to take the soul of our departed brother, may he find mercy in the great day when all men shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body. We must walk in the light while we have light; for the darkness of death may come upon us at a time when we may not be prepared. Take heed, therefore, watch and pray; for ye know not when the time is; ye know not when the Master cometh--at even, at midnight, or in the morning. We should so regulate our lives by the line of rectitude and truth that in the evening of our days we may be found worthy to be called from labor to refreshment, and duly prepared for a translation from the terrestrial to the celestial Lodge, to join the Fraternity of the spirits of just men made perfect.

S. Warden: Behold, O Lord, we are in distress! Our hearts are turned within us; there is none to comfort us; our sky is darkened with clouds, and mourning and lamentations are heard among us.

J. Warden: Our life is a vapor that appeareth for a little while, and then vanisheth away. All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.

Master--It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.

Response: So mote it be.

Ode--Air, Naomi.

Here Death his sacred seal hath set,
On bright and by-gone hours;
The dead we mourn are with us yet,
And--more than ever--ours!

Ours, by the pledge of love and faith;
By hopes of heaven on high;
By trust, triumphant over death,
In immortality.

The dead are like the stars by day,
Withdrawn from mortal eye;
Yet holding unperceived their way
Through the unclouded sky.

By them, through holy hope and love,
We feel, in hours serene,
Connected with the Lodge above,
Immortal and unseen.

The service may be concluded with the following, or some other suitable prayer:

Most Glorious God, Author of all good and Giver of all mercy, pour down Thy blessings upon us, and strengthen our solemn engagements with the ties of sincere affection. May the present instance of mortality remind us of our own approaching fate, and, by drawing our attention toward Thee, the only refuge in time of need, may we be induced to so regulate our conduct here that when the awful moment shall arrive at which we must quit this transitory scene, the enlivening prospect of Thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death, and that after our departure hence in peace and Thy favor, we may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom, and there join in union with our friends, and enjoy that uninterrupted and unceasing felicity which is allotted to the souls of just men made perfect. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

If the remains of the deceased are to be removed to a distance, where the brethren cannot follow to perform the ceremonies at the grave, the procession will return to the Lodge room or disperse, as most convenient.

Service at Grave.

When the solemn rites of the dead are to be performed at the grave, the procession should be formed, and proceed to the place of interment in the following order:

Tiler, with drawn sword.

Masters of Ceremony, with white rods.

Musicians,
if they are Masons; otherwise they follow the Tiler.

Master Masons.

Secretary and Treasurer.

M Senior and Junior Wardens.
A
R Past Masters.
S
H Chaplain.
A
L The Three Great Lights
on a cushion, covered with black cloth, carried by
a member of the Lodge.

The Master,
Supported by two Deacons with white rods.

Officiating Clergy.

Pall Bearers. Pall Bearers.
Mourners.

If the deceased was a member of a Royal Arch Chapter and a Commandery of Knights Templar, and members of those bodies should unite in the procession, clothed as such, the former will follow the Past Masters, and the latter will act as an escort or guard of honor to the corpse, outside the pallbearers, marching in the form of a triangle, the officers of the Commandery forming the base of the triangle, with the Eminent Commander in the center.

When the procession has arrived at the place of interment the members of the Lodge should form a square around the grave; when the Master, Chaplain and other officers of the acting Lodge, take their position at the head of the grave, and the mourners at the foot.

After the clergyman has performed the religious service of the Church, the Masonic service should begin.

The Chaplain rehearses the following, or some other suitable prayer:

Prayer.

Almighty and most merciful Father, we adore Thee as the God of time and eternity. As it hath pleased Thee to take from the light of our abode one dear to our hearts, we beseech Thee to bless and sanctify unto us this dispensation of Thy providence. Inspire our hearts with wisdom from on high, that we may glorify Thee in all our ways. May we realize that Thine All-Seeing Eye is upon us, and be influenced by the spirit of truth and love to perfect obedience--that we may enjoy Thy divine approbation here below. And when our toils on earth shall have ended, may we be raised to the enjoyment of fadeless light and immortal life in that kingdom where faith and hope shall end, and love and joy prevail through eternal ages. And Thine, O righteous Father, shall be the glory forever. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

The following exhortation is then given by the Master:

The solemn notes that betoken the dissolution of this earthly tabernacle have again alarmed our outer door, and another spirit has been summoned to the land where our fathers have gone before us.

Again we are called to assemble among the habitations of the dead, to behold the "narrow house appointed for all living." Here, around us, in that peace which the world cannot give or take away, sleep the unnumbered dead. The gentle breeze fans their verdant covering, they heed it not; the sunshine and the storm pass over them, and they are not disturbed; stones and lettered monuments symbolize the affection of surviving friends, yet no sound proceeds from them, save that silent but thrilling admonition, "Seek ye the narrow path and the straight gate that lead unto eternal life."

We are again called upon to consider the uncertainty of human life, the immutable certainty of death, and the vanity of all human pursuits. Decrepitude and decay are written upon every living thing. The cradle and the coffin stand in juxtaposition to each other; and it is a melancholy truth that so soon as we begin to live, that moment we also begin to die. It is passing strange that, notwithstanding the daily mementos of mortality that cross our path--notwithstanding the funeral bells so often toll in our ears and the "mournful processions" go about our streets--we will not more seriously consider our approaching fate. We go on from design to design, add hope to hope, and lay out plans for the employment of many years, until we are suddenly alarmed at the approach of the Messenger of Death, at a moment when we least expect him, and which we probably conclude to be the meridian of our existence.

What, then, are all the externals of human dignity--the power of wealth, the dreams of ambition, the pride of intellect, or the charms of beauty--when Nature has paid her just debt? Fix your eyes on the last sad scene, and view life stripped of its ornaments, and exposed in its natural weakness, and you must be persuaded of the utter emptiness of these delusions. In the grave, all fallacies are detected, all ranks are leveled, all distinctions are done away. Here the scepter of the prince and the staff of the beggar are laid side by side.

Our present meeting and proceedings will have been vain and useless, if they fail to excite our serious reflections, and strengthen our resolutions of amendment.

Be then persuaded, my brethren, by this example of the uncertainty of human life, of the unsubstantial nature of all its pursuits, and no longer postpone the all-important concern of preparing for eternity. Let us each embrace the present moment, and while time and opportunity permit, prepare for that great change when the pleasures of the world be as a poison to our lips, and the happy reflections consequent upon a well-spent life afford the only consolation.

Thus shall our hopes be not frustrated, nor we be hurried unprepared into the presence of that all-wise and powerful Judge, to whom the secrets of all hearts are known. Let us resolve to maintain with sincerity the dignified character of our profession. May our Faith be evinced in a correct moral walk and deportment; may our Hope be bright as the glorious mysteries that will be revealed hereafter; and our Charity boundless as the wants of our fellow-creatures. And, having faithfully discharged the great duties which we owe to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves, when at last it shall please the Grand Master of the Universe to summon us into His eternal presence, may the Trestle-board of our whole lives pass such inspection that it may be given unto each of us to "eat of the hidden manna," and to receive the "white stone with a new name" that will insure perpetual and unspeakable happiness at His right hand.

The Lambskin being removed from the coffin, the Master holds it up and says:

W. M.: The Lambskin, or white leathern Apron, is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason; more ancient than the Golden Fleece or Roman Eagle; more honorable than Star and Garter, when worthily worn. This emblem I now deposit in the grave of our deceased brother. [Deposits it.] By it we are reminded of that purity of life and conduct so essentially necessary to gaining admission to the Celestial Lodge above, where the Supreme Architect of the Universe presides.

The mattock, the coffin, and the melancholy grave admonish us of our mortality, and that, sooner or later, these frail bodies must moulder in their parent dust.

The Master, holding the evergreen, continues:

This evergreen, which once marked the temporary resting-place of the illustrious dead, is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By it we are reminded that we have an immortal part within us, that shall survive the grave, and which shall never, never, never die. By it we are admonished that, though, like our brother whose remains lie before us, we shall soon be clothed in the habiliments of death, and deposited in the silent tomb, yet, through our belief in the mercy of God, we may confidently hope that our souls will bloom in eternal spring. This, too, I deposit in the grave.

The brethren then move in procession round the place of interment, and severally drop the sprig of evergreen into the grave, during which the following may be sung:

Funeral Dirge.

Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound!
Mine ears attend the cry:
"Ye living men, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.

"Princes! this clay must be your bed,
In spite of all your towers;
The tall, the wise, the reverend head,
Must lie as low as ours."

Great God! Is this our certain doom?
And are we still secure?
Still walking downward to the tomb,
And yet prepared no more?

Grant us the power of quick'ning grace,
To fit our souls to fly;
Then, when we drop this dying flesh,
We'll rise above the sky.

Or the following:

Pleyel's Hymn.

Solemn strikes the fun'ral chime,
Notes of our departing time;
As we journey here below
Through a pilgrimage of woe.

Mortals, now indulge a tear,
For mortality is here!
See how wide her trophies wave
O'er the slumbers of the grave!

Here another guest we bring!
Seraphs of celestial wing,
To our funeral altar come,
Waft our friend and brother home.

Lord of all! below--above--
Fill our hearts with truth and love;
When dissolves our earthly tie
Take us to Thy Lodge on high.

After which the Masonic funeral honors are given.

The Grand Honors, practiced among Masons at funerals, whether in public or private, are given in the following manner: Both arms are crossed on the breast, the left uppermost, and the open palms of the hands sharply striking the shoulders; they are then raised above the head, the palms striking each other, and then made to fall smartly upon the thighs. This is repeated three times, and while they are being given the third time, the brethren audibly pronounce the following words--when the arms are crossed on the breast: "We cherish his memory here;" when the hands are extended above the head: "We commend his spirit to God who gave it;" and when the hands are extended toward the ground: "And consign his body to the grave."

The Master then continues the ceremony:

The Great Creator, having been pleased to remove our brother from the cares and troubles of this transitory existence to a state of endless duration, thus severing another link from the fraternal chain that binds us together, may we who survive him be more strongly cemented in the ties of union and friendship; and, during the short space allotted us here, we may wisely and usefully employ our time, and, in the reciprocal intercourse of kind and friendly acts, mutually promote the welfare and happiness of each other.

Unto the grave we now consign his body--earth to earth; ashes to ashes; dust to dust--there to remain until the trump shall sound on the Resurrection morn. We can trustfully leave him in the hands of Him who doeth all things well, who is "glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders."

To those of his immediate relatives and friends who are most heart-stricken at the loss we have all sustained, we have but little of this world's consolation to offer; we can only sincerely, deeply and most affectionately sympathize with them in their afflictive bereavement; but we can say, that He who tempers the wind to the shorn lamb looks down with infinite compassion upon the widow and fatherless in the hour of their desolation; and that the Great Architect will fold the arms of His love and protection around those who put their trust in Him.

Then let us improve this solemn warning, so that, when the sheeted dead are stirring, when the great white throne is set, we shall receive from the Omniscient Judge the thrilling invitation, "Come, ye blessed, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

The services will close with the following or some other suitable prayer:

Prayer.

Most Glorious God, Author of all good and Giver of all mercy, pour down Thy blessings upon us, and strengthen our solemn engagements with the ties of sincere affection. May the present instance of mortality remind us of our own approaching fate, and, by drawing our attention toward Thee, the only refuge in time of need, may we be induced to so regulate our conduct here that when the awful moment shall arrive at which we must quit this transitory scene, the enlivening prospect of Thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death, and that after our departure hence in peace and Thy favor, we may be received into Thine everlasting kingdom, and there enjoy that uninterrupted and unceasing felicity which is allotted to the souls of just men made perfect. "Bless those who are bereaved by this sad providence, and make this brotherhood faithful to their solemn vows, to comfort, aid, and protect those thus left to their sacred charge."

And now, O Lord, we pray for Thy hand to lead us in all the paths our feet must tread; and when the journey of life is ended, may light from our immortal home illuminate the dark valley and shadow of death, and voices of the loved ones welcome us to that "house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

The Master then approaches the head of the grave (or the entrance to the tomb), and gently says:

Soft and safe to thee, my brother, be this earthly bed. Bright and glorious be thy rising from it. Fragrant be the acacia sprig that here shall flourish. May the earliest buds of spring unfold their beauties on this, thy resting place; and here may the sweetness of the summer's rose linger latest. Though the cold blast of autumn may lay them in the dust, and for a time destroy the loveliness of their existence, yet the destruction is not final, and in the springtime they shall surely bloom again. So, in the bright morning of the world's resurrection, thy mortal frame, now laid in the dust by the chilling blast of death, shall spring again into newness of life, and expand, in immortal beauty, in realms beyond the skies. Until then, dear brother, until then, farewell.

The Benediction will then be pronounced by the Master, or Chaplain, as follows:

The Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up the light of His countenance, and give us peace. Amen.

Response: So mote it be.

End of Service at Grave.

In very inclement weather service at the grave can be shortened by omitting any part of the ceremony except the apron, acacia and honors.

ANOTHER SERVICE AT THE GRAVE.

At the grave the Lodge forms a circle or semicircle. The Master and other officers of the Lodge take their position at the head of the grave; the Tyler behind the Master, and the mourners at the foot. The religious burial service of the church (if there be any) should be first performed, after which the Masonic service begins:

The following passage of Scripture, from Ecclesiastes, chapter xii, verses 1-7, is read:

Chaplain: Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; while the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened; and the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low; and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low; also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets; or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.