Page 94 FUNERALS.The Ceremony observed at Funerals, according to ancient custom, with the Service used on the Occasion.NO Mason can be interred with the formalities of the Order unless it be, by his own special request, communicated to the Master of the Lodge of which he died a member, foreigners and sojourners excepted; nor unless he has been advanced to the third degree of Masonry; and from this restriction there can be no exception. Fellow-crafts, or apprentices, are not entitled to funeral obsequies, nor to attend the Masonic procession on such occasions. The Master of a Lodge, having received notice of a Master Mason's death, and of his request to be interred with the ceremonies of the Order, fixes the day and hour for the funeral, and issues his command to summon the Lodge. He may invite as many Lodges as he thinks proper, and the members of those Lodges may accompany their officers in form; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged, and he and his officers must be duly honored, and cheerfully obeyed on the occasion.*) But in case the deceased was not a member of either of the attending Lodges, the procession and ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the oldest Lodge. All the brethren who walk in procession should observe, as much as possible, an uniformity in their dress. Decent mourning, with white stockings, gloves, and aprons, is most suitable. *) Except when the Grand or Deputy Grand Master is present, and exercises his authority |
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THE FUNERAL SERVICE.The brethren being assembled at the Lodge-room, (or some other convenient place), the presiding Master opens the Lodge, in the third degree, with the usual forms; and having stated the purpose of the meeting, the service begins.
The grand honors are then given, and certain forms used, which can not be here explained. The Master then, taking the sacred roll in his hand, says:
The brethren answer: |
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The Master then records the name and age of the deceased upon the roll, and says:
The brethren answer three times (giving the grand honors each time):
The Master then deposits the roll in the archives, and repeats the following prayer:
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A procession is then formed, which moves to the house of the deceased, and from thence to the place of interment. The different Lodges rank according to seniority, except that the Lodge of which the deceased was a member walks nearest the corpse. Each Lodge forms one division, and the following order is observed:
ORDER OF PROCESSION AT A FUNERAL.
Tyler, with a Drawn Sword;
The brethren are not to desert their ranks, or change places, but keep in their different departments. When the procession arrives at the churchyard, the members of the Lodge form a circle round the grave, and the clergymen and officers of the acting Lodge, taking their station at the head of the grave, and the mourners at the foot, the service is resumed, and the following exhortation given: |
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The following invocations are then made by the Master:
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Page 101 The brethren then move in procession round the place of interment, and severally drop a sprig of evergreen into the grave, accompanied with the usual honors. The Master then concludes the ceremony at the grave in the following words:
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Thus the service ends, and the procession returns in form to the place whence it set out, where the necessary duties are complied with, and the business of Masonry is renewed. The insignia and ornaments of the deceased, if an officer of a Lodge, are returned to the Master with the usual ceremonies, after which the charges for regulating the conduct of the brethren are rehearsed, and the Lodge is closed in the third degree. |
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CEREMONY OF CONSTITUTION AND CONSECRATION.On the day and hour appointed, the Grand Master and his officers meet in a convenient room near the Lodge to be constituted, and open in the third degree. After the officers in the new Lodge are examined by the Deputy Grand Master, they send a Messenger to the Grand Master, with the following message, viz:
When notice is given, the Grand Lodge walk in procession to the hall of the new Lodge. When the Grand Master enters, the grand honors are given by |
Page 104 the new Lodge; the officers of which resign their seats to the grand officers, and take their several stations on the left. The necessary cautions are given, and all, excepting Present or Past Masters of Lodges, are requested to retire, until the Master of the new Lodge is inducted into the Oriental Chair of Solomon. He is then bound to the faithful performance of his trust, and invested with the characteristics of the chair. Upon due notice, the Grand Marshal re-conducts the brethren into the hall, and all take their places, except the members of the new Lodge, who form a procession on one side of the hall. As they advance, the Grand Master addresses them.
"Brethren, behold your Master."They make the proper salutation as they pass. A grand procession is then formed, in the following order, viz:
Tyler with a drawn sword; |
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Royal Arch Masons; THE NEW LODGE.
Tyler with a drawn sword; Fellow-Crafts; Master Masons; Junior and Senior Deacons; Secretary and Treasurer; Two brethren carrying the Flooring, *) or Lodge; Junior and Senior Wardens; The Holy Writings, carried by the oldest or some suitable member not in office; The W. Master; Music. THE GRAND LODGE.
Grand Tyler with drawn sword; *) Carpet. +) Wheat. |
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R. W. Deputy Grand Master; The Marshals conduct the procession to the church or house where the services are to be performed. When the front of the procession arrives at the door, they halt, open to the right and left, and face inward; while the Grand Master and others, in succession, pass through and enter the house. A platform is erected in front of the pulpit, and provided with seats for the accommodation of the Grand Officers. The Holy Bible, Square and Compasses, and Book of Constitutions are placed upon a table in front of the Grand Master. The flooring is then spread in the center, upon the platform, covered with white satin or linen, and encompassed by the three tapers, and the vessels of corn, wine, and oil.
SERVICES.
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The dispensation and records are presented to the Grand Master, who examines the records, and, if found correct, proclaims:
After the charter is read, the Grand Master then says:
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Page 108 Whereupon the several officers of the new Lodge deliver up their jewels and badges to the Master, who presents them, with his own, to the Deputy Grand Master, and he to the Grand Master. The Deputy Grand Master presents the Master elect to the Grand Master, saying:
The Grand Master asks them if they remain satisfied with their choice. [They bow in token of assent.] The Master elect then presents, severally, his Wardens and other officers, naming them and their respective offices. The Grand Master asks the brethren if they remain satisfied with each and all of them. [They bow as before.] The officers and members of the new Lodge form in front of the Grand Master; and the business of Consecration commences with solemn music. |
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CEREMONY OF CONSECRATION.The Grand Master, attended by the Grand Officers and the Grand Chaplain, form themselves in order round the Lodge - all devoutly kneeling. A piece of solemn music is performed, while the Lodge is uncovered. After which, the first clause of the Consecration Prayer is rehearsed by the Grand Chaplain, which is as follows:
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The Deputy Grand Master takes the Golden Vessel of Corn, and the Senior and Junior Grand Wardens take the Silver Vessels of Wine and Oil, and sprinkle the elements of consecration upon the Lodge. The Grand Chaplain then continues:
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