Brethren
and Friends: It has been a
custom among the Fraternity of
Free and Accepted Masons from
time immemorial, at the request
of a departed Brother or his
family, to assemble in the
character of Masons and, with
the solemn formalities of the
Craft, to offer up to his
memory, before the world, the
last tribute of our affection.
Our Brother
has reached the end of his
earthly toils. The brittle
thread which bound him to earth
has been severed and the
liberated spirit has winged its
flight to the unknown world. The
silver cord is loosed; the
golden bowl is broken; the
pitcher is broken at the
fountain; and the wheel is
broken at the cistern. The dust
has returned to the earth as it
was, and the spirit has returned
to God who gave it.
An anthem or other solemn music
may here be introduced.
Master
reads Sacred Roll:
Brother (full
name), a Master Mason. Member of
Burbank Lodge No. 406.
Entered into rest (date), Age x
years, y months and z days.
Almighty
Father! Into Thy hands we
commend the soul of our beloved
Brother.
The Great
Creator having in His infinite
wisdom, removed our Brother from
the cares and troubles of this
earthly life, thus severing
another link in the fraternal
chain by which we are bound
together, let us who survive him
be yet more strongly cemented by
the ties of Brotherly love; that
during the brief space allotted
to us here, we may wisely and
usefully employ our time, and,
in the mutual exchange of kind
and friendly acts, promote the
welfare and happiness of each
other.
While we pay
this fraternal tribute to his
memory, let us not forget, my
brethren, that we, too, are
mortal; and that our spirits,
too, must return to the God who
spake them into existence. "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." The almighty fiat has gone
forth — "Dust thou art, and unto
dust shalt thou return;" and
that we are all subject to that
decree, the daily observation of
our lives furnishes evidence not
to be forgotten.
Seeing then,
my brethren, that life is so
uncertain, and that all material
pursuits are vain, let us no
longer postpone the
all-important concern of
preparing for eternity; but let
us embrace the present moment,
while time and opportunity are
offered, to provide for that
great change when all the pomp
and pleasure of this fleeting
world will pall upon the senses,
and the recollection of a
virtuous and well-spent life
will yield the only comfort and
consolation. Thus we shall not
be unprepared to enter into the
presence of the one all-wise and
powerful Judge, to whom the
secrets of all hearts are known;
and on the great day of
reckoning we shall be ready to
give a good account of our
stewardship while here on earth.
With becoming
reverence let us supplicate the
Divine Grace, whose goodness and
power know no bounds, that, on
the arrival of the momentous
hour, our Faith may remove the
clouds of doubt, draw aside the
sable curtains of the hidden
world beyond, and bid Hope
sustain and cheer the departing
spirit.
CHAPLAIN:
Most Glorious
God! Author of all good, and
Giver of all mercy! Pour down
Thy blessing upon us, we beseech
Thee, and strengthen our solemn
engagements with the ties of
sincere affection! Endue us with
fortitude and resignation in
this hour of sorrow, and grant
that this dispensation from Thy
hands may be sanctified in its
results upon the hearts of those
who now meet to mourn! May the
present instance of mortality
draw our attention toward Thee,
the only refuge in time of need.
Enable us to look with eyes of
Faith toward that realm whose
skies are never darkened by
sorrow; and after our departure
hence in peace and in Thy favor,
may we be received into Thy
everlasting kingdom, to enjoy
the just reward of a virtuous
and well-spent life. Amen!
BRETHREN:
So mote it
be!
Solemn music may here again be
introduced, after which the
Master continues.
MASTER:
Our Brother
has been raised in that blissful
Lodge which no time can close,
but which will remain open
during the boundless ages of
eternity. In that Heavenly
Sanctuary, the Mystic Light,
unmingled with darkness, will
reign unbroken and perpetual.
There, under the protection of
the All-Seeing Eye, amid the
smiles of Immutable Love, in
that house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens, — there,
my brethren, may Almighty God in
His infinite mercy, grant that
we may meet again, to part no
more.
Master displays apron
The Lambskin
Apron is an emblem of innocence
and the badge of a Mason; more
ancient than the Golden Fleece
or the Roman Eagle, more
honorable than the Star or
Garter, or any distinction that
can be conferred by king,
prince, potentate or any other
person. By it we are continually
reminded of that purity of life
and conduct so essentially
necessary to gain admission into
the Celestial Lodge above where
the Supreme Grand Master of the
Universe forever presides.
Master displays Acacia
This
Evergreen, which once marked the
temporary resting place of one
illustrious in Masonic history,
is an emblem of our enduring
faith in the Immortality of the
Soul. By it we are reminded that
we have an imperishable part
within us, which shall survive
all earthly existence, and which
will never, never die. Through
the loving goodness of our
Supreme Grand Master, we may
confidently hope that, like this
Evergreen, our souls will
hereafter flourish in eternal
spring.
We shall ever
cherish in our hearts the memory
of our departed Brother and,
commending his spirit to
Almighty God, we trustingly
leave him in the hands of that
Beneficent Being who has done
all things well; who is glorious
in His Holiness, wondrous in His
Power, and boundless in His
Goodness; and it should always
be our endeavor so to live that
we too may be found worthy to
inherit the kingdom prepared for
us from the foundation of the
world.
NOTE: A eulogy may be delivered
at this point by Master or any
other person, if desired, after
which the Master proceeds.
MASTER:
We extend to
the bereaved relatives and
friends of our departed Brother
our sincere sympathy in this
hour of sorrow, and we pray that
"He who tempers the wind to the
shorn Lamb" will give them His
divine comfort and consolation,
and that they may come to
realize that the spirit of our
Brother is happy in his Father's
house, where "God shall wipe
away all tears from their eyes,
and where there shall be no more
death, neither sorrow nor
crying, neither shall there be
any more pain, for the former
things are passed away."
"Committal" may take place in
the Chapel or Lodge room or
graveside at the place of
interment.
MASTER:
Soft and safe
to thee, my Brother, be thy
resting place! Bright and
glorious be thy rising from it!
Fragrant be the acacia sprig
that there shall flourish! May
the earliest buds of spring
unfold their beauties o'er thy
resting place, and there may the
sweetness of the summer's last
rose linger longest! Though the
winds of Autumn may 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
resurrection, thy spirit shall
spring into newness of life and
expand in immortal beauty, in
realms beyond the skies. Until
then, dear Brother, until then,
farewell!
CHAPLAIN:
The Lord
bless us and keep us! The Lord
make His face to shine upon us,
and be gracious unto us! The
Lord lift upon us the light of
His countenance and give us
peace! Amen!
BRETHREN:
So mote
it be!
