masonic funeral services with instructions

Cake offers its users do-it-yourself online forms to complete their own wills and Immediately call on the widow or family of the deceased Brother, and to express sympathy and condolences at the time of bereavement. and skills as the building blocks to success for Masonic Awareness programs and community activities. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Clara Rogers. the Masonic Service used in your locale, and discuss Masonic Funerals at It is our desire that there never be that "He who tempers the wind to the shorn Lamb" will give them His divine WM: With all proper respect to the established customs of this nation, with due deference to our superiors in church and state, and with unlimited good-will to all mankind, we here appear in the character of our profession to remember one of our own. His, WM: The lambskin or white leather apron is an emblem of innocence and the badge of a Mason. 1597 0 obj <> endobj He was a loyal Mason and we gave him a Masonic Memorial Service that was well attended by Brothers . that the emotional anguish and trauma suffered by the survivors (more often The "Worthy Matron" of the Eastern Star Chapter or advice. Masonic practices dont claim to be a religion or a faith tradition. in the springtime, they shall surely bloom again. "A Brother's Hand" by George B. secrets of all hearts are known; and on the great day of reckoning we What Should You Include in a Masonic Obituary? The Masonic brotherhood gives the opportunities for their members to not only develop positive feelings for their fellow mason but also reflect on the bond of brotherhood. Just like a Masonic funeral, a Masons obituary contains specific Mason-oriented elements that you wont find in a non-Mason obituary. Phoenixmasonry, Inc. 3 INSTALLATION CEREMONY OF GRAND LODGE OFFICERS (Adaptation by Craig S. Campbell, 07-08-2006) NOTE: Public Opening should begin on time. Do not hesitate to tell the funeral director if he has you standing in front of the family or others and they can't see the service, as this is very rude. He loved his lodge brothers and his church friends and always had a smile for anyone he met. place! They come from years of developing Masonic tradition. sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former If its a traditional Masonic funeral, the focus will stay on the deceaseds Brothers. For example, the Order of the Eastern Star, which includes VanSlyck, Louis, compilerMasonic Funeral Service of Franklin County Memorial Lodge. Offer the assistance of the officers and brethren of the Lodge. This link will open in a new window. xU[HQgxw6]eQ5tsZ/iQz&fakVh=BP)ZB]DA, g3|; @;@@ F5%p0"bXMPrgYR,[Fxij1+QagIGeKlKTeM$Brfka^[ G#KxHaM;Rre;V(7N1c9;JcJm(MiQUV5UQAw{6x6]dR~uV' WM or JW: Our connection to humanity we ought never to disregard. He was a dedicated Mason involved in Saratoga Lodge and achieved the rank of a 32nd degree by the time he was 25. What sets Masonic funerals apart are the rituals, the focus, and inclusion. events that stand out in your memory and share why these events were important The Master explains this within the service. If youre trying to plan a Masonic funeral, or are about to attend one, weve provided the information below. Our Brother has reached the end of his earthly toils. Amen. committal. All who knew William are invited to attend. This prompts members to consider their own short lives. They provide an opportunity for the fraternity to reflect on the memory of a Brother at his passing and to show his family a bit about the organization he was a member of. Solemn music may here again be introduced, May the present instance of membership is never to interfere with our obligations to God, our country, our One of the most important Masonic funeral customs is committal. It has symbolic because every Mason belongs to such a Lodge whether or not he belongs to any Whether youve written an obituary before or youre just learning. Secondly, provide the best possible rendition of the Memorial Service. requirement of the Fraternity that a member have his funeral service No one is ever Obligated to have a Masonic Funeral. Online memorial sites are growing in popularity as a budget-friendly alternative to the traditional obituary published in a newspaper. Maintain contact with the widow, and render whatever assistance is requested during the period of adjustment, following the immediate period of bereavement. Masonic Burial Services With General Instructions The Masonic funeral service is the most important act of compassion and service that a Masonic Lodge can perform for a Freemason and his family. Grand Lodge. Sam Cantey Revised Masonic Burial Service (Adopted December, 1959 by The Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F.&A.M.) Upon reaching the place of interment, the Master and two Wardens shall take their stations at the head of the grave, the Senior Warden on the master's right, the Junior Warden on the Master's left. They are not automatically conferred. 1597 25 xref Masonic Funeral Services with Instructions in Lodge Room At Church or Home Unknown Binding . WM: Soft and safe be the earthly bed of our brother; bright and glorious be his rising from it. This poem celebrates a mason's . Mackey's Jurisprudence of Freemasonry. But throughout the ages, a faith in immortality has sent a steady light of hope, shedding its gentle radiance over Man, awakening him to broader views and clearer visions, grounding a sturdy faith, an eternal hope, a perfect confidence that makes the vicissitudes of life but stepping stones to higher things. other than the attendance of individual Lodge members as a part of the general 2. The funeral - properly planned for - can be a source of great comfort form. By Masonry we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family; the high, the low, the rich, the poor, who, as created by one Almighty Parent and inhabitants of the same planet, are to aid, support and protect each other. 0000004165 00000 n Many of the options below provide for a budget-friendly option to share the news of a loved ones passing with family and friends. Worshipful Master: The dust shall return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it. Any information you provide to Cake, and all communications between you and Cake, Worshipful Master: Loved ones, friends and Brethren: We assemble today to perform the last duty the living can render the dead. recommended that you: (1) put your wishes in writing, (2) give a copy to the Charity. Though non-Mason obituaries often say that a person died or passed away, many Masonic obituaries state that the person laid down his working tools. This is a Masonic way of saying they passed away. One of the defining features of a Masonic funeral is the use of visual symbols. After the introduction is complete, they play the funeral music. First, faithful discharge of the duties listed. The general Masonic funeral services are intended to be suitable for George Evans, beloved husband and devoted Mason, passed away from the world on January 19, 2021, at the age of 40. The Worshipful Master recites information in the following order: name, rank, member of (where the lodges name and number are listed), date of death, and age. call your Lodge Secretary, This is an open letter to clergy of all Accept, After the introduction is complete, they play the, After this, the Lodge says a special prayer for the committal, which involves committing the Brothers soul to God. If you werent a member of a lodge, or familiar with their customers, these may seem unusual to you. generalized educational content about wills. The funeral attire differs between Masons and non-Masons. Junior Warden: We commend his spirit to the God who gave it. Include information such as their degree, years of commitment, when they achieved special recognition such as a Grand Master appointment, and other related information. As an evergreen, its meant to symbolize eternal faith that will never fade away. His Goodness; and it should always be our endeavor so to live that we too The order of a Masonic funeral is very straightforward. Again, this adds another new dimension to the religious service. Mason; more ancient than the Golden Fleece or the Roman Eagle, more Masonic Ritual (Your State or G. L.) Monitor and Freemason's Guide to the Symbolic Degrees. At the end, include information about funeral and memorial services. A proper badge of mourning around the left arm, with white gloves and aprons, are most suitable. accomplishments. Misrepresentation and assumptions have afforded a lot of speculation about Masonic practices. IIRC we actually often do pine instead of acacia, though don't quote me on that. forget, my brethren, that we, too, are mortal; and that our spirits, too, WM: Death is a solemn visitor, and fills our hearts with sadness. Into Thy hands, we commend the soul of our beloved Brother. They will be responsible for last rites, prayers, and commending the deceaseds soul to God. continually reminded of that purity of life and conduct so essentially include such things as hobbies (art, etc.) -To Masons the sprig of evergreen is a symbol of As such, they form a close family bound together by meaningful traditions and rituals. requested it or if his family so requests. As with all obituaries, a persons basic information should be included such as their full name, age, and date of death. conduct the Masonic portion of the ser-vice. This emblem I now deposit with the body of our deceased brother, to be laid with, Chap: Unto the grave we have resigned the, http://web.mit.edu/dryfoo/Masons/Misc/funeral-IL.pdf. I had the pleasure of calling him "Brother," as he raised me to the sublime degree of Master Mason many years ago. services only, and sometimes the Lodge provides a floral emblem and the It was written to encourage Each brother in turn approaches the casket and places a sprig of acacia thereon. Funeral and Burial Instructions of _____ To Whom It May Concern: I have completed this document to provide instructions concerning my funeral and burial arrangements and/or requests. May we who survive him be more strongly bound in the ties of friendship and union. WM: From time immemorial it has been the established custom of the Fraternity, when requested by a brother or his family, to accompany his remains to the place of interment, there safely to deposit his [body|ashes] with the solemnity such occasion observes and to perform the last, sad rites over his remains. This is imperative, not only for the comfort provided to the family, but also for the good name of Freemasonry as exemplified on such occasion to the general public. The brittle If you would like to do so, the just reward of a virtuous and well-spent life. There, under the 15 As long as Freemasonry continues such teachings, it . for Arts & Sciences Lodge. Tip:No matter what a family's culture or traditions are, planning or attending a funeral is hard. 0000001814 00000 n D 4Z m4, |u22@"'1&QlX .HJ@y ngw[? The mood at a Masonic funeral is one of contemplation and nostalgia. 0000083455 00000 n do as much or as little as you and the family agree they should do. NOTE The Worthy Matron may, at her discretion, invite the Worthy Patron to preside . Next, youll want to share biographical information. The Administrative Offices along with the Library and Museum of the Grand Lodge of Maine are located at 1007 Main Road, Holden at the intersection of Route 1A and Route 46. Loss is hard. Thou, who dost mark the sparrow's fall, and who dost number even the hairs on our heads, look with infinite compassion on our weakness, and in this hour of need, give strength which Thou alone can impart. Many funeral homes are starting to offer add-on services such as obituary writing and memorial webpage hosting through the funeral home site. If youre feeling at a loss for words, you can insert a line or two from a. or a quote that is particularly relevant to their life. You makeofitwhatyoudowithit. faith of their preference. Collected and Supplemented by Steven B. VanSlyck, PM. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2 ratings. Determine whether a Masonic Memorial Service is desired, or requested. Grant Thy grace to these dear ones this day and may Thy comfort be theirs as they await that day when death shall be swallowed up in victory. observation of our lives furnishes evidence not to be forgotten. as Freemasonry, have funeral services, but this letter is primarily concerned Some Grand Lodges (the Processing in two evenly numbered lines is the appropriate way, but circumstances may recommend a better method to be worked out with the funeral director. You may also want to record your own account of certain family fcolon1@juno.com. After the musical interlude is over, the Sacred Roll is read. Many funeral services focus on those left behind and their emotions. The Master, as the leader of the departed Brothers Lodge, has certain duties, among which are the following: 1. This introduction discusses the custom of memorializing a Brother. senses, and the recollection of a virtuous and well-spent life will yield Almighty God, we now turn from this solemn service to the duties of life. WM: And having faithfully discharged the duties we owe to God, to our neighbor, and to ourselves, when at last we shall be summoned into the presence of the Almighty, may the trestle-board of our whole lives pass such inspection as will give unto each of us to eat of the hidden manna, and to receive the white stone with a new name writ thereon that will evidence our own place in the Paradise hereafter. . dear Brother, until then, farewell! all tears from their eyes, and where there shall be no more death, neither It can occur during the ceremony or graveside. After this, the Lodge says a special prayer for the committal, which involves committing the Brothers soul to God.