excepted, and those at the direction of the grand master. From the above restriction, there can be no other exceptions.

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, and duly notified of the time and place of interment, must summon his lodge, informing them of the funeral solemnities.

If more lodges are expected to attend, he must make application, by the grand secretary, to the grand master, for permission to preside over such brethren from other lodges as may assist in forming the procession, who are to be under his direction for the time, unless the grand master, his deputy, or the grand wardens, are present.

In case of a stranger, the master of the senior lodge present presides, if the proper gand officers are absent.

The dispensation being obtained, the master may invite as many lodges as he thinks proper; and the members of these lodges may accompany their officers in form.

All the brethren must appear in decent mourning; dressed in white stockings, gloves and aprons, the usual clothing of

master masons.

The officers must appear with the badges of the lodge, and such as have been officers, may wear the badges of their former stations, provided that the brethren actually in office are distinguished by sashes and hatbands.

The brethren should first assemble, if it be possible, in their lodge room, and open in due form, and remain standing during the first part of the service, which may, in common cases, be performed in their hall, with the usual ceremonies.

A procession is then formed; the lodges move according to seniority, excepting that the lodge, of which the deceased was a member, moves nearest to the corpse.

In the graveyard, the brethren proceed to the grave, and then, entering at its foot, open, so that the master may stand at the head of the grave, and the mourners may halt at the foot, while the brethren encircle it. Whilst the prayers are reading at the grave, the brethren may slowly approach it, till they are as near as they can with comfort stand,

If no part of the service has been already performed in the lodge, or some public building, with proper ceremonies, then it is here rehearsed; or such as may be substituted by the direction of the master.

The service may be performed by responses, or by one voice; at discretion.

The Master speaks, or the chaplain by his direction:

Where is now our brother?

He sojourneth in darkness.

Can we redeem our brother?

We have not the ransom.-The place that knew him, shall know him no more!

Shall his name be lost?

[Here the roll is unfolded.]

The memory of a brother is precious. We will record his name.

Write it here!

[Viewing the roll.]

We will write it in our hearts.

How will it then be known?

[Here strew flowers, or evergreen.]

It shall live in his virtues, which shall live in us and in every brother.

Was he worthy?

Like him we will be brethren, and our last end shall be in peace.

He was indeed our brother.

But, who hath done this?

The Lord gave, and the Lord taketh away.

Let us then bless the name of the Lord.

EJACULATION.

What is our life!-It is a shadow! a dream!

We once were-but, what were we!

Whither are we going! what shall we become!

Who is poor! who is rich! the king and the beggar lie

down together!

Our brother hath forsaken us!
He is no longer one of ourselves!
Every connexion of life has ceased!
The form is no longer beautiful!
He stretcheth not his hands to us.
The hour of death has overtaken him!

Shall not some friend comfort us?

[Here an oration may be delivered; but if one has not been prepared for the occasion, then may follow—]

THUS our brother has reached the end of life!-How many offerings has he made upon the altar of charity!

How honourably has he sustained the cares of life!-How did he make the hearts of all around him happy!-He trode not on the worm that moved at his feet!-His heart was in the laws of his country. His religion to his God, taught him to love and to extend happiness to man. But he has bidden us the last farewell. Farewell our brother!-We reply, farewell!-Go, visit the grand lodge of brethren!-Go, meet thy God; and may he approve thee! May we be as faithful! -may our eyes be closed in peace, like thine!-and our dying pillow be as easy!-Farewell till the grand summons!Then, brother, we will rise and meet thee!-Glory be to God on high!

Response by the brethren.-As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.—Amen.

LIGHT of life! all things live before thee! the darkness and the light are both alike to thee! With thee there is no darkness! Thou seest us at our birth, and at our death.Thou knowest us when in the womb, and in the grave.Thou forgettest us not when we have been, or are to be. We are always present with thee, and our thoughts never perish from thy remembrance. May our brother live with us, as well as with thee. May good tidings be on our lips, and his works written upon our hearts. May memory and the virtues be the mourners! Let his death teach us to die; and with him let thy gift to us be immortality!

Then the brethren join hands and renew, in silence, the tokens of their friendship. If they choose to have devotional music at the grave, it may now be performed.

The body is then let into the grave, or entombed.

After which the following declaration and prayer shall be made.

Brethren With proper respect to the established customs of the country in which we reside; with due deference to our superiors in church and state; and with unlimited good will to all mankind, we appear in the character of our profession. Invested with the badges of masonry, publicly we declare our obedience and our submission to the laws and government of the country in which we live, and an ardent wish to promote the general good of society.

As it hath pleased the divine creator to remove our brother from this transitory existence, and to weaken the chain by which we are linked one to another, may his death remind us of our own, and incline us, who survive him, to be more strong in the ties of union and friendship.

To the grave we resign our brother, in expectation of his immortal happiness; and we pray

ALMIGHTY GOD, of infinite mercy and goodness, extend to us the riches of thine everlasting favour, and crown thy present benefits with honour and immortality. And to God be glory forever.-Amen.

Then they is dropped into the grave; and each brother near deposites a shovel full of earth on the coffin, if permited.

The brethren return to the hall, or place where they formed, and the masonic ornaments, if. the deceased was an officer, are in due form returned to the lodge; the proper charges are delivered, and the lodge is closed with a blessing

May the Lord bless us and keep us. May he give us light and truth, and unite our hearts forever.-So mote it be.

Another Funeral Service.

The lodge being opened with the usual forms, at the hall, or some other convenient place, a procession is formed, and the brethren proceed to the house of the deceased. If singers are present, an anthem may be sung. The master proceeds to the head of the corpse, and the service begins: the master, or chaplain, saying,

"What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?"

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

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

Response.Naked he came into the world, and naked he must return: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

The grand honours are then given, and certain forms used, which cannot be here explained. Solemn music is introduced, during which the master strews herbs or flowers over the body; and taking the sacred roll in his hand, he says:

"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his."

The brethren answer:

“God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death."

The master then puts up the roll, and says:

"Almighty Father, into thy hands we commend the soul of our loving brother."

The brethren answer three times, "The will of God is accomplished!-so be it." Giving the grand honours each time. The master, or chaplain, then repeats the following

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 approaching fate; and by drawing our attention towards thee, the only refuge in time of need, may we be induced so to regulate our conduct here, that when the awful moment shall arrive that we are about to quit this transitory scene, the enlivening prospect of thy mercy may dispel the gloom of death, and after our departure hence in peace and in thy favour, we may be received into thine everlasting kingdom; and there enjoy, in union with the souls of our departed friends, the just rewards of a pious and virtuous life.-Amen."

An anthem being sung, the master retires from the corpse, and the coffin is shut up. An oration suitable to the occasion is delivered; and the master recommending love and unity, the brethren join hands, and renew to each other, in silence, their pledged vows.

The lodge is adjourned, and the procession begins, in the form hereafter described, to the place of interment; where the following exhortation is given;

Service at the Grave, by the Master, or Chaplain.

"Here we view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life, and the vanity of all human pursuits. The last offices paid to the dead are only useful as they are lectures to the living; from them, therefore, we are to derive instruction, and ought to consider every solemnity of this kind as a summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution.

"Notwithstanding the various mementos of mortality with which we daily meet; notwithstanding we are convinced that death has established his empire over all the works of nature; yet, through some unaccountable infatuation, we are still apt to forget that we are born to die. We go on from one design to another, add hope to hope, and lay out plans for the subsistence and employment of many years, until we