The Masonic Funeral Service by RWBro Phil Elam

"Conducting Masonic Funeral Services is as old as the Fraternity itself. In the days of Operative Masonry, stonemasons buried their own with great solemnity and reverence. The deceased Brother was a man they had worked with side-by-side for years -- perhaps, even their entire lives. They extolled his virtues and the contributions he had made to the Craft's work. They spoke of the Eternal Life after death, and the need to perform "goode worke" toward all humanity throughout the course of a man's life. The entire guild and all of their families turned out in force to mourn their Brother's passing, and to express their sympathies to the Brother's family. This tradition has been carried forward for centuries to our present day Speculative Masonry.

The first thing any non-Mason will observe is the size of the turnout. If it is small, they may conclude that his Lodge did not hold the deceased Brother in very high esteem. Or, even worse, that Freemasons are much too busy with their own private lives and interests to practice the tenets of Charity and Brotherly Love of which we so loudly boast. In other words, they may conclude that we do not practice what we preach. If the turnout is large, the non-Mason is likely to come away with a very different impression of both the Fraternity and the deceased Brother.

Always remember that a Masonic Funeral Service is the final tribute we can pay to our fallen Brother. That is the appropriate time to thank the Brother's family for allowing him to share his time on Earth with our Fraternity. No, you may not have known the Brother personally, but if he was a member of your Lodge, he certainly deserves your presence at his funeral service. If he was a Brother, then he is entitled to all of the "lights, rights and benefits" of being a Freemason -- and that certainly includes a well-attended Masonic Funeral Service. Attending these services are, in many ways, just as important as attending Lodge meetings -- perhaps, even moreso, because, as we can do nothing more for our Brother, the Funeral Service is really for the benefit of the deceased Brother's family and friends, and it exhibits our genuine care and concern for one of our own.

For those that may have forgotten, the Masonic Funeral Service is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature ever written. Simple, honest, and straight-forward, it offers each of us an opportunity to reflect upon our own mortality, and to reaffirm our individual faith in the Supreme Grand Master of Heaven and Earth. It draws forth its inspiration and words of comfort not only from our Volume of Sacred Law, but also from many of the world's greatest literary geniuses. No one can listen to our service and not be impacted by the gentle, yet powerful, words that touch the heart of every person present -- both Mason and non-Mason alike.

Consider the sobering passage from our Masonic Funeral Service: "One by one they pass away, the Brothers of our adoption, the Companions of our choice. A Brother whose hand we have clasped in the bonds of Fraternal Fellowship is now passing from our sight, and we know that we shall meet him on Earth no more."

One day, and we know not when, each one of us will be that Brother who has passed from sight. One day, each one of us will have ended our journey in this life. As your then cold and lifeless body is commended to the grave eternal, will you want your Masonic Brethren to be present and among those that mourn you, and to offer comfort and consolation to your loved ones?

As stated in our funeral service, you can do nothing more of a material nature for the departed Brother. Nevertheless, you can cherish his memory, and offer the tribute of respect and love to the late Brother's memory. Of even greater importance, you can be there to extend our fraternal sympathy to our Brother's deeply afflicted and sorrowing family in their bereavement. We must tell his loved ones, and demonstrate it by our physical presence, that our promises to be true to them are not hollow or empty words. We owe our Brother something, and this may be the very last opportunity we will ever have to repay that debt.

Brethren, if you receive a call from your Lodge or see a Masonic Funeral Notice in your local newspaper, take the 20 or 30 minutes out of your busy lives to make this final act of respect and tribute. No, you may not have personally known the Brother, but he was your Brother and that alone is enough to justify making the effort to attend and to demonstrate to the world that we Freemasons do, in fact, sincerely care about each other -- both in life and in death.

Each of us will one day cross death's threshold. After spending years in the Masonic Fraternity, how would you feel if most of your Lodge Brothers were too occupied with their own self-interests to attend your Masonic Funeral Service? How will your loved ones feel about the organization you belonged to for so many years cannot even muster more than a small handful of members to stand around your casket?

This is one obligation and commitment that each of us should earnestly strive to fulfill even if we cannot always attend Lodge meetings. Let us demonstrate before the world that we are men who practice Brotherly Love -- all the way to the grave's edge."

Originally published in The Missouri Freemason
"Nuggets From The Quarry" column
by RWB Phil Elam, MMBBFMN #408

Symbolical Masonry by H L Haywood

See and read an online copy of this great & classic work [c1923].

"Symbolical Masonry is a treasure-house of Masonic lore, including discussions of key concepts of the first three degrees, along with an extensive study guide. Haywood goes into details about such mysteries as the Letter 'G', the two pillars, and the legend of Hiram Abiff. Not merely a rote discussion of the rituals and regalia of the lodge, Haywood attempts to get the reader to think critically about the background of these topics, enhancing their understanding of the rich history of Freemasonry."

--J.B. Hare

Halcyon

"High above all dogmas that divide, all bigotries that blind, all bitterness that beclouds, will be written the simple words of the one eternal philosophy & religion -

"The Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of Man, the moral law, the golden rule, and the hope of a life everlasting!

"Because this is so; because the human soul is akin to God, and is endowed with powers to which no one may set a limit, it is and of right ought to be free. Thus, by logic of its philosophy, not less than the inspiration of its faith, Masonry has been impelled to make its historic demand for liberty of conscience, for the freedom of the intellect, and for the right of all men and masons to stand erect, unfettered, and unafraid, equal before God and the law, each respecting the rights of his fellows.

"What we have to remember is, that before this truth was advocated by any order, or embodied in any political constitution, it was embedded in the will of God and the constitution of the human soul. Nor will Masonry ever swerve one jot or tittle from its ancient and eloquent demand till all men, everywhere, are free in body, mind, and soul."


Author Unknown

The Three Degrees of Masonry

An Address Before Keith Chapter Rose Croix
Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite Halifax, NS
Easter 1954

By Reginald V. Harris 33*

A Man’s Masonic stature is not to be measured by the number of degrees he has or the offices he has held. The titles by which he is addressed may be high sounding; the regalia he wears may be rich and gaudy, but neither means anything if they adorn a man whose spiritual stature has not increased as he advanced in Masonic knowledge.

There are only three degrees in Masonry; some never get beyond the first degree; some do reach the second degree; I know of few who have attained to the third.

But there are others—sincere in their declaration that they “solicit our privileges, prompted by a favorable opinion preconceived of the Fraternity, a desire for knowledge and a sincere wish to be serviceable to their fellowmen.” On such men must depend the very existence of Free masonry. In their hearts they come—with a desire to ally themselves with all that is good, a desire to maintain a code of conduct emblematic of good citizenship. Outside the Order he may never have understood its aims and purposes.

He may have never heard of “the Lost Word” or “Masonic Light” or “Truth,” but with such motives in his heart and once inside our doors he grasps something of its meaning; it lures him on in the cause of service wherever there is work to do without the hope of fee or reward. He may serve as keeper of the wardrobe, or audit the accounts, or visit the sick in the hospitals. He may direct a rehearsal or play a minor part in a degree. Outside the Lodge we usually find him serving his City or Town, in its Council or School Board, as a volunteer fireman or as a private in the ranks. He helps to solve the problems of his Church—serving on its com mittees or boards; and when at last he lays down the working tools of life there are few to fill his place. Such a Mason has attained to the Second degree, whose password is “Service”. Before considering the Mason who has attained to the Sublime degree of Master Mason, let us review our earliest days as Masons.

To read the full article click here or above title.

Scottish Rite's Double Headed Eagle

"From whence came this two-headed eagle, and how came it to be associated with Scottish Rite Masonry? The last part of this question is easier to answer than the first, for there is direct testimony that Frederick of Prussia supplied this crest during the formative stages of the Rite, but neither Frederick nor indeed Prussia could claim the exclusive right the use or to bestow it. It is the imperial emblem of Russia, Austria, Serbia and other portions of the disrupted Holy Roman Empire, and Prussia adopted the emblem long after it had flown over Byzantium as the royal arms of the "Emperors of the East and West.""

For the complete article, click here.

Take a Tour of Masonic Washington: What Does It All Mean?

Take a Tour of Masonic Washington: What Does It All Mean?

Why Rituals are Important in Your Life

by Denise Lammi and David Wojtowicz  [as appeared on their website.]

Rituals are procedures performed which “act out” thoughts or beliefs. These thoughts or beliefs may also be referred to as ideas or myths. These ideas and the resultant rituals add meaning to behaviours or events. Rituals can convert an otherwise ordinary or practical event into something that has a meaning that goes beyond what separate actions add up to. In other words, there is a synergy because the actions producing a ritual stimulate emotions and add colour to transform that which might otherwise be bland events into meaningful events. Rituals are the basis of traditions. Rituals and tradition provide an opportunity to make important events special and memorable. Due to certain similarities, people will generally have similar responses to ritualized events and their symbols.

Why do people perform a particular ritual? What are the ideas or myths that created the occasion to perform the ritual? Do you need to know? If you know, what do you do with the knowledge? Do you continue to celebrate the event by maintaining the myth and the ritual that accompanies it? Or, do you discard the myth and related ritual as nonsense that has no relevance to your life? Or, since you have a choice, should you keep certain rituals? - The general consensus is that you would be wise to keep and revere that which has meaning and purpose for your life and/or gives you a sense of belonging to society. Myth, ritual and tradition need to be considered for what they were intended to represent and should be encouraged where the objective is to bring desirable meaning and purpose to life.

Rituals can provide substance and meaning to life at both the individual and social level. Ritual and its symbols therefore act as a means by which values and structures of society can continue through the ages. Rituals can also create new values and structures. These values, whether traditional or new, can be transmitted to individuals.

Myth and ritual can satisfy individual needs in everyday life. Whether you are conscious of it or not, you have certain personal myths and shared myths concerning your own identity and you perform certain rituals to enhance these myths. (E.g. carrying a sentimental item, wearing a certain clothing item for luck, performing certain routines in a particular order, making your bed every morning, closing each email with the same goodbye.) Daily living is filled with mini ceremonies (ritualistic acts), that bring you out of the ordinary and connect you to yourself and the world. By expressing these otherwise unexceptional actions with purposefulness awareness and affection, your life gains meaning.

Life brings changes. All over the world, past and present, cultures or societies have rituals (ceremonies) signifying an event in a person's life indicative of a transition from one stage to another. These are often referred to as “rites of passage”. Rites of passage provide purpose and function at both the individual and the group level by revealing the change in a positive light. Also, it is natural to experience stresses in connection with undergoing change and rites of passage assist people in coping with the stress and provide meaning for the change. Examples of rites of passage include graduation ceremonies, bar mitzvahs, weddings, retirement parties and funerals. Such events lose their real meaning and impact when you just go through the motions and do not appreciate the significance of the transition. Incomplete rituals and therefore incomplete transitions do not facilitate the acceptance of the change.

Rituals are often dismissed as primitive, unnecessary or religious. However, since myth and ritual can be valuable instruments to enrich your own life and give you a sense of belonging to community, before you dismiss or discard a ritual, you should stop to consider the meaning and effect of the ritual. Disowning rituals operates to disassociate you from yourself and from other people.

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Author's Bio:

Denise Lammi and David Wojtowicz are sister and brother. Denise and David both became Chartered Accountants but their education and professional careers took them in different directions until 1989, when David moved to Vancouver from Amsterdam. Denise was already residing in Vancouver. Since that time; together, they founded and operated a successful Chartered Accounting practice for 15 years and authored numerous courses for the professional development of accountants. More recent accomplishments, from their combined efforts, include authoring and publishing the book “Your Own Devices”.Their background and experience in listening, learning and getting to the bottom of the “real issues” has well suited them to approach the matter of personal development in a useful and sensible manner. Their professional training, interactions with business minded people and preparation of accurate technical material enables them to comprehend and explain personal development knowledge from this unique perspective. To learn more about the book or to order the book; please visit the website http://www.yourowndevices.ca/