McCreery This lengthy poem describes how even in the natural world, things that die really just change form. The brothers in this poem promise to meet their deceased friend in heaven. What Is the Meaning of Lily of the Valley? So mote it be. Lord God, Great Architect of the Universe,who has so inspired the ancient members of our Craftthat in the bond of brotherhood they met each others needsand first of all men came together in the hidden mysteries handed down to us,give us, we beseech Thee, grateful hearts,that in joyful service we may bring relief to the unfortunate,and in perfect loyalty both preserve our trust and leave behind usan increased inheritance. It reads: "Isnt it strangeThat princes and kings,And clowns that caperIn sawdust rings,And common peopleLike you and meAre builders for eternity?Each is given a bag of tools,A shapeless mass, A book of rules;And each must make Ere life is flown A stumbling blockOr a stepping stone.. As such, care should be taken to see that it is done reverently, solemnly, and with the utmost care each and every time. This image symbolises that every Mason must be patient and persevere with thoughts of hope when death strikes, and how once people pass away the concept of time becomes eternal and thus the soul immortal. The Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons show love and respect for their departed brothers. The speaker in the poem asks family and friends not to feel sad. We ask you to guide the deceaseds family and friends. God bless our table, and God bless us all. Amen. The Masonic Chaplain will say a prayer, and the brother Masons will also join in to the litany. He cometh forth as a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Give us grace, O Lord,to be ever thankful for Thy providence,with hearts always ready toprovide for the needs of others. Our expert guidance can make your life a little easier during this time. Through Christ our Lord. The old man is analogous to the Greek god Chronos, an aspect of time personified. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. May your spirit be lifted, may your heart be filled with peace, and may the light of Gods promise fill you with joy and hope. The Dash. Every Mason gets the same Masonic prayer recited during his funeral, regardless of his religious background. Grant that the work we have done might provide each of us the direction we seek, and that the food we eat might help to sustain us, as we all continue our several journeys. The passing of our Brother from the cares and troubles of this transitory existence has removed another link from the fraternal chain by which we are united man to man. We thank you for the answered prayer and in Jesus name, Amen. Lord, You are the one Who was sent to heal the broken-hearted and comfort those that mourn and are heavy-laden. Sure we lay cornerstones and have open installations from time to time, but this is certainly the most widely known of our rites. Amen. we ask this through Christ, our Lord. Let us also remember their families in our prayers, especially their wives who have lost their life companions.O God, be with us as we join together to partake of the bounty you have given us. May Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You! Amen, O God, we thank You bringing us together this evening. Grant too, that we, through our work as Masons, might always build according to Thy will. Amen. We are speaking to you now, O Lord, At the end of festive board, With humble thanks for such a spread, And now before we go home to bed, Let us with all reverence say, Thank you God for a smashing day. Please comfort and heal their heavy hearts. In the Age of Enlightenment, I can only deduce that the framers of this prayer wanted both to retain verbiage that would be familiar with most people while at the same time be accepting to members of non-Christian faiths. Great Artificer of the Universe, Who providest refreshment for those who work, bless, we beseech Thee, this Thy bounty with Thy gracious favour that, this meal ended, we may return to our labours and consecrate our humble efforts to Thy service. A Masonic funeral is not only for male Masons. And as he or she abides in Your garden, let Your angels touch what he/she cannot touch again. Amen. Lord, as we lift up in prayer those that are having to come to terms with the sudden and violent death of a loved one we pray that You would use this tragedy to be the thing that starts to draw each suffering soul into the tender arms of their Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose name we pray. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. May the blessing of Heaven rest upon us, and all regular Masons! Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. The entire premise of a Masonic funeral is to allow the Mason brethren to show their respect and love for their brother who has passed on and to his family and loved ones. Ask others to contribute as you gather stories. So the next time the phone rings with news that one of your Brothers has passed to the Celestial Lodge, keep those things in mind. May Mary, the angels, and all the saints come to meet you as you go forth from this life. Grant that we may hold his/her memory dear, never bitter for what we have lost nor in regret for the past, but always in hope of the eternal Kingdom where you will bring us together again. In Jesus name we pray. Every Mason gets the same Masonic prayer recited during his funeral, regardless of his religious background. Lord, Our dear loved one is gone now from this earthly dwelling, and has left behind those who mourn his/her absence. Amen. Choose music that would have been meaningful to your loved one. Almighty Father, Supreme Governor of the universe, we thank Thee for this evening. "Most glorious God! The material on this website is provided for entertainment, informational and educational purposes only and should never act as a substitute to the advice of an applicable professional. MORRIS. Amen.. For food to eat and those who prepare it,For health to enjoy it and friends to share it,May the Great Architect of the Universe be blessed and praised. Trufflehound Registered User and all Your saints, and bid them eternal rest. What sets Masonic funerals apart are the rituals, the focus, and inclusion. Lord God, Great Architect of the Universe, who has so inspired the ancient members of our Craft that in the bond of brotherhood they met each others needs and first of all men came together in the hidden mysteries handed down to us, give us, we beseech Thee, grateful hearts, that in joyful service we may bring relief to the unfortunate, and in perfect loyalty both preserve our trust and leave behind us an increased inheritance. forever and ever. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Thank You for the sustenance, and for the harmony we share. Masons have a peculiar allegory about death that expresses their belief in the afterlife. Mason one, and Masons all, Masons here from wall to wall, Masons thick, and Masons fast, All thanking God for a great repast. Send card, preferably a handwritten note, each year. And bless this food to our use, and this assembly to thy will. Generally, family and friends attend the funeral service along with other Masonic brothers; even if they did not personally know him, other Masons can pay respect to his life as a member of the Freemasonic fraternity. I find this to be a special time when Masonic brothers can convey their sympathy to the fam- . author of all good and giver of all mercy! Here are two I wrote, and the second one is just a shorter version of the first. The Bridge Builder by Will Allen Dromgoole. All Rights Reserved. May we live beautifully from this day forward and use us, to give solace to others who may experience similar times of great loss and devastation. Bless, too, this food; and make us ever mindful of the lesson of charity we learned at the rough ashlar. Grant us the harmony of this night in all our coming days. O God, be with us as we sit together to share the abundance of food and friendship You have given us. Lord, those who die still live in Your presence, their lives change but do not end. Twitter. They are not automatically conferred. Facebook. The chaplain speaks about how a Mason builds his character the same way he builds a house, and how once a person dies his soul is placed in the temple of heaven, built by God, whom the Masons call "The Grand Architect of the Universe.". As the Fraternity moved from specifically Christian to non-sectarian, its thinking members knew that there would be among its members those who had varying religious thought as the Fraternity leaves decisions on faith to the individual member. Amen, O God, we thank you for our being together at this special meal. Thanks! Amen. This link will open in a new window. We thank Thee, Father, for the happy fellowship of our Fraternity, and for all Thy bounties spread before us. Let us give thanks for the food and drink we laid before us and for the Good Companionship we enjoy each month, but most of all we ask that the Great Architect continue to help us to practice outside the Lodge those virtues we have been taught in it. Celebrate the authenticity of this person by reading A Real Mason at his services. Our lodge honours the widows of members who have passed to the GLA atseveral functions. Amen. They have fought so that we do not have to, and it is right and proper that we never forget them. So mote it be. 1 North Broad Street An often-overlooked concern for the Chaplain is the well being of lodge members, especially during periods of ill health. THE MODEL MASON. May the earliest buds of spring unfold their beauties over his resting place, and, in the bright morning of the worlds resurrection, may his soul spring into newness of life and expand into immortal beauty in realms beyond the skies. Listen to our prayers; look with love on Your people who mourn and pray for their dead brother/sister. 6.76.0.1 (rev 20230314.0455), Easily retrieve their info anytime you need it on any of your devices. We thank You for the harmony we share, for the food before us, and for the many other blessings You have bestowed upon us. If there is a grace you like, whether it is one of these, or one of your own, it is easy to make changes to it for another Festive Board. "Serenity Prayer" from Christianity. Amen, Help us to be good men, Almighty God, and to use the many gifts You bestow upon us, such as this food and this fellowship, to Your use and glory. forms. What Is the Difference Between Rosicrucians Protocol on How to Address a British Knight. The only comfort left is knowing that our Cherished One is with You now in Heaven with a full heart and an eternal soul. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; Are you planning a Masonic funeral for your loved one? People sing one of Burnss most famous pieces every year at the dawn of a new year: Auld Lang Syne.. Through Christ our Lord. Show the way that leads to life as we cherish days gone by and inspire us with the touch of love that faith and hope live on. May the fellowship of this Festive Board pervade our lives, and may the food we eat together in harmony bind us in that fellowship. Calgary, Alberta O Lord, your sorrowing Mother stood by your cross; help us in our sorrows to share your sufferings. Copyright 2018 Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited. This prayer's famous lines read, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change.". Our heavenly father, we pray that You will find mercy on the soul of our loved one. This monument may include a statue of the Mason's likeness, or just a column with Masonic etching over it. May Christ, the Son of God, Who died for you take you into His kingdom. Amen, Grant us peace and comfort this day, and every day. 3. Everyone's different. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Amen. It begins, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.. We have much to be thankful for, and we would ask You to help us remember that. May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints welcome you now that you have gone forth from this life. May Christ Who was crucified for you bring you freedom and peace. Whether you need to fix, build, create or learn, eHow gives you practical solutions to the problems life throws at you. They have fought so that we do not have to, and it is right and proper that we never forget them.O God, be with us as we sit together to share the abundance of food and friendship You have given us. We thank you and magnify your name for loving them so much that you saw it fit to take them back home where we truly belong. This is one of the fraternity's better qualities, imho. For example. Masonic Prayer for the Departed Brother Joel Toby Let us pray. May God bless them, as he has blessed us. Lord Jesus, You alone are holy and compassionate; forgive our brother/sister his/her sins. Lord God above, we, Your humble children kneel before you today in reverence. The Ashlar Company - Masonic Shop For the good of the craft. Loss is hard. Read through some poems appropriate for your loved ones funeral. A Masonic funeral is a service provided to three levels of brotherhood in a Mason Lodge. May God be with you in your sorrow, and comfort you in your loss. There is a strong focus on the importance of the sprig of acacia, which is the symbol of eternal life. Our Father, which art in Heaven, whose wisdom and goodness manifest themselves in all the works of creation, with reverence we invoke Thy blessing upon Thy children here assembled. We thank you also for the fellowship with our brothers. Your Brothers would do it for you. The heartfelt words of farewell spoken by the Worshipful Master, the humble prayer recited by the Chaplain, and the unison echoes of the assembled Brethren combine to make that ceremony one which never fails to tug at the heart strings of every person present. Scan this QR code to download the app now. All Rights Reserved. O God, we thank You for blessing us with this happy gathering this evening. Amen. Just as it provides sustenance for our bodies, Your word provides sustenance to our spirits. May you rest in the arms of the Lord who formed you from the dust of the earth. We thank You Lord for the passing of our brother/sister. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; According to this poem, the invisible, eternal hand holds your life's compass. Does someone have an example of a simple, neat prayer that could be spoken by the Chaplain after the announcement of the death of a mason and before the minute's silence? We thank You for the work we have done, and for the fellowship we share. If your loved one made significant contributions in the course of his life, you might want to print this poem in his funeral program. Amen. Son of the living God, you have allowed us through baptism to be buried with you; grant that we may also rise with you in baptism and walk in newness of life. Email GIR@pagrandlodge.org, Assistance Constructing a Lodge Website By dying You opened the gates of life for those who believe in You; do not let Your brother/sister be parted from You, but by Your glorious power give him/her light, joy, and peace in heaven where You live for ever and ever. The Joy of Seeing Them Again Prayer Heavenly Father, we are going through a very rough time as a family. where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, We thank you for the food we are about to eat, and the harmony we share. Name, who is in continuing care, and who recently lost his son; and RWBro. An evergreen never loses its needles, regardless of the season, and its symbolism depicts the fact that a Mason never loses his faith in the fact that the soul remains imperishable. Creator and provider of all things we thank You for this occasion, and ask your blessing upon the food that has been prepared for us. we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Grant that they might be regular partakers of both the work we do, and of the harmony we share when the work is done.Bless, O God, this food and this company. I may be jaded on the subject, being Anglican, but the Book of Common Prayer is not only a masterful religious piece by not overtly alienating one particular religious faction or another at a time of great religious unrest, it is also a work of prose originating phrases still in common English phraseology to this day. This poem celebrates a mason's life of servitude. Grant, too, that we may always carry into our lives the lessons taught to us in our work as Masons; and so, in some small way, make the world a little better. Wood lives in Toronto, where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in English literature at York University. & DesignTM, YellowPages.caTM, Canada411TM and YP ShopwiseTM are trademarks of Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited in Canada. Grant us the strength to apply what we know of goodness to a world that so frequently forgets it. Amen, Great Architect, Creator of All, grant thy blessing on the new officers of this lodge, its members, and all those who visit it. Amen. Copyright 2023 Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited. they have but passed Beyond the mists that blind us here Into the new and larger life Of that serener sphere." 6. Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You may know about the rites and traditions of Freemasons if your loved one has been a Mason for a long time. In celebration of its 150thanniversary, The Masonic Temple/Library and Museum of Pennsylvania will be open to the public for free guided tours the first Sunday of April, May & June. Usage of any form or other service on our website is So mote it be. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. May you be held by the God of compassion as you remember your loved ones today. And remind us Lord, when we go hence, That Masonic jewel - benevolence. , think about the essence of the individual. Who holds your lifes compass? Let us bring to mind RWBro. knowest our down-sitting and our uprising, and understandest our thoughts afar off. Itis my habit, though, when I use one of those, to acknowledge the source at thebeginning with a statement like, Brethren, tonight I offer a grace composedby Ralph Waldo Emerson, or something similar. subject to our Terms of Use. We will beat any competitors price by 5%. form. We believe reflecting on our mortality can help us lead more meaningful lives. The Hail Mary is a prayer that asks for Mary's intercession for the deceased: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Help us to bring brotherly love and truth to all those we touch, and relief to those who need it. Privacy Policy. Bless this assembly of Brothers, grant that we may be thankful for how much we have, and make us ever mindful of those who have nothing. Most Merciful Father, grant the soul of our loved one, [name], mercy. Our faith in you, Lord God, is what keeps us standing. Grant them peace, and healing through happy memories of their recently departed mother and grandmother.And help us to be good men, Almighty God, and to use the many gifts You bestow upon us, such as this food and this fellowship, to Your use and glory. On this cold night, bless this food and this company, and keep us ever mindful of those in need. they have but passedBeyond the mists that blind us hereInto the new and larger lifeOf that serener sphere.. To be a mason is to partake in the social and the spiritual betterment of present day society, in hopes that such values will carry over to future generations. May this evenings work and refreshment make us better instruments of Your will. Here are two examples: Create the body for the grace. Both the similarities and differences are striking. Amen, Through You, O God, we have much; keep us ever mindful of those who have little. 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. When a brother is in distress and dealing with poor or declining health, a visit, a card, or a phone call can help during a difficult time and boost the brother's spirits. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. God, our Father, in a world where many are lonely, we thank You forfriendship.In a world where many are despairing, we thank You for hope.In a world that many find meaningless, we thank You for faith.In a world where many are hungry, we thank You for this food. Masonic practices don't claim to be a religion or a faith tradition. These graces are intended to be examples of how to incorporate the need to remember a Brother or their family in the moment of quiet just before a Festive Board. Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen, Almighty God, grant us Thy blessing this evening as we celebrate the continuing progress of our newest brethren toward the Light. Phoenix Masonry: How to Conduct a Masonic Funeral, Freemasons: Fundamentals of Masonic Funeral Rites. 617 Masonic Blvd, Jefferson, WI 53549, USA, JEFFERSON COUNTY LODGE #9 FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS, The Graveside Prayer of the Master Mason Degree. These graces are intended for those occasions. O God, we grieve for those that are experiencing devastating loss of their loved-ones.

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