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Will You have a Masonic Funeral?

Will You Have a MAsonic Funeral?

  • Yes

    Votes: 88 59.5%
  • No

    Votes: 8 5.4%
  • Both My Religion and Masonic burial

    Votes: 52 35.1%

  • Total voters
    148

rhitland

Founding Member
Premium Member
I participated in my first Masonic Funeral and Brothers, that is a pretty sureal feeling standing at the head of the casket of a Brother past, giving him his last rites. I cannot exspress the feeling I can only highly recomend you participate in one, it is a all inspiring honor.

I help lay to rest a PM of Ft Worth 148 and a Fireman,
Brother James Noah.
 
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owls84

Moderator
Premium Member
Brother Rhit,

I know that Fort Worth 148 thanks all of the brothers that participated and having seen my grandfathers funeral be a Masonic one, I too plan to have a Masonic one. Thanks again Brother Rhit to you and all the brethren that participate in these truly great services. I hope to one be able to answer the, in my opinion, highest honor in masonry and perform funeral services.
 
J

JEbeling

Guest
Its always about the family.. ! it always makes an impression on family members that masons care.. !
 
C

cpmorgan2

Guest
It would be an honor to have a masonic burial, I just hope that my family & my brothers will make it happen
 

Wingnut

Premium Member
Ive heard that the Scottish Rite has a very impressive Rose Croix funeral service also...
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
yes, to the extent there's a codicil in my will that if I don't get a Masonic burial service, 100% of my estate goes to Parson Lodge # 222
 

Curtis Wilson

Registered User
Brothers, I recommend that you fill out some form or letter stating that you want a Masonic Service, who you want to officiate if available, who you want to give your masonic keepsakes such as coins, jewelry, and apron to. After you do this, give a copy to your family members and your secretary. At the time of your passing, the Secretary can pull your file for your Masonic record or recording of your passing to the Grand Lodge and see your wishes. Then with the kindest of words discuss this with the family, realizing that the family has the ultimate say as to the service. Remember this is not a will and not a legal document, only a request. At the time of passing, the family isn't likely to be thinking of the Lodge, especially if the brother hasn't been to lodge for some time. It is all about the family.

Personally, I would even allow a Masonic funeral if the brother is suspended for NPD for a short time. If the family came to me and asked for a Masonic Funeral and the member has been suspended for a short number of years, I see nothing wrong with putting the family at ease and letting it proceed. We don't know all the circumstanses the brother was in and obviously he was pretty sick to have passed. As Secretary, I wouldn't make that decission on my own, but only with the approval of the Master or Grand Secretary. Fortunately, I haven't had to make that decission. How do others feel? Just currious.
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
Brother Curtis, that is a very good point. In point of fact the form or letter of which you speak already exists. Your Secretary was mailed several copies from GL last year. I just looked on the GL On-line forms page & it is not there. I'll see if I can dig up a copy and post it.
 

js4253

Premium Member
Premium Member
Brother Secretary,
The Masonic Last Rites form is the last one on the list of forms on the Grand Lodge Website. I don't know how to bring it into this forum but I can email it to anyone who wants a copy.
 
B

Brother Secretary

Guest
Worshipful, right you are. I should have been searching for "last rites" as opposed to "funeral" Jeez, WM & Secy?? How often do you have to check and see which hat you're wearing? :D

lets see if this works:
 

Attachments

  • masoniclastrites.pdf
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Traveling Man

Premium Member
Well I'm sure you all are wondering who was the butthead that said, "no".
I'll own up to it. You may wonder why? It's a long story but it would be because I was not allowed to attend my Masonic Mentors funeral as I was not a Master yet...

Axe to grind? Maybe...
 

Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
You should not have been denied to attend, just that you couldn't appear as a Mason ie, wear the apron.
 

Traveling Man

Premium Member
You should not have been denied to attend, just that you couldn't appear as a Mason ie, wear the apron.

I guess I was not "a just and upright mason".


Gee, how did you know the deceased? Oh, he was my Masonic mentor. Really, why could you not participate? Well, I guess I wasn’t really a mason...

Besides the fact that I want a funeral where my preacher can officiate and that cannot happen because he will not officiate if there is a Masonic funeral/burial performed before or after. (It's against church rules)

Presently they tend to ignore the fact that I’m a mason…:rolleyes:
 
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Bill Lins

Moderating Staff
Staff Member
CORRECTION: According to Art. 344, EA's & FC's may attend funerals wearing their aprons under certain conditions:

Art. 344. (381). Status of E.As and F.Cs Entered
Apprentices and Fellowcrafts are Masons but they are not members
of the Lodge and cannot vote or dimit, but shall be entitled
to Masonic burial subject to the provisions of Art. 360. They are
entitled to sit in the Lodge or Lodges in which they have received
a degree or degrees, or to visit like Lodges upon examination
or proper avouchment. (See Art. 60.) Entered Apprentices and
Fellowcrafts may attend Masonic funerals and appear in public
wearing aprons of their respective degrees, provided the Lodge
has dispensation to appear in public, and they do not participate
in any of the ceremonies.
(Revised 1998)
 
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