Master having taken the chair, under a canopy of state, the Grand Officers, and the Master and Wardens of the Lodges, repair to the places which have been previously prepared for their reception: The three great lights, and the gold and silver pitchers, with the corn, wine, and oil, are placed on the Lodge, at the head of which stands the pedestal, on which is laid a crimson velvet cushion, with the Sacred Law, open, the Square and Compasses put thereon, and the Constitution Roll. An anthem is then sung, and an exordium on Masonry delivered after which, the Architect, addressing the Grand Master, returns thanks for the honour conferred on him, and surrenders up the implements which had been entrusted to his care at laying the Foundation Stone. The Grand Master expresses his approbation of the Architect's conduct; an ode in honour of Masonry is sung, accompanied by the band; and the ladies retire, as do also such of the musicians as are not Masons.

The Lodge is then tiled, and the business of Masonry resumed. The Grand Secretary informs. the Grand Master, that it is the design of the Fraternity to have the Hall dedicated to Masonry; he then orders the Grand Officers to assist in the ceremony; during which the organ continues playing solemn music, excepting only at the intervals of Dedication. The Lodge being uncovered, the first procession is made round it; and the Grand Master having reached the East, the organ is silent, and he proclaims the Hall duly dedicated to MASONRY,

throne is on three steps. Behind it should be a screen, three sides of a square, and higher than his head when seated. This screen should be painted by a cunning Mason, with a death's head, intersecting triangles and H, in white, as the ground of the screen is black, or a dark purple. Facing the master's throne is an organ, or a gallery for singers and musicians who are brothers; and behind the throne, at the end of the Lodge, and high up in the ceiling, should be a well toned bell, or Indian gong."-EDITOR,

IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT JEHOVAH, TO WHOM BE ALL GLORY AND HONOUR; upon which the Chaplain strews corn over the Lodge. The organ plays, and the second procession is made round the Lodge; when, on the Grand Master's arrival at the East, the organ is silent, and he declares the Hall dedicated, as before, to VIRTUE; on which the Chaplain sprinkles wine on the Lodge. The organ plays, and the third procession is made round the Lodge; when, the Grand Master having reached the East, and the music being silent, the Hall is dedicated to UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE; upon which the Chaplain dips his fingers in the oil, and sprinkles it over the Lodge; and at each period of Dedication the grand honours are given. A solemn invocation is then made, and an anthem sung; after which, the Lodge being covered, the Grand Master retires to his chair, and the business of Masonry is adjourned.

The ladies are again introduced; an ode for the occasion is performed; and an oration delivered by the Grand Chaplain, which is succeeded by an anthem. Donations for the charity are then collected, and the grand procession is resumed. After marching three times round the Hall, preceded by the Tylers carrying the Lodge as at entrance, and the music continuing to play a grand piece, the Brethren return to the place whence they set out; where, the laws of the Order being rehearsed, the Grand Lodge is closed in ample form in all the Degrees.

The Ceremony observed at Funerals, according to ancient Custom; with the Service used on that Occasion.

No Mason can be interred with the formalities of the Order, unless it be at his own special request, communicated to the Master of the Lodge of which he died a member: foreigners and sojourners excepted; nor unless he has been advanced to the Third Degree of Masonry, from which restriction there can be no exception. Fellow-crafts, or apprentices, are not entitled to the funeral obsequies.

The Master of the Lodge having received notice of a Master-mason's death, and of his request to be interred with the ceremonies of the Order,* he

*By an express law of the Grand Lodge, it is enacted, 'That no regular Mason do attend any funeral, or other public procession, clothed with the badges and ensigns of the Order, unless a dispensation for that purpose has been obtained from the Grand Master, or his Deputy; under the penalty of forfeiting all the rights and privileges of the Society; and of being deprived of the benefit of the general fund of charity, should he be reduced to want."

Dispensations for public processions are seldom granted but upon very particular occasions; it cannot, therefore, be thought that these will be very frequent, or that regular Masons will be induced to infringe an established law by attending those which are not properly authorised. Many public parades under this character have been made of late years; but these have not received the sanction of the Grand Master, or the countenance of any regular Mason conversant with the laws of the Society. Of this the Public may be convinced, when they advert to the circumstance, that the reputation of the whole Fraternity would be at risk by irregularity on such an occasion. It cannot be imagined, that the Grand Master, who is generally of Noble or Royal birth, would either so far degrade the dignity of his office, or the character of the Society at large, as to grant a dispensation for a public procession upon so

By public procession is meant a general convention of Masons for the purpose of making a public appearance.

fixes the day and hour for the funeral, and issues his command to summon the Lodge; if Brethren from other Lodges are expected to attend, he must make application through the Grand Secretary to the Grand Master, or his Deputy, for a dispensation, to enable him to supply the place of the Grand Master at such funeral, and to regulate the procession, which is to be solely under his direction; and all the Brethren present must be properly clothed.*

trifling an occasion as a private benefit at a playhouse, tea-garden, or other place of public resort; where neither the interest of the Fraternity, nor the general good, can be concerned; and which, though it may be of some private advantage, can never redound to the credit of Masonry, or the honour of its patrons.

The above law was planned to put a stop to mixed and irregular conventions of Masons, and to prevent them from exposing to derision the insignia of the Order, by parading through the streets on unimportant occasions; it was not intended, however, to restrict the privileges of any regular Lodge, or to encroach on the legal prerogative of any installed Master. By the universal practice of Masons, every regular Lodge is authorised by the Constitution to act on such occasions, when limited to its own members, if the Society at large be not dishonoured; and every installed Master is sufficiently empowered by the Constitution, without any other authority, to convene and govern his own lodge on any emergency, at the funeral of its own members, or on any occasion in which the honour of the Society is concerned; he being always amenable to the Grand Lodge for misconduct. But when Brethren from other Lodges are convened, who are not subject to his control, in that case a particular dispensation is required from the Grand Master, or his Deputy, who are the only General Directors of Masons. The Master of the Lodge will never issue a summons for a public appearance of the Lodge on a trifling occasion, or without approbation; well knowing that he is amenable to the General Assembly for his conduct, and, by the charges of his office, must submit to their award; should he, however, be so imprudent as to act on this occasion improperly, the Brethren of the Lodge are warranted by the laws to refuse obedience to his summons; but they are also amenable to the Grand Lodge for contumacy.

*All the Brethren who walk in procession should observe, as much as possible, an uniformity in their dress. Decent mourning, with white stockings, gloves, and aprons, is most suitable and becoming. No person should be distinguished by a jewel, who is not

The dispensation being obtained, the Master may invite as many Lodges as he thinks proper, and the members of those Lodges may accompany their officers in form; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged, for which purpose only the dispensation is granted; and he and his officers must be duly honoured, and cheerfully obeyed, on the occasion, as the representative, for the time being, of the Grand Master, or his Deputy.

The Funeral Service.*

The Brethren being assembled at the place where the body of the deceased lies, the Master of the Lodge to which he belonged opens the lodge in the Third Degree, with the usual forms, and an anthem is sung. The body being placed in the centre on a couch, and the coffin in which it is laid being uncovered, the Master proceeds to the head of the corpse, and the service begins.

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

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

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

'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, be says,

'Let us die the death of the righteous, and let our last end be like his!"

The Brethren answer,

"God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death!'

an officer of one of the Lodges invited to attend in form; and all the officers of such lodges should be ornamented with sashes and hatbands; as also the officers of the lodge to whom the dispensation is granted, who are, moreover, to be distinguished with white rods,

* I retain the funeral service as prescribed by Brother Preston, though I greatly doubt whether it could be consistently performed. EDITOR.