pitcher of wine to the grand mafter, who fprinkles it upon the lodge, at the fame time faying, "In the name of holy Saint John, I do folemnly dedicate this hall to VIRTUE.”

The grand honours are twice repeated.

The third proceffion is then made round the lodge, and the deputy grand mafter presents the pitcher of oil to the grand mafter, who sprinkles it upon the lodge, faying,

"In the name of the whole fraternity, I do folemnly dedicate this hall to UNIVERSAL BENEVOLENCE."

The grand honours are thrice repeated.

A folemn invocation is made to Heaven, by the grand chaplain, and an anthem fung; after which the lodge is covered, and the grand mafter retires to his chair. An oration is then delivered, and the ceremonies conclude with mufic. The grand lodge is then closed in ample form, in the feveral degrees.

THE FIFTH SECTION.

The Ceremony obferved at Funerals, according to ancient custom; with the Service used on the occafion.

No mafon can be interred with the formalities of the order, unless it be by his own fpecial request, communicated to the mafter of the lodge of which he died a member, foreigners and fojourners excepted; nor unless he has been advanced to the third degree of mafonry; and from this reftriction there can be no exception.

Fellow crafts, or apprentices, are not entitled to funeral obfequies, nor to attend the masonic proceffion on fuch occafions.

The mafter of a lodge, having received notice of a mafter mafon's death, and of his request to be interred with the ceremonies of the order, fixes the day and hour for the funeral, and iffues his command to fummon the lodge. He inay invite as many lodges as he thinks proper, and the members of thofe lodges may accompany their officers in form; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the mafter of the lodge to which the deceafed belonged, and he and his officers must be duly honoured, and cheerfully obeyed, on the occafion.* in cafe the deceased was not a member of either of the attending lodges, the proceffion and cere mony must be under the direction of the mafter of the oldeft lodge.

But

All the brethren who walk in proceffion should observe, as much as poffible, an uniformity in their drefs. Decent mourning, with white stockings, gloves and aprons, is moft suitable.

The Funeral Service.

The brethren being affembled at the lodgeroom, (or fome other convenient place) the prefiding mafter opens the lodge, in the third de gree, with the ufual forms; and having stated the purpose of the meeting, the fervice begins.

* Except when the grand or deputy grand master is present, and exercises his authority.

.

Mafter. "What man is he that liveth, and fhall not fee death? Shall he deliver his foul from the hand of the grave?"

Refponfe. "Man walketh in a vain fhadow; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them."

Mafter. "When he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory fhall not defcend after him." Refponfe. "Naked he came into the world, and naked he muft return.'

Mafter. "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; bleffed be the name of the Lord!"

The grand honours are then given, and certain formis ufed, which cannot be here explained. The master then, taking the facred roll in his hand, fays,

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

The brethren answer,

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

The mafter then records the name and age of the deceased upon the roll, and fays,

"Almighty Father! into thy hands we commend the foul of our loving brother."

The brethren answer three times (giving the grand honours each time)

"The will of God is accomplished! fo be it." The mafter then depofits the roll in the archives, and repeats the following prayer:

"Moft glorious God! author of all good, and giver of all mercy! pour down thy bleffings upon us, and ftrengthen our folemn engagements

with the ties of fincere affection! May the prefent inftance of mortality remind us of our approaching fate, and draw our attention toward thee, the only refuge in time of need! that when the awful moment fhall arrive, that we are about to quit this tranfitory scene, the enlivening profpect of thy mercy may difpel the gloom of death; and after our departure hence in peace and in thy favour, we may be received into thine everlafting kingdom, to enjoy, in union with the fouls of our departed friends, the juft reward of a pious and virtuous life. Amen.

A proceffion is then formed, which moves to the house of the deceased, and from thence to the place of interment. The different lodges rank according to feniority, excepting that the lodge of which the deceafed was a member walks neareft the corpfe. Each lodge forms one divifion, and the following order is obferved:

ORDER OF PROCESSION AT A FUNERAL.

Tyler, with a Drawn Sword;
Stewards, with White Rods;

Musicians (if they are masons, otherwise they follow the tyler); Master Masons;

Senior and Junior Deacons ;
Secretary and Treasurer;
Senior and Junior Wardens;
Past Masters;

The Holy Writings, on a cushion covered with black cloth, carried by the Oldest Member of the Lodge;

The Master;

The brethren are not to defert their ranks, or change places, but keep in their different departments. When the proceffion arrives at the church yard, the members of the lodge form a circle round the grave, and the clergyman and officers of the acting lodge taking their station at the head of the grave, and the mourners at the foot, the service is resumed, and the following exhortation given:

1,

"Here we view a ftriking inftance of the uncertainty of life, and the vanity of all human pursuits. The laft offices paid to the dead are only useful as lectures to the living; from them we are to derive inftruction, and confider every folemnity of this kind as a fummons to prepare for our approaching diffolution.

"Notwithstanding the various mementoes of mortality with which we daily meet; notwithftanding death has established his empire over all the works of nature; yet through fome unaccountable infatuation we forget that we are born to die: we go on from one defign to another, add hope to hope, and lay out plans for the employment of many years, till we are fuddenly alarmed with the approach of death, when we leaft expect him, and at an hour which we probably conclude to be the meridian of our exist

ence.

"What are all the externals of majefty, the pride of wealth, or charms of beauty, when nature has paid her juft debt? Fix your eyes on the last scene, and view life ftript of her ornaments, and expofed in her natural meannefs; you will then be convinced of the futility of