No mason can be interred with the formalities of the order, unless by his own special request, to the master of the lodge of which he was a member, nor unless he has been promoted to the third degree of masonry ; foreigners, soldiers, and particular officers, excepted. From the above restrictions, there can be no other exceptions.

The master of a lodge, being notified of the death of a master mason, and of his request to be interred with the ceremonies of the order, as also of the time and place of interment, must summon his lodge.

If more lodges are expected to attend, he must apply to the grand master, for permission to preside over such brethren from other lodges, as may assist in forming the procession, who are to be under his direction, unless the grand master, his deputy, or grand wardens, are present. In case of a stranger, the master of the senior lodge present presides, if the grand officers are absent.

The dispensation being obtained, the master may invite as many lodges as he may think proper. All the brethren ought to appear in decent mourning, dressed in white stockings, gloves and aprons, the usual clothing of master masons.

The officers must appear with the badges of the lodge, and such as have holden offices, may wear the badges of their former stations; provided, that the brethren actually in office, are sufficiently distinguished bysashes, &c.

The lodge being opened in the usual manner, at the hall, or some other convenient place, the brethren proceed in procession to the house of the deceased. If singers be present, an anthem may be sung, The master then proceeds to the head of the corpse, when the service begins, the master or chaplain, saying,

"What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death?

Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave ?" Response. "Man walketh in a vain shadow; he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them.”

Master or Chaplain. "When he dieth, he shall carry nothing away; his glory shall not descend after him." Response. "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 it would be improper, in this place to explain. 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 me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his "

The brethren answer,

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

The master then puts up the roll and says,

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

The brethren answer three times,

"The will of God is accomplished! so be it ;" and the masonic honours are given each time.

The master or chaplain then repeats the following prayer, or some other to the same purpose.

"Most glorious God, author of all good, and giver of all mercy,pour down thy blessings upon us, and strengthen our solemn engagements with the ties of sincere affection. May the present instance of mortality remind us of our approaching fate; and by drawing our attention towards thee, the only refuge in time of need, may we be induced so to regulate our conduct here, that when the awful moment shall arrive, at which we must quit this transitory scene, the enlivening prospect of thy

mercy may dispel the gloom of death, and that after our departure from hence in peace and in thy favour, we may be received into thine everlasting kingdom, and there enjoy in union with our departed friends, that uninterrupted and unceasing felicity, which is allotted to the souls of just men made perfect. Amen."

An anthem being sung, the master retires from the corpse and the coffin is nailed. A suitable oration is delivered, after which the brethren join hands, and renew to each other, in silence, their pledged vows.

The lodge is adjourned, and the procession goes on to the place of interment, where an exhortation is delivered by the master or chaplain, to the following purpose;

"Here we view a striking instance of the uncertainty of life, and the vanity of all human pursuits. The last offices paid to the dead, are only useful as they are lectures to the living. From them, we are, therefore, to derive instruction, and ought to consider every solemnity of this kind as a summons to prepare for our approaching dissolution.

"Notwithstanding the various mementos of mortality, with which we so often meet; notwithstanding our thorough conviction, that death has established his empire over all the works of nature; yet, through an unaccountable infatuation, we are still apt to forget, that we are born to die. We go on, from one design to another, add hope to hope, and lay out plans for the employment. of many years, until we are suddenly alarmed with the approach of death, and that too, at a time when we least expect him, and at an hour, which we may have probably concluded would be the meridian of our existence.

"What are all the externals of majesty, the pride of wealth, or the charms of beauty, when nature has paid her just debt? If, for a moment, we devote our atten

tion to the last scene, view life stripped of its ornaments, and exposed in its natural meanness, we shall then be convinced of these empty delusions. In the grave, all fallacies are detected, all ranks are levelled, and all distinctions done away.

"While we drop the sympathetic tear over the grave of our deceased friend, let charity induce us to throw a veil over his foibles, and let us not withhold from his memory the praise, to which, from his virtues, he was entitled. Suffer the infirmities of human nature to plead in his behalf. Perfection has never been attained in this life. The wisest, as well as the best of men have erred. Let us, therefore, imitate his meritorious actions, and derive instruction from his weakness.

"May the present example excite our serious attention, and strengthen our resolutions of amendment; and as life is uncertain, and all earthly pursuits vain, may we no longer postpone the important concern of preparing for eternity; but embrace the happy moment, while time and opportunity permit, to provide with care against that great change, when the pleasures of this world shall cease to delight, and the reflections of a life spent in the exercise of piety and virtue, can yield us the only comfort and consolation.

"Thus shall our expectations be realized, and we shall not be hurried unprepared, into the presence of our omnipotent and all-seeing Judge.

"To conclude: let us support with propriety, the character of our profession; on every occasion, advert to the nature of our solemn engagements, and pursue with unwearied assiduity, the sacred tenets of masonry; so that from the endearments of a virtuous society on earth, we may be raised to immortal bliss, in the mansions of everlasting felicity, eternal in the heavens.

The following invocations are then to be made, by

the master, each of which is to be accompanied by the usual honours.

Master. May we be true and faithful; and live and die in love."

The Brethren, "So mote it be."

Master. "May we profess that which is good, and always act agreeably to our profession."

Brethren. " So mote it be."

Master "May the Lord bless us, and prosper us; and may all our good intentions be crowned with suc cess."

Brethren." So mote it be."

The secretaries then advance, and throw their rolls into the grave, with the usual forms, while the chaplain or master, pronounces, with an audible voice,

"Glory be to God on high; on earth peace, and good will towards men."

Brethren. "So mote it be, now, from henceforth, and for evermore

The master then concludes the ceremony at the grave, in some such form as the following:

"BRETHREN,

"From time immemorial, it has been an established custom among the fraternity of free and accepted masons, when requested by a brother on his death-bed, to accompany his corpse to the place of interment, and there to deposite his remains with the usual formalities.

"In conformity to this laudable usage, and at the special request of our deceased brother, whose memory we revere, and whose loss we deplore, we are here assembled in the character of masons, to resign his body to the earth from whence it came, and to offer up the last tribute of our affection to his memory; thereby demonstrating to the world, the sincerity of our past