esteem, and steady attachment to the principles of our honourable order.

"With due respect to the established customs of the country in which we reside, with due deference to our superiors in church and state, and with unlimited goodwill to all mankind, we appear in the character of our profession. Invested with the badges of masonry, we, on this solemn occasion, declare our obedience to the laws of the country in which we live, and an ardent wish to promote the general welfare and prosperity of society. We humbly implore the blessing of heaven on all our endeavours for this laudable purpose; and pray that, during the whole of our lives, we may never deviate from a perseverance in the principles of piety and virtue.

"As it has pleased GoD, in the removal of our brother, to weaken the chain, by which we are linked together, it becomes us, who survive him, to be more strongly cemented in the ties of unity and friendship; and, in some measure, to make up his loss, in a warmer zeal and fidelity, in all the characters and duties of life.

"Unto the grave, we resign the body of our friend and brother (The body is entombed, the dropped, and each brother near, deposites a shovel full of earth on the coffin, if permitted.)

"Friend of our hearts, there rest in peace. Raised by the Grand Master's word, mayest thou hereafter share the honours of perfection, and the joys of bliss immortal.

"Amen! So mote it be. Amen!
"Farewell!

We will meet again.”

Here the service ends, when the usual honours are given, and the procession returns to the place, from whence it set out.

The brethren being arrived at the lodge, the necessa

ry duties are complied with, and the business of masonry is resumed. The regalia, and ornaments of the deceased, if an officer of a lodge, are returned to the master in due form, with the usual ceremonies; after which, the charges for regulating the conduct of the fraternity are rehearsed, and the lodge is closed, in the third degree, with a blessing.

Another form of Funeral Service.

The brethren should first assemble, if it be possible, in their lodge room, and after having opened in due form, should remain standing during the first part of the service, which may in common cases, be performed in their hall, with the usual ceremonies.

A procession is then formed, the lodges then move according to seniority, except that the one of which the deceased was a member, immediately follows the corpse.

When arrived at the place of interment, the brethren proceed to the foot of the grave, and open, so that the master may stand at the head of the grave, and the mourners may halt at the foot whilst the brethren encircle it.

If no part of the service has been already performed in the lodge, or some other place, with the proper ceremonies, it is to be now rehearsed; or such service as may be substituted by direction of the master.

The service may be performed by responses, or by one voice, at discretion.

The master, or chaplain by his direction, begins, thus, "Where is now our brother ?" "He sojourneth in darkness."

"Can we redeem our brother?"

"We have not the ransom.

shall know him no more.

The place that knew him,

A a

"Shall his name be lost ?"

[Here the roll is unfolded.]

"The memory of a brother is precious, we will record

his name."

[Viewing the roll.]

"Write it here."

"We will write it in our hearts."

"How will it then be known?"

[Here strew flowers.]

"It shall live in his virtues, which shall live in us, and in every brother.”

"Was he worthy?"

"Like him we will be, brethren, and our last end shall

be in peace."

"He was, indeed, our brother."

"But who hath done this?

"The LORD gave, and the LORD taketh away," "Let us then bless the name of the LORD."

EJACULATION.

"What is our life? It is a shadow! A dream!" "We once were; but, what were we ?"

"Whither are we going? What shall we become ?" "Who is poor? Who is rich? The king and the beggar lie down together!"

"Our brother hath forsaken us !"
"He is no longer one of ourselves !”
"Every connexion of life has ceased!”
"The form is no longer beautiful!”
"He stretcheth not his hands to us !"

"The hour of death hath overtaken him!"
"Shall not some friend comfort us?"

Here an oration may be delivered, but if one has not been prepared for the occasion, the following may an

swer.

"Thus, our brother has reached the end of life! How many offerings has he made upon the altar of charity? How honourably has he sustained the cares of life? How did he make the hearts of all around him happy? He revered the laws of his country, and his religion taught him to love mankind, and to endeavour, by every means in his power, to promote their happiness and prosperity.

"But he has bidden us the last farewell. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the dispensations of Divine providence, and say, farewell, our brother. Go, visit the grand lodge of brethren! Go, meet thy God, and may it be thy happy portion to live with Him, in immortal bliss, through all the ages of a never ending eternity. May we be faithful, and may our eyes be closed in peace; and let it be impressed on the minds of each of us, that it ought to be our constant study, to live in such a manner that we need not be afraid to die, so that when the great king of terrors shall stare us in the face, we may be enabled to say, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know, that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

"Farewell, dear brother, till the grand summons shall call us from hence to the world of spirits."

" Then, brother, we will rise and meet thee, as we trust, in glory everlasting

"As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be. Amen."

The following prayer, or one to a similar purpose, may then be read or repeated.

"Light of life! all things live before thee! the darkness and the light are both alike to thee! with thee, there is no darkness; for thou seest us at our birth, and at our death. Thou knowest us, when in the womb and in the grave. Thou forgettest not, where we have been, and knowest where we are to be. We are always present with thee, and our thoughts never perish from thy remembrance. May our brother live with us, as well as with thee. May good tidings be on our lips and his works written on our hearts. 66 May we all die the death of the righteous, and our latter end be like his." Let his death teach us that we too must die, and may our conduct be so regulated by thy grace, that at our exit from this world of cares, we may be deemed worthy of taking our seats in the grand lodge above.

"Amen! So mote it be !"

Then the brethren join hands, and renew, in silence, the tokens of their friendship. If they choose to have

devotional music, it may now be performed.

The body is then deposited into the silent grave. After which, the following declaration and prayer, or one to the same purpose, shall be read or spoken extempore.

"Brethren,

"With proper respect to the established customs of the country in which we reside, with due deference to our superiors in church and state, and with unlimited good will to the whole of the human race, we appear in the character of our profession. Invested with the badges of masonry, we publicly declare our obedience and submission to the laws and government of the country in which we live, and an ardent wish to promote the general good of society.

"As it hath pleased the Divine Creator, to remove