Burial, Masonic.

Everywhere in the United States, a Freemason in good standing has the right, if he requests it, to Masonic burial with the ceremonies of the order, to be conducted by his lodge or, if he is away from home, by any lodge to which his request has been directed. If the deceased brother is indigent, the expenses of his funeral will be paid by his lodge. The origin of this custom, like others equally well known, is not to be found. The first known reference to the subject is in the records of The Masons Company of London (q.v.) where, in 1632, fines of 1 shilling were levied for failure of members to attend a Masonic funeral. The next is the b*rial of Matthew Birkhead (q.v.) in 1723, when the pallbearers and other members wore white aprons. Another in 1739 was that of poor old Dr. Anderson (q.v.) whose funeral was such a weak tribute. None of the Constitutions or regulations refers to funerals or burials of Masons until the middle of the 18th century. In 1754, the Modern Grand Lodge of England (see Constitutions, 1756 p. 303) adopted a regulation prohibiting a member from attending a funeral clothed as a Mason, except by dispensation of the Grand Master. This remains in force but there is no other mention of funerals or burials. Early speculative lodges owned palls, sometimes called m*rt-cloths (a heavy cloth to be thrown over a c*sket), which were available for the use of families of deceased members. Preston’s Illustrations of Masonry (1792 ed. p. 118) contains a Masonic funeral ceremonial. Before that time, the following description was published of a Masonic funeral.

The Master and brethren of the lodge, pursuant to dispensation (as required by the regulation of 1754) attended, accompanied by as many lodges and their officers as might be thought proper. The brethren walking in procession observed ”decent Mourning, with White Stockings, Gloves, and Aprons.” Officers wore white sashes and hatbands, and the officers of the deceased’s own lodge carried white rods. The Tyler, with his sw*rd, led the procession, which ended with the pall-bearers, the casket, with regalia and crossed sw*rds thereon, the mourners, the two Stewards and a second Tyler. Members of the lodge carried flowers and herbs (see ACACIA) in their hands. The B*ble and Book of Constitutions were carried on a cushion preceding the Master. Members of the invited lodges formed a ring around the gr*ve, leaving an opening for the officiating lodge, the mourners, etc., to enter. Sometimes the gloves and apron of the deceased were cast into the gr*ve, and usually all present dropped sprigs of acacia or evergreens into the gr*ve.

From the 1960s on great changes began to be made in the funeral services throughout the country. In many instances lodges and Grand Lodges bowed to the r*ligious opponents of the Craft and curtailed these services drastically. Memorial services, held in the evening, became more popular in many jurisdictions. All of these services vary widely.