CHAPTER 82
Burials
It shall be the duty of the
Master of each lodge on the death of a member or a sojourning brother qualified
therefor to ascertain if Masonic rites would be agreeable, and to take measures
accordingly. A lodge should bury a deceased member with Masonic rites if
requested by him during his life or by his near relatives after his death. In
all other cases Masonic rites may be granted or withheld by the Master of the
Lodge. [59-2.43].
REG. 82-2
WHO MAY RECEIVE MASONIC RITES.
Only a Master Mason who at
the time of his death was a member in good standing in a regular lodge and
under no charges, shall be buried with Masonic rites. [59-2.43; 82-4; 87-5].
1. A lodge may
hold a Masonic burial service over the ashes of a brother who has been cremated
if they are to be buried.
2. A lodge may
hold a Masonic burial service over the remains of a brother who has committed
suicide provided that the act of suicide did not arise out of, or as a
result of, an act involving moral turpitude or heinous conduct on the part of
the deceased brother. [82-5].
3. A lodge may
hold a Masonic burial service over the remains of a brother who was insane. [82-5].
4. A brother who
died insane and who was a member of a lodge that is defunct, and who was insane
at the time the lodge became defunct may be given Masonic burial.
5. A lodge shall
not bury with Masonic ceremonies a brother who died under charges, or who was
nonaffiliated, excluded, suspended or expelled. [74-5.2; 74-5.3; 74-6.5; 77-6; 77-6.1; 82-2.4].
6. After the
burial of the body it is too late to call upon Masons to perform any burial
service.
REG. 82-3
SUBORDINATE OR GRAND LODGE.
All Masonic burials must be
by the Grand Lodge or by a subordinate lodge. The Grand Lodge may perform the
ceremonies for any deceased grand officer or a past elective grand officer. A
subordinate lodge opened as a Master Mason’s lodge shall conduct all other
burial rites and the ceremonies should be under the general direction of the
Master. No dispensation is required. [38-5; 43-3.15; 45-11; 82-4; 34-19.2].
REG. 82-4
OPENING AND CLOSING LODGE.
For the purpose of Masonic
funerals only, a Lodge of Sorrow may be opened annually on the Degree of Master
Mason, after the installation of officers, the usual lodge ceremonies
conducted. At the time of request for Masonic funeral services, the Master
shall notify lodge officers and members to assemble at a specified place and
time. At the assembly point instruction and information will be given relative to
the funeral service and place of interment. The minutes shall be read and
approved at the next convened meeting of the lodge. The Lodge of Sorrow shall
be closed annually on the Degree of Master Mason, before the next installation
of officers. [38-5; 38-3.4].
1.
The
Secretary shall add at the end of the minutes a certificate to the effect that
the brethren did receive the body and did inter the same with a Masonic burial
ceremony.
2.
The
Secretary shall during the annual closing of the Lodge of Sorrow read the names
of all deceased brethren with dates of birth, initiation, passed, raised, and
death.
REG. 82-5
MEMBERS OF PROCESSION.
When the lodge has formed
in order about the body at the grave or crematorium, none shall be admitted
within the line except the Fraternity, the clergy, the mourners, the
pallbearers, and those whose duties require it. As a Masonic burial procession
is the lodge, the Master may exclude any brother therefrom as provided in
Regulation 59-2.7. [82-5; 82-2.1; 82-2.2; 82-2.3].
No lodge shall attend or
participate in burial rites unless the same are Masonic.
1. A lodge is
prohibited from burying a deceased Mason with Masonic ceremonies, or from
joining in a funeral procession at his burial as a lodge or in a body unless it
is conferring Masonic Rites.
2. It may permit
the Knights Templar or other organization of which the deceased was a member to
act as an escort.
3. A lodge shall
not act as an escort in any funeral, or on any other occasion. [43-3.13; 43-3.15; 34-19.2].
4. The Grand
Master has no power by dispensation to authorize a lodge to join in the funeral
procession of a deceased Mason unless the burial is conducted by a lodge. [13-4.8].
5. When the
Knights Templar or any other body, Masonic or non-Masonic has control of the
burial of a deceased Mason, a lodge shall have no right either as a lodge or in
a body to join in the procession.
REG. 82-7
ENTERED APPRENTICE - FELLOW CRAFT.
An Entered Apprentice or
Fellow Craft shall not be permitted to take part in a burial procession or
ceremonies.
The Master must have a
distinct understanding with the family and the officiating clergyman, prior to
the time set for the services, that the lodge is to have the last service at
the grave and the actual depositing of the remains in the grave.
1. If a religious
or other service is held, it must precede the Masonic ceremonies. The lodge may
form in procession and attend the religious services in Masonic clothing. While
the religious or other services are being conducted, the lodge has no right or
authority to intervene in any way because such services are not a part of, and
cannot be made a part of, the Masonic ceremonies.
2. The lodge may
accept the remains at the grave and perform the Masonic ceremonies, regardless
of the fact that it did not participate in other services.
3. Where
possible, the religious services, or services other than Masonic, should be
concluded at the home, church, chapel, or wherever held.
A. If those services are to be continued at
the grave, there must not be an actual deposit of the body in the grave at such
services.
B. Not until the termination of those
services shall the Masonic ceremonies begin, and they shall continue without
interruption until the remains are actually deposited in the grave.
C. From the time the lodge takes charge of
the body for the Masonic ceremonies, it must have entire control of the funeral
ceremonies and conduct a continuous service without interruption until the Masonic
ceremonies are completed and the body deposited in the grave, after which no
further ceremonies shall be held except as provided in this subsection.
D. The officiating clergyman may give a
benediction.
E. After the Masonic burial services of a deceased
brother have been completed, a military salute of honor may be fired over his
grave. [82-8.3.C].
4. At Masonic
burials, the active pallbearers shall all be Master Masons. They may also serve
as pallbearers for the religious services. It is not required that honorary
pallbearers be Masons.
5. The foregoing
requirements should be made clear to the family. If there is objection to them,
the Master should respectfully decline to conduct the Masonic ceremonies.
REG. 82-9 Obsolete (This regulation amended, effective 1/1/2006)
The only Masonic clothing
permissible at a Masonic burial shall be white gloves, white aprons, and the
officers’ jewels. The remains of a deceased brother may be clothed with his
Masonic apron at his request or that of his relatives even though the burial services
are not conducted by a Masonic lodge. [89-3; 89-4].
REG.
82-11 MASONIC BURIAL ON SUNDAY.
A Masonic burial or
memorial service may be held on Sunday. [45-11].
REG.
82-12 MASONIC MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Memorial services may be
conducted for an eligible deceased brother at a funeral home, hall, church or
other appropriate location upon request of the deceased or his survivors. The
Masonic Memorial Service as formulated by the Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic
Ceremonies as approved by the Grand Master shall be used.