There are few occasions when Freemasons may perform their public ceremonies, e.g., cornerstone laying, open installation of officers, the periodic public educational program, and so on. By far, the most common is our Masonic Funeral Service. It is one of many occasion where the public are introduced to Freemasonry — perhaps, for the very first time. It is at and during that somber service that most people present will form their opinion and perception of our Fraternity. Not being members of our Ancient Craft, and generally knowing very little about Freemasonry, they are often very curious as to who we are, what we stand for, and what is it that we believe in as an organization.
Conducting Masonic Funeral Services is as old as the Fraternity itself. In the days of Operative Masonry, stonemasons buried their own with great solemnity and reverence. The deceased Brother was a man they had worked with side-by-side for years — perhaps, even their entire lives. They extolled his virtues and the contributions he had made to the Craft’s work. They spoke of the Eternal Life after death, and the need to perform “goode worke” toward all humanity throughout the course of a man’s life. The entire guild and all of their families turned out in force to mourn their Brother’s passing, and to express their sympathies to the Brother’s family. This tradition has been carried forward for centuries to our present day Speculative Masonry.
Always remember that a Masonic Funeral Service is the final tribute we can pay to our fallen Brother. That is the appropriate time to thank the Brother’s family for allowing him to share his time on Earth with our Fraternity. The Masonic Funeral Service is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature ever written. Simple, honest, and straight-forward, it offers each of us an opportunity to reflect upon our own mortality, and to reaffirm our individual faith. No one can listen to our service and not be impacted by the gentle, yet powerful, words that touch the heart of every person present — both Mason and non-Mason alike.
