Page:Manual of the Lodge.pdf/245

200 SECTION VIII.

FUNERAL SERVICE.

O Freemason can be interred with the formalities of the Order, unless it be at his own request, or by that of some of his family, communicated to the Master of the Lodge of which he died a member (foreigners and transient brethren excepted); nor unless he has received the Master's degree; and from this restriction there can be no exception. Fellow Crafts and Apprentices are not entitled to funeral obsequies; nor to attend the Masonic processions on such occasions.

When the Master of a Lodge receives notice of a Master Mason's death, and of his request to be interred as a Mason, he must satisfy himself of its propriety; and then, being informed of the time appointed for the funeral, the Master may invite as many Lodges as he may think proper, and the members of those Lodges may accompany their officers inform; but the whole ceremony must be under the direction of the Master of the Lodge to which the deceased belonged, and he and his officers must be duly honored and cheerfully obeyed on the solemn occasion.

The brethren who walk in procession should observe, as much as possible, a uniformity in their dress. Decent mourning, with white stockings, gloves, and aprons, being the usual dress of Master Masons, is most suitable and becoming. No person should be distinguished with a jewel, unless he is an officer of one of the Lodges invited to attend; and the officers of the Ledge to which the deceased belonged should wear sashes and hat-bands.