LIFE –AND DEATH– AFTER HAROLD...
Life –and Death– after Harold... T
he roll of workmen had been called and one brother Mason had not answered to his name. The family had asked for a Masonic Service but the funeral home could not schedule an early date. Then, as the family and friends were settling for an uneasy wait, the word came that there had been a cancellation. Cancellation? Somebody had decided not to die; not just yet? Anyway, there was an opening and the service had to be held right away. But who was going to take charge on such a short notice? The answer was clear to everyone, right away. It had to be Harold. It almost always is. The word was put out to the brethren to be there! Harold was there before everyone else, as he always is. He had brought all that was needed, as he always does. He never takes chances. He has been burned too many times to rely on others. It turned out to be a rainy night with strong winds, as for some reason it often is, on occasions such as this. He lined up all who had managed to get there on time. Brother Masons, lodge officers, Grand Lodge officers, and yes, even the Grand Master.
will remember for a much longer time how a group of dignified looking men came and bowed in front of their grandfather’s casket and said things that they did not understand, but must have been all good, because their parents seemed so impressed and so appreciative. They will come to know that perhaps the whole ceremony was for them, and not so much for the departed loved one; he had just facilitated that. I got carried away! I did not intend for this to sound like a report. I just wanted to remind everybody how important all this is. Perhaps it is not a subject any of us cares to entertain; nonetheless, it is an inescapable reality that deserves our attention. I also wanted to ask: what will happen after Harold is gone? Who else will be there to lead the way at the drop of a hat? Don’t get me wrong. I pray and trust that Harold will live for a long, long time to come. But, “what man is he that liveth and shall not see death? No one knoweth the hour. All expect it. None escape it.” So who is going to take care of this very important obligation?
Our last act of brotherly love toward our brother
occurs when we celebrate
He has done it for a long time, and so many times and so well, that all of us have come to believe that he is going to be there for ever and ever to do the job. We wish! But let me tell you, apart from performing these services, he is out there, as part of the agenda for the Lodges of Instruction, trying to teach us all how to do the job and do it well. It is for each and every Worshipful Master to schedule at least one exemplification or rehearsal of the Masonic Funeral Service in his lodge and invite others to attend. Every lodge should maintain a cadre of brothers who can perform the funeral service, preferably from memory, and according to the wishes of the deceased brother or his family.
his life with a Masonic
It was a solemn ceremony; a job well done as it is always with Harold. Family and friends were all so impressed and seemed very grateful. Harold, by way of offering condolences to the family and friends, told them that the brethren had come to pay their last respects to the departed brother; he told them that even the Grand Master was there. You should have been there and seen the members of the deceased brother’s family, heads held high, looking at each other with pride and satisfaction. Soon there were the farewells with warm handshakes and hugs all around.
Funeral Service.
Children, conscious of the way their parents and elders were acting, realized that something significant was happening. Perhaps they had never seen so many men in dark suits, with white aprons and white gloves, some with silver or gold chains around their necks. They were asking questions. They will continue with their questions for a long time to come and they
Let me tell you why! Let me tell you a bit about the Masonic Funeral Service and what it really means. Our last act of brotherly love toward our brother occurs when we celebrate his life with a Masonic Funeral Service. A request from a brother or his famThe Voice of Freemasonry
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