Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge Maryland and Its Jurisdictions, Inc.
Lodge of Instruction
OUTLINE
Interment Service or Masonic Service at the Grave Site
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Enabling Learning Objectives
With the aid of references, list the entitlements of an deceased Master Mason family and the Masonic Funeral
Service in accordance with the Masonic Protocol, Etiquette and Grand Lodge Ceremonies Manual.
OUTLINE:
INTERMENT SERVICE: The Masonic Burial Ceremonies are one of several important duties of the
Worshipful Master while serving in that capacity. The procedures can be found in the revised edition of the
Masonic Protocol, Etiquette and Grand Lodge Ceremonies Manual. dated February 13, 2012.
What kind of Masonic Etiquette observed during a Masonic Service at the Grave Site?
a. During the procession, the same decorum is to be observed as in the Lodge room.
b. There should be no smoking, no laughter and no unnecessary talking. (The brethren should neither join
nor leave the procession line without the permission of the presiding Worshipful Master)
c. The presiding Worshipful Master and other brethren taking part in the Masonic Ceremonies for the
Dead should be well versed in their duties.
d. The presiding Worshipful Master should reinforce the proper attire for the Masonic Burial
Ceremonies adhered to by all Master Masons.
e. The presiding Worshipful Master should reinforce the wearing of the plain white apron.
1. The Lodge will be formed and proceed to the place of interment in the following order:
a. Tyler with the sword drawn
b. Stewards with their staff or rods
c. Master Masons in two lines
d. Secretary and Treasurer
e. Senior and Junior Wardens
f. Past Masters in two lines
g. The Holy Writings on a cushion, carried by the oldest member in the Lodge
h. The Presiding Worshipful Master, arched by the Senior and Junior Deacons with their staff or rods
i. The deceased brother with the Badge of Honor (Apron) placed upon the coffin – never above the
U.S. Flag
j. The Pall Bearers
k. The family of the deceased brother and the mourners
2. The Presiding Worshipful Master, Chaplain and other Officers will take their positions at the
head of the grave.
a. The members of the Lodge will form a circle around the gravesite
b. The family and mourners will take positions at the foot of the grave or be seated if chairs are
available
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3. The service will resume when the apron is removed from the coffin and handed to the Presiding
Worshipful Master and the coffin is leveled with the grave.
4. If the decease brother is to be place in a tomb; the following procedures are as follows:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
The Tyler will take his position in front of the door of the tomb
The members of the Lodge will form a circle around the coffin
The Deacons and Stewards with their staff or rods will be crossed over the coffin
The Masonic pallbearers will be placed on each side of the coffin
The family and mourners will take positions at the foot of the grave or be seated if chairs are
available
5. After the coffin has been placed within the tomb, the Steward will cross their staff or rods over
the door and the Deacons will cross their staff or rods over the Presiding Worshipful Master.
6. The Presiding Worshipful Master will begin the interment by saying:
For in as much as it has pleased Almighty God, in his wise providence to take from this world the soul of our deceased
brother, we therefore Masonically commit his body to the ground; earth to earth; ashes to ashes; and dust to dust.
7. The Secretary will then deposit the scroll in the grave.
8. The Presiding Worshipful Master give the following prayer followed by an appropriate hymn:
Friend and Brother! We bid thee a last and long farewell! Thou art at rest from thy labors. May it be in peace.
Response: So mote it be. Amen
9. The Presiding Worshipful Master will resume the service and present the Apron.
10. The Presiding Worshipful Master will deposit the apron in the grave and say:
This emblem I now deposit in the grave of our deceased brother. We are thus reminded of the universal dominion of Death.
The mattock, the coffin and the melancholy grave admonish us of our mortality, and that, sooner or later, these frail weak
bodies must molder in their parent dust.
11. The Presiding Worshipful Master will hold the evergreen in his hand and say:
This evergreen is an emblem of our faith in the immortality of the soul. By this we are reminded of our high and glorious
destiny beyond the world of shadows, and that there dwells within our tabernacle of clay an imperishable, immortal spirit,
over which the grave has no dominion and death no power.
12. The Brethren will then move in procession around the grave three (3) times, and deposit the
Sprig of Evergreen in the following manner:
Extend the right hand over the grave drop the Evergreen; then raise the right hand pointing it to the Zenith, bringing it down
upon the left breast and thence to the side. This signifies that we consign the body to the tomb, and commend his spirit to him
who gave it, and that his memory is faithfully cherished within our hearts.
13. The Brethren will then give public honors in the following manner:
Both arms are crossed over the breast, left over right, and the open palm of each hand sharply striking the shoulders; they are
then raised above the head, the palms lightly striking each other, and then made to fall smartly upon the thighs. This is
repeated three times. At funerals and memorial services, the palms should silently strike each other (NO CLAP).
14. The Presiding Worshipful Master then continues the ceremony followed by a closing prayer.
15. The procession will then return to the place whence it set out, and the Lodge of Sorrow is called
Off.
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