Part 23 (2/2)

The Wors.h.i.+pful Master will return to his place, and a period of silence will obtain. The Chaplain will now be conducted to the altar, where he will read:

But some man will say: How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bear grain; it may chance of wheat or of some other grain; but G.o.d giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.

All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

Howbeit, that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of G.o.d; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed; in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump; for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pa.s.s the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

As the Chaplain p.r.o.nounces the concluding words, ”O grave, where is thy victory?” the lights in the hall will be raised to brilliancy, the four brethren seated around the catafalque will relight the tapers, while a strain of triumphant music will be played.

The Chaplain will return to his place in the East, and the following, or some other appropriate Ode, will be sung to music of a more cheerful character:

Ode.--Tune, Cary.

One sweetly solemn thought Comes to me o'er and o'er; I am nearer home today Than I ever have been before.

Nearer my Father's house, Where the many mansions be; Nearer the great white throne; Nearer the crystal sea.

Nearer the bound of life, Where we lay our burdens down; Nearer leaving the cross; Nearer gaining the crown.

But lying darkly between, Winding down through the night, Is the deep and unknown stream, That leads at last to the light.

Father, perfect my trust!

Strengthen the might of my faith; Let me feel as I would when I stand On the rock of the sh.o.r.e of death.

Feel as I would when my feet Are slipping over the brink; For it may be, I am nearer home-- Nearer now than I think.

The Orator will then p.r.o.nounce the Eulogium.

Then follows the following, or some other appropriate Ode:

Ode.--Tune: Old Hundred. L. M.

Once more, O Lord, let grateful praise From ev'ry heart to Thee ascend; Thou art the guardian of our days, Our first, our best and changeless friend.

Hear now our parting hymn of praise, And bind our hearts in love divine; Oh, may we walk in wisdom's ways, And ever feel that we are Thine.

Closing.

Wors.h.i.+pful Master: Brother Senior Warden, our recollection of our departed friends has been refreshed, and we may now ask ourselves, were they just and perfect Masons, worthy men, unwearied toilers in the vineyard, and possessed of so many virtues as to overcome their faults and shortcomings? Answer these questions, as Masons should answer.

Senior Warden: Man judgeth not of man. He Whose infinite and tender mercy pa.s.seth all comprehension, Whose goodness endureth forever, has called our brethren hence. Let Him judge.

In ancient Egypt no one could gain admittance to the sacred asylum of the tomb until he had pa.s.sed under the most solemn judgment before a grave tribunal.

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