Funeral Dirge
FUNERAL DIRGE.
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Music—Pleyel's Hymn.
Notes of our departing time;
As we journey here below,
Thro’ a pilgrimage of woe.
For Mortality is here!
See how wide her trophies wave
O’er the slumbers of the grave!
Here another guest we bring;
Seraphs of celestial wing,
To our fun’ral altar come,
Waft our friend and brother home.
There, enlarged, thy soul shall see
What was wailed in mystery;
Heavenly glories of the place
Show his Maker, face to face.
LORD of all! below—above—
Fill our hearts with truth and love;
When dissolves our earthly tie,
Take us to thy Lodge on high.
Prayer at raising a brother to Master Mason's degree:
THOU, O GOD! knowest our down-sitting and our up-rising, and understandeth our thoughts afar off. Shield and defend us from the evil intentions of our enemies, and support us under the trials and afflictions we are destined to endure, while traveling through this vale of tears. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down; he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee; thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass;
turn from him that he may rest, till he shall accomplish his day. For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. But man dieth, and wasteth away; yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? As the waters fail from the sea, and the flood decayeth and drieth up, so man lieth down, and riseth not up till the heavens shall be no more. Yet, O LORD! have compassion on the children of thy creation; administer them comfort in time of trouble, and save them with an everlasting salvation.—AMEN.
Response.—So mote it be.