Masonic Notes And Queries.

perfect as is the happiness of heaven , and durable as the eternity of God . Amen ! " Besponse . Amen , and Amen , and Amen ! "The procession will then form and march to the place of interment in the same order as before . " On arriving at the place , while forming in order , a suitable h

dirge or ymn may be suug , such as ' Solemn strikes the funeral chime . ' _ " On reaching the grave , the Sir Knights will form a triangle around it , the base being at the foot , the E . Commander and Prelate being at the head of the grave , and the friends and relatives at the foot , and the services will thus proceed : —

" Prelate . Sir Kni ghts : There is one sacred spot upon the earth , where the foot-falls of our march are unheeded ; our trumpets quicken no pulse , and incite no fear ; the rustling of our banners and the gleam of our swords awaken no emotion—it is the silent city of the dead , where we now stand . Awe rests upon every heartand the stern warrior ' s are

, eyes bedewed with feelings which never shame his manhood . It needs no siege , nor assault , nor beleaguering host to enter its walls ; we fear no sortie , and listen for no battle-shout . No Warder ' s challenge greets the ear , nor do we wait a while with patience for permission to enter .

" Hither must we all come at last ; and the stoutest heart and the manliest form that surrounds me will then be led a captive , without title or rank , in the chains of mortality and the habiliments of slavery to the King of Terrors . " But if he has heen faithful to the Captain of his salvationa true soldier of the Crossif he has

, ; offered suitable gifts at the shrine of his departed Lord , and hears the signet of the Liou of the tribe of Judah , then may he claim to be of that princely house , and to be admitted to audience with the Sovereign Master of Heaven and Earth . Then will he be strippedof the chains of earthly captivity , and clothed

in a white garment , glistening as the sun , and be seated with princes and rulers , and partake of a libation , not of death and sorrow , but of that wine which is drank for ever new in the Eather ' s kingdom above . " We cannot come here without subdued hearts and softened affections . Often as the challenge comes

, which takes from our side some loved associate , some cherished companion in arms , and often as the trumpet sounds its wailing notes to summon us to the death-bed , and to the brink of the sepulchre , we cannot contemplate ' the last of earth' unmoved . Each successive death-note snaps some fibre which binds us

to this lower existence , and makes us pause and reflect upon that dark and gloomy chamber where we must all terminate our pilgrimage . Well will it be for . our peace then , if we can wash our hands , not only in token of sincerity , but of every guilty stain , and give honest and satisfactory answer to the questions required .

" The sad and solemn scene now before us stirs up these recollections with a force and vivid power which we have hitherto unfelt . He who now slumbers in that last , long , unbroken sleep of death , was our brother . With him have we walked the p ilgrimage of life , and kept watch and ward together in its vicissitudes and trials . He is' now removed beyond the effect of our praise or censure . That we loved him , our presence here evinces , and we remember him in scenes to which the world was not witness , and where

the better feelings of humanity were exhibited without disguise . That he had faults and foibles , is but to repeat what his mortality demonstrates—that he had a human nature , not divine . Over those errors , whatever they may have heen , we cast , while living , the mantle of charity ; it should , with much more reasonenshroud him in death . "Wewho have been

, , taught to extend the point of charity , even to a foe , when fallen , cannot be severe or merciless toward a loved brother . " The memory of his virtues lingers in our remembrance , and reflects its shining lustre beyond theportals of the tomb . The earthen vase which has contained

precious odours will lose none of its fragrance , though the clay be broken and shattered . So be it with our brother ' s memory . " The Junior Warden then removes the sword and hat from the coffin , which last will then be lowered into the grave , while the Prelate repeats as follows : —

" Prelate : ' I am the resurrection and the life : he that believeth in me , though he were dead , yet shall he live ; and whosoever liveth , and believeth in me , shall never die . ' ( John xi . 25 , 26 . ) " To the earth we commit the mortal remains of our deceased brother , as we have already commended his soul to his Creatorwith humble submission to Divine

, Providence . ( Sere cast some earth on tlie coffin ?) Earth to earth ( liere cast again ); ashes to ashes ( here cast more earth ) ; dust to dust ; till the morn of the resurrection , when , like our arisen and ascended Redeemer , he will break the bands of death , and abide the judgment of the great day . Till thenfriend

, , brother , Sir Knight , farewell ! Light be the ashes upon thee , and ' may the sunshine of Heaven beam bright on thy waking !' " Besponse . Amen , and Amen , and Amen ! " The Junior Warden then presents the sword to the E . Commander , who

says" 13 . Commander . Our departed brother Sir Knight was taught , while living , that this sword , iu his hands , as a true aud courteous Knight , was endowed with three most estimable qualities ; its hilt with for tiUtde undaunted ; ils blade with justice impartial ; and its point with mercy unrestrained . To this lesson , with its deep emblematical significancewe trust he gave

, wise heed . He could never grasp it without being reminded of the lively significance of the attributes it inculcated . He has borne the pangs of dissolving nature—may we trust that it was with the same fortitude that he sustained the trials of this passing existence ; to his name and memory be justice done ,

as we hope to receive the like meed ourselves ; and may that mercy , unrestrained , which is the glorious attribute of the Son of God , interpose in his behalf to blunt the sword of divine justice and admit him to the blessed companionship of saints and angels in the realms of light and life eternal !

" Besponse . Amen , and Amen , and Amen ! "The Senior Warden then presents a Cross to the Prelate , who says"Prelate . This symbol of faith—the Christian ' s hope and the Christian's trust—we again place upon the breast of our brothei ' there to remain till the last

, trumpet shall sound , and earth and sea yield up their dead . Though it may , in the past history of our race , have been perverted at times into an ensign of oppression , and crime , and wrong ; though it may