In this article we’re going to discuss a certain kind of funeral called the Masonic Service, which is a special funeral service for men only who are a member of the Masonic Fraternity in good standing at the time of their death.

Every religion has its own way of honoring the dead. And while the Masons are not a religion per say, they do believe in a supreme being and do have their own type of funeral service.

To be eligible for a Masonic funeral service a person has to be a man for starters. Women are not allowed to become Masons but they do have their own organization and their own funeral service. This will be the subject of another article. Not only must a Mason be a man but they must also be a member in good standing, meaning that they have to have been paying their dues on a regular basis and must not have been brought up on any Masonic charges. There is also an age requirement that a man has to be at least 21 years of age to become a mason. Boys under that age, even if their fathers are masons are not entitled to a Masonic funeral.

So just how is a Masonic funeral different from other funerals? To answer that, we need to discuss some of the similarities. For starters, Masonic funeral services are held in some kind of funeral parlor or temple. The same preparations are made as far as getting the body ready such as embalming. One difference in the preparation is that the deceased has his white lambskin apron placed over the body in the casket during the service, not before. If the body is not viewable for whatever reason, be it that the site would be a bit gruesome or if there is no body at all, then the apron would be placed over the casket or urn.

The service itself begins with a prayer, usually the 23rd psalm. Unlike services performed by ministers, which are prepared in advance and unique to a degree for each service, the Masonic service is a standard ritual. In other words, the service is the same for each Mason who passes away. There is no deviation in the service except for the part of the service itself where the Mason’s name and date of birth and death are given.

The ritual itself is about 20 minutes long and is done from memory. Masons spend many months learning this service which consists of over ten pages of dialogue which has to be read word for word. The ritual team consists of the person reciting the ritual, a chaplain and a marshall. Any other masons from that particular lodge also participate in the service as observers and marchers.

At the end of the service the family and friends go up to the casket to pay their final respects. A Masonic service is a great honor to a man who is a mason where the one belief is that from Earth we came and to Earth we must shortly return.

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As featured in the story “A Candle For Christmas” from the book: Christmas In Dairyland (True Stories From a Wisconsin Farm)

Materials:

• 1 wax carton (quart) (milk, fabric softener, or orange juice)

• 1 pound of paraffin wax

• 4 or 5 old crayons

• two trays of ice cubes

• a double boiler (or an empty coffee can and a saucepan)

• 1 piece of ordinary white package string about six inches long.

Caution: Do not heat paraffin directly over the burner. Paraffin is easily combustible. Use a double boiler or a two-pound coffee can set in a pan of water. I put the coffee can on top of home canning jar rings (the rings, not the flat lids). If the can is not set on top of something, the concave bottom creates a vacuum when the water begins to heat up, plus if it’s on the bottom of the pan, it’s just that much closer to the burner.

Trim the top part of the carton off so that what remains is about six inches high.

Cut the string so that it is six inches long. (To make a wick that lasts longer, try braiding three pieces of string together.)

Melt the paraffin wax over medium heat in a double boiler or a coffee can in a pan of water. Use three-quarters of a pound for a somewhat smaller candle or use all four squares for a larger candle. Once the water begins to boil, it will take 10 or 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt.

Break the crayons into small pieces and add to the paraffin. If the crayons are added first before the wax is melted, the color makes it difficult to see if all of the paraffin is liquefied.

Use a pair of tongs (a scissors works, too), and dip the string into the paraffin. Dipping the string will ensure that it is coated with paraffin since the ice cubes may prevent some sections from coming in contact with the liquid wax. Hold the string so that it is in the middle of the carton and fill the carton with ice cubes. Pour the hot paraffin over the ice cubes.

The candle will be set in about 30 minutes. Let the candle stand for another hour or two until most of the ice cubes are melted. Pour off the water. Peel off the carton. Place the candle in a tray or on a plate to catch the rest of the water from the ice cubes as they finish melting. Let the candle dry for a day or two.

The candles I have made with a single piece of string only burn for an hour or so and burn quickly enough so that most of the paraffin remains intact. To use the paraffin again, melt the candle and pour the wax into other containers to make solid candles.

~ Solid Candles ~

To make solid candles, select several glass containers. Pint or half-pint canning or jelly jars work well. For the wick, measure out a few more inches of string than is needed to reach the bottom of the container. Tie the string around a pencil. Put the pencil across the top of the container to hold the wick in place. When the paraffin and crayons are melted, pour the liquid wax into the container(s). When the candle is set, snip off the wick about a half inch above the wax.

~ Scented Candles ~

To make scented candles, put three or four teaspoons of vanilla extract into the bottom of the double boiler (or the coffee can) and then add the paraffin and crayons. When the wax is melted, pour into containers.

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Looking for an unusual and memorable gift? Why not preserve a precious snapshot of your family’s history by creating a time capsule for your child? It’s a great way to commemorate a special time in your child’s life like a first birthday, graduation, or even a new year.

Think of your time capsule as a treasure box that preserves a piece of the past. Years from now you will open the time capsule and glimpse a frozen moment in the life and times of your child and family.

First, choose a proper container to hold your precious artifacts. It should be non-biodegradable and provide a cool and dry environment, like plastic, metal or heavy duty rubber. A kitchen food storage container or metal cookie or popcorn tins with sturdy well-sealed lids make good choices. Time capsules are also available online in a variety of styles.

The key to a meaningful time capsule is to make it personal and interesting. If you are centering around a specific event like your child’s birthday, focus mainly on things happening on or around that date. Include both big and small events, from the main headlines of the day to your child’s first words or favorite foods.

A small notebook with facts such as your child’s height, weight, or number of teeth missing will provide interest in years to come. A keepsake album featuring pictures of your child, family members and friends will tell a thousand words too. Prescription bottles can hold baby’s first tooth or a lock of hair.

Topics of interest such as fashion trends and fads, popular movies, books and toys can be cut from newspapers or magazines. Include a CD of favorite songs or a singing group. A video or audiotape of your child at their party is a great choice as well.

Objects of everyday life such as coins, postage stamps and a grocery receipt showing the price of milk or bread are popular items to include.

Much priceless material for your time capsule can be collected from special people in your child’s life. At your child’s party or event, provide colorful note cards for family members to pen their special thoughts about your child.

Encourage your older child to add his or her own special objects to the time capsule. Paraphernalia from favorite sports or hobbies, such as baseball cards and ribbons won in competitions are wonderful choices.

School papers, drawings, and outlines of hands and feet will make for exciting comparisons when the time capsule is opened.

Younger kids can make a list of “My Favorite Things” or “Things I’m Good At”. Older kids will enjoy writing a “Letter to the Future” telling what life is like now, current family traditions, their hopes, dreams and ideas.

Before sealing your time capsule make a document detailing all the contents. Specify the unsealing date and who should be present when it is unsealed. Most importantly, write the exact location of the time capsule. Stow this document in a safe place.

Finally, find a good hiding place for your time capsule in your house. A little trafficked spot in the attic, basement, or garage is your best bet. This is preferable to burying the time capsule as families often move or forget where they buried it!

It is exciting to look forward to the opening of your time capsule. Wait as long as possible to make the effect more dramatic. Even a year will seem an eternity to children. Whatever you decide, set a date and stick to it.

Your personally designed time capsule preserves the history, culture, and ideas of the day, as well as your family’s special memories, dreams and aspirations for the future. Your time capsule will be a truly unique and thoughtful gift that will be cherished for years to come.

Copyright 2005 Kids Party Paradise All Rights Reserved

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