Duncan's Masonic Ritual and Monitor - Rose Croix

"Solemn strikes the funeral chime,
Notes of our departing time;
As we journey here below,
Through a pilgrimage of woe!" p. 118
"Mortals, now indulge a tear,
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 funeral altar come:
Waft this friend and brother home.
"Lord of all! below--above--
Fill our hearts with truth and love;
When dissolves our earthly tie,
Take us to thy Lodge on High."
Master (as K. S.) makes the "grand hailing sign of distress" (see Fig. 7, p. 18--some
Masters make this sign twice), accompanied by the following exclamation, viz.: "O Lord
my God, I fear the Master's word is forever lost!" He then turns to the Junior Warden, and
says: "You will take the body by the Entered Apprentice grip, and see if it can be raised."
The Junior Warden then takes hold of the candidate's right hand, giving him the Entered
Apprentice's grip (see Fig. 9, p. 36), and then lets his hand slip off in a careless manner,
and reports:
"Most Worshipful King Solomon, owing to the high state of putrefaction, it having been
dead already fifteen days, the skin slips, and the body cannot be raised."
K. S. (making grand hailing sign of distress.)--O Lord my God, I fear the Master's word
is forever lost!
Turning to the Senior Warden, he continues:
K. S.--My worthy brother of Tyre, I will thank you to endeavor to raise the body by the
Fellow Craft's grip.
II.
III.
IV.