THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

which he died a member--foreigners and sojourners excepted; nor unless
he
has been advanced to the third degree of Masonry, from which
restriction
there can be no exception. Fellow Crafts or Apprentices are not
entitled
to the funeral obsequies."
This rule has been embodied in the modern Constitutions of the Grand
Lodge
of England; and, as I have already observed, appears by universal
consent
to have been adopted as the general usage.
The necessity for a dispensation, which is also required by the modern
English Constitutions, does not seem to have met with the same general
approval, and in this country, dispensations for funeral processions
are
not usually, if at all, required. Indeed, Preston himself, in
explaining
the law, says that it was not intended to restrict the privileges of
the
regular lodges, but that, "by the universal practice of Masons, every
regular lodge is authorized by the Constitution to act on such
occasions
when limited to its own members."[86] It is only when members of other
lodges, not under the control of the Master, are convened, that a
dispensation is required. But in America, Grand Lodges or Grand Masters
have not generally interfered with the rights of the lodges to bury the
dead; the Master being of course amenable to the constituted
authorities
for any indecorum or impropriety.
Chapter V.
Of the Rights of Past Masters.
I have already discussed the right of Past Masters to become members of
a
Grand Lodge, in a preceding part of this work,[87] and have there
arrived
at the conclusion that no such inherent right exists, and that a Grand
Lodge may or may not admit them to membership, according to its own
notion
of expediency. Still the fact, that they are competent by their masonic
rank of accepting such a courtesy when extended, in itself constitutes
a
prerogative; for none but Masters, Wardens, or Past Masters, can under
any
circumstances become members of a Grand Lodge.
Past Masters possess a few other positive rights.