Excerpts from GL of Texas Proceedings (1980-1989)

Excerpts from the Proceedings of The Grand Lodge of Texas A.F.&A.M

(1980-1989)

(This will be a continuing project as copies of the Proceedings are cleaned, read and excerpted.)
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989

1980 -- Sam E. Hilburn

To stand here as the Grand Orator, looking out over this wonderful gathering this morning, is a tremendous thrill, and, without question, one of the greatest honors of my life. Thank you, Most Worshipful Grand Master. I only hope I can justify your confidence.
It is my feeling that the Grand Orator's address should be the "Keynote" of this Grand Communication, setting the stage and creating the atmosphere for the important deliberations and decisions the Grand Lodge will face today and tomorrow. This year, in particular, this Grand Lodge is facing serious, thought-provoking decisions - challenges that may have far-reaching effects upon our Fraternity for years to come. Thus, with apologies to our ladies and guests, my remarks will be in a very serious vein and in some detail, and will deal with Texas Masonry at the working level.
My subject: The Challenges of the 80's.
Throughout the recent national political campaign, politicians roamed across this land proclaiming, "This is a time of crisis!" And there are those who would apply the same words to Texas Freemasonry: A time of crisis. For eighteen straight years, our Grand Lodge has lost membership down from 245,000 to 215,000 - a total of 12 percent - surely is cause for concern! And, many of us have seen other evidence of erosion: apathy, disinterest, lowered standards of excellence - enough that the warning signs cannot be ignored. But warning signs are just that - warning signs. And warning signs are negative. Positive attitudes, positive programs, can quickly wipe them out.
For times of crisis are also times of opportunity. This decade can prove to be one of Freemasonry's finest hours. And Masonry will be far better served if those who would talk about our problems will define them as challenges and opportunities.
Thus, I am not here to preach a funeral oration over the remains of the Craft. Rather, I will outline what I think are the four most important challenges we face in this new era of the 80's, challenges which, if met head on by you and me, will help us march on toward the new century, stronger than ever before!
Obviously, these are not the only challenges Masonry faces. However, I do think the four I shall discuss go to the heart of our beloved order. And, I say to you, with all the conviction I can muster, that if we will react to these challenges positively, optimistically, and with maximum energy in the next ten years, Texas Masonry will no longer be withering on the vine in 1990.
This morning, I shall discuss these four great challenges:
One - to clean up our act!
Two - to straighten up our ritual;
Three - to sharpen up our leadership; and
Four - to polish up our Masonry.
Already I can hear some good Brother say: "Oh, boy, he's stopped preachin' and
gone to meddlin'." That's precisely correct! I could talk in the usual platitudes: "We need more Masonry in men, not men in Masonry," which is certainly true; or, "we need to live our Masonry every day to inspire others" - also very true. Or, I could take the liberal approach and propose a strong advertising program to sell Masonry to the public. Or as some would, I could really stir you up by proposing that we open up our membership and invite "worthy" men to come in.
I shall do none of those things. I happen to believe that if we solve our internal challenges, if we lift the spirits, the attitudes, the enthusiasm of our members, our actions, our lives, will be such that good men will be attracted to our great Order without any "force feeding" of any kind. We have got the tools. It us up to us to use them.
I fully recognize that part of what I am going to say may not set well with some of you. So be it. The standard disclaimer goes: "The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the management." But that is one of the beauties of the word "free" in Freemasonry. Each of us has the right to his opinion. And, at the moment, I happen to have the microphone. (Laughter)
My Brethren, it is time for all of us to lay it on the line! If we want to survive and grow both in moral and physical strength, it is high time we tell it like it is!
Challenge Number 1 - to clean up our act.
This is the most disagreeable, distressing subject I can think of: Masonic politics (our distinguished guests may now close their ears). My Brethren, this is a fundamental moral issue! As we come to this Grand Lodge in the year 1980 Masonic politics in the Grand Lodge of Texas have reached an all-time low!
It is upsetting enough to find blatant electioneering at every major Masonic event during the year. It becomes serious when hundreds of our Grand Lodge members spend more time milling around the so-called “candidate pillars” in the lobby than they do in considering the important business of Texas Masonry in this room. We become the laughing-stock of our out-of-state visitors.
The situation has become so bad that our Grand Master has addressed two of his recommendations to the issue. It is now apparent that this Grand Lodge cannot ignore it any longer. We must take action before we get in serious trouble.
And please hear me, my Brethren: Do not blame the candidates for office. They are simply following a pattern that has been insidiously developing over a longer period. Oh, no, do not get upset with anyone except yourselves. Get upset at the system you have allowed to evolve.
How can we do this to ourselves? How can we mouth platitudinous ponderosities about our great Masonic tenets and principles; get upset at the mention of politics in our Lodges, then openly violate the intent of our Grand Lodge Laws without even a second thought?
Oh, I am told, "Grand Lodge is different." Different? How different? The Grand Lodge is supposed to set the example, carry the torch, be the shining light for Lodges to emulate.
The sad testimony is that if all this energy given to trying to get Brethren elected Grand Junior Warden was spent on the real issues of the day: falling membership; weak lodge management; inadequate ritualists; lack of interest; improved cooperation among the Bodies; and the serious situation facing our youth organizations - we could literally work wonders.
To those of you who agree with me, do something! If you are truly concerned with the future of this Grand Lodge, stay inside this room during the conduct of its important business, and leave the politics to the world of the profane!
Somebody is sure to ask: Why do I consider this to be one of our greatest challenges?
Because, my Brethren, until we stop violating the intent of our Grand Lodge Laws as a way of life; until we begin practicing, in this Grand Lodge, for all our members to see, all of what we preach; everything else we try to do somehow loses its Masonic meaning. Yes, Brethren, let's clean up our act!
Challenge Number 2 - To straighten up our ritual.
Oh, oh! Now he is really meddlin'! This is the bailiwick of the Committee on Work! You are right again!
Brethren, the state of ritualistic proficiency in Texas borders on the deplorable! Would it shock you if I told you that, conservatively, well over two hundred Lodges could not keep their Charters if they had to be just 75 percent perfect in opening and closing ritual, let alone in the Degree work. Many of our District Deputies, who themselves are not appointed for their ritualistic proficiency, look the other way, and turn off their hearing aids, in order not to have to submit critical reports to the Grand Master.
Unless you have been there, you would be totally astonished at how some of our Lodges open and close. And I am not talking about small mistakes, I am talking about fundamentals.
I hasten to state that this is not criticism of the Committee on Work. We have five great, dedicated men on the Committee. One of my best friends is a member, and he and the others work untold hours for this Grand Lodge and their Brethren, teaching and examining. But they are only five! We have 977 Lodges, and theoretically, over 10,700 Lodge officers. What chance does a Committee of five have, without help?
Oh, we have Certificate men, you say? A current study of Certificate men across the State shows that 335 Lodges have not even one Certificate, and entire districts have only one or even none. And, we have many, many Certificate men who have not taught a candidate, coached a Degree team, or attended a floor practice in years. We have Lodges who have not seen a Certificate man, or any proficient ritualist, inside their doors in five or ten years. And, sadly, one of the major issues is that Texas Certificates are awarded for knowing the work, not for teaching or communicating it!
Our Lodges need ritualistic help. Excellence in the ritual is one of the keys to a dynamic, lively Lodge. A Lodge officer who knows his work is automatically more self-confident, more at ease. Shoddy ritual, carelessly performed, carries over into all Lodge activities, and leads to a general breakdown of Lodge effectiveness.
My Brethren, I am not here stumping for an increase in the size of the Committee on Work. This oration was developed before I knew of the resolutions to be considered by this Grand Lodge. However, I do say that a major challenge of the 1980's is to help, aid and assist the Lodges of Texas to raise their ritualistic sights. We must give the Committee on Work added legislative authority to appoint local representatives; the District Deputies must stop paying lip service to their responsibilities for assuring that Lodges meet minimum ritualistic requirements; and Lodges that do not have minimum ritual capability within their local, working membership, must ask for help, and then, exercising some pride, keep their skills honed. Finally, every Lodge should have at least one working Certificate ritualist! Brethren, let's straighten up our ritual!
Challenge Number 3 - To sharpen up our leadership.
Let's begin by discussing one of the best indicators we have to measure the interest and dedication of Lodge officers: The Grand Lodge Regional Conference Progam.
At the beginning of this year, your Grand Master, Most Worshipful Sam Hilburn, issued a Proclamation appealing to the sense of duty and responsibility of every Texas Lodge Officer, and, requesting all Lodges and members to support the Regional Conference Program. Later, the Grand Master sent a personal letter to each Lodge, again asking the officers to attend a Conference.
Then, to make it easier for Lodge officers to attend, we conducted Conferences at twenty different locations around the State. These were important Conferences, important to the Masons of Texas, important to our Grand Lodge.
With all this work, how seriously was the Grand Master's request taken by the officers of our Texas Lodges? Well, only 1,200,1,200 out of a potential of over ten thousand, less than 12 percent, were registered as attending a Conference. Oh, yes, we had 4,000 in total attendance, but over 1,700 were Past Masters with no Lodge office, and 1,100 were sideline members; only 1,200 were Lodge officers. One more startling statistic: only two out of a hundred junior Lodge officers, deacons and stewards, bothered to attend.
My Brethren, consider this: Your Grand Master and his staff worked extremely hard to make the 1980 Conferences meaningful, travelling several thousand miles to attend and present twenty of them, but only one out of three Masters, and one out of five Wardens saw fit to do the same just once.
Tomorrow, your incoming Grand Master will renew that Proclamation. This is a direct challenge to every Lodge Officer in Texas. Your demonstration of respect for and support to the office of Grand Master is more important than the Conferences themselves.
The Regional Conference Program is just one indication of the interest in, and dedication to, better Lodge management and administration. The Lodge Officer Training Program, which is generally receiving poor support and participation by our Lodges, is another. I could go on. My Brothers, it is vital that many of our Lodges overhaul their approach to Masonry, their members, and to their communities, if they are to survive. The 1980's are not the 1950's. Today it is a different ballgame. Some prophets of doom would say the game is already in extra innings for many Lodges. But you are still up to bat, and the game is still yours to win. If your Lodge is satisfied with the same old humdrum, routine meetings boring everybody to death with minutes, bills and broadcasts, the first strike is already called.
If your Lodge is satisfied with letting non-attending members stay in limbo, in their little ruts of habit, not challenging them with occasional calls, letters from the Master, special family get-togethers, Lodge charity or service projects, the second strike is on the way. If the Master of your Lodge fails to take seriously his responsibility for training, motivating, leading his junior officers, assuring their attendance, their ritual proficiency, their personal preparation for higher office, your Lodge may be able to hang on for a few years, but sooner or later, it is strike three, you're out!
Our greatest enemies are complacency and apathy! Don't just stand there with the bat on your shoulder! At least swing at the ball! A true Master Workman will not put his mark on anything not done to the very best of his ability. Do we have a shortage of Master Workmen in this Grand Lodge? Brethren, let's sharpen up our leadership!
My final challenge to you this morning is to polish up our Masonry, to make it glow!
Recently, we have been hearing much wailing and gnashing of teeth over our declining membership. Much of this groaning reminds me of the old coyote who sat on the cactus, and just howled away, too lazy to get up. We Masons howl a lot, but we continue to sit on the cactus.
But, as Gabriel Heater said: "There's good news today." Our membership loss trend has reversed itself for the second year in a row. In 1978, we suffered our greatest loss in history, 2,698. Last year, the loss reduced 200. And in 1980, the loss is now down to 1,738, a reduction of 30 percent. Sounds great, but we cannot, we must not relax. In 1976, we lost only 1,546, but later the losses zoomed back up.
What are we doing about all this continuing drain on our membership?
The Grand Master's program to reduce suspensions for non-payment of dues is commendable, and I understand it will be continued in 1981 and 1982. But beyond this program, what?
We are living in a period of mind-boggling communications, with the competition for men's minds at its highest level in history. It's not enough any more just to exist as Masons. That is what we have been doing, simply existing, while this fast-moving world has been passing us by. That is one of the reasons we have had a 20 percent drop in the raising of new Master Masons. We must turn this new Master Mason trend around.
We must now, more than ever before, conduct ourselves visibly as Freemasons, so that men will say, "That man is a Freemason. I want to be one also." - or - "There is a Lodge of Freemasons. I want to belong to that organization!"
The visible influence of Freemasons is desperately needed in every town and city in this great State. We can no longer operate as a select fraternity, our Lodges aloof from the community in which they are located, exhibiting little or no regard for the problems of society!
My Brethren, we must, we must remember that our Order is always one generation away from extinction. We who are the present receive from the past and give to the future. What the next generation knows about Masonry, our ideals and principles, depends upon how well you and I communicate those ideals and principles, and cause men to want to be a part of the Masonic dream.
Remember, what is important to your community, to the profane, is not what Masonry really is; what is important to them is what it appears to be. If your Lodge is generally invisible in your community; or only meets behind closed doors and never contributes constructively to the community welfare, how can you blame the outsider for dismissing it as having no value to society?
This is our challenge! We must go home from this Grand Lodge dedicated to make Masonry glow! Proudly wear your Masonic emblems, so that all men shall know you to be Masons, and remembering that every minute of our waking lives, each of us wears an invisible apron proclaiming the purity and good for which we stand! Go home and help your Lodge become more important to your community, with you as individuals taking an active part in community service.
I leave this final challenge to you with this question: "When was the last time a man asked for a petition for the Degrees of Freemasonry because of what he saw in you?"
Texas Masons, we have some very real challenges for the l980's. The choice of how this great Grand Lodge goes is squarely up to you and me. We cannot lay the responsibility at the feet of Grand Masters, either those who went before or those who may come later, or the economy of the country, or anything else. In the final analysis, Texas Masonry will be exactly what you and I make of it in our own hearts and lives. Are you a member, or a Master Mason?
We have got all the members we need. What we need now is Master Masons who are worthy of these great challenges!
God, give us Master Masons. A time like this demands
Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands.
Men whom the lust of office does not kill;
Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy;
Men who possess opinions and a will;
Men who possess honor, men who will not lie.
Men who stand before a demagogue
And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking;
Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog
In public duty and private thinking.
For while they rabble with their thumb-worn creeds,
Their large professions and their little deeds,
Mingle in selfish strife - lo, freedom weeps,
Wrong rules the land, and waiting justice sleeps,
God, give us Masons. Masons who serve not for selfish booty,
But real Masons, courageous, who flinch not at duty;
Masons of dependable character, Masons of sterling worth;
Then wrongs will be redressed, and right will rule the earth.
God, give us Master Masons!
(With apologies to Josiah Gilbert Holland) (Rising applause)
(Jack Kelly, Grand Orator)
LODGE SYSTEM OF CANDIDATE INFORMATION
This "new" program, designed to orientate and inform all candidates elected to receive the Degrees, is the outgrowth of the old Lodge System of Masonic Education, used since 1959.
Under the direction of M:W: Sam Hilburn, the old system was completely revamped:

The old, lengthy readings were replaced with short, 15 to 20 minute, easy to understand lectures, the first to be given before the EA Degree (designed also to be given to the candidate's wife); the others to be given following each Degree (But NOT as a "part" of the Degree itself, nor during the same meeting!)

Four separate booklets, each containing the appropriate lecture along with several other important articles for later reading, to be presented to the candidate as he receives the lectures, were made available for purchase by the Lodges. The booklet to be given to the new Entered Apprentice features a pronouncing Masonic dictionary.

A master Lodge copy of the complete new System was presented to each Lodge, to be used by the individual selected to read to the candidate.

Because many Lodges had noted a shortage of competent oral readers, we recorded and furnished each Lodge an audio cassette tape containing all four of the short lectures, each set to a musical background. (It was also hoped that Lodges would play these lectures occasionally at stated meetings as Masonic education programs, in order to give the Brethren an idea of what we are telling candidates - and to "enlighten" even some of our older members.)

The new System has been enthusiastically accepted. The Committee is grateful to our Grand Master for the opportunity to develop and implement this extremely important program. We join the Grand Master in the absolute conviction that no candidate for the Degrees should be deprived of the information contained in these four short readings; and, further, that EVERY new Master Mason should have all of these booklets for his and his family's continuing reference and study.
We are pleased to report that the Lodges of Texas have purchased over 4,000 sets of the four booklets for presentation to their candidates. That's progress!
The decree of death has separated from us the physical lives of these illustrious Brethren. During this time our hearts have had a deep feeling of grief and sadness over their loss. Our faith and the assurance of God's promise has sustained us, knowing that spiritually they shall never, never, never die.
BROTHER ROLAND J. MADDOX: Regardless of the countless honors that a man may receive throughout an honorable and active life, being chosen as Master of his Blue Lodge is one of the singularly outstanding events in the life of a Master Mason. Though sometimes referred to in a somewhat humorous vein as having ascended to the "hot seat," a Mason is seldom again in his Masonic career ever challenged in so many diverse ways to maintain the integrity of the Craft that we all profess to embrace and perpetuate.
A Master of a Lodge typifies an expression dealing with the effects of doing and not doing. Among other things, if he tries to provide meals for his Brethren, he is a spend-thrift. If he doesn't, he's a tightwad. If he insists on good, well-rehearsed floor work, he's labeled a perfectionist. If he doesn't, he's too tolerant of sloppy work. If he insists on being the Master, he's a tyrant. If he doesn't, he's accused of letting the Secretary run the Lodge. In these and other practical ways, he just can't possibly be a winner.
But more importantly if, within his own mind, heart and conscience, and with the approval of even a small number of his Brethren, he has done his best for his Lodge, for the Craft and for his God, he knows with certainty that he has earned his Master's wages. He knows that some day he can look forward with confidence to that blessed abode where harmony, joy and peace remain eternal. The Worshipful Masters who left this earthly life were like the rest of the Craft. They came from a wide range of education, discipline and skills; and they all possessed strengths and weaknesses. But they all shared one common characteristic known only by those they left behind. They are missed. They are missed by their widows, by their parents, by their children, by their friends and by their Masonic Brethren. The long chain of fellowship has been shortened by their passing.
I light and place this taper in loving memory of our departed Worshipful Masters. We love, honor, respect and admire them. (Light taper)
To the M.W. Grand Lodge of F. & A.M. of Ohio:
A report in depth on the State of the Craft would require volumes. The committee with Bros. Brigham, Henthorne, Minor, Panasewicz, Slusher, Weidlich, and Winkler deliberating, has reviewed the State of the Craft with particular reference to: 1) The relevance of Freemasonry in the community; 2) The condition and status of the physical facilities of the lodges as compared to other structures in their communities; 3) The quality of leadership in the lodge, including recruitment, training and effectiveness; 4) The extent the 'movers and shakers' of communities belong to and participate in the activities of the lodges; 5) Areas in which the activity, organization, and program of the lodges are weakest, and how best overcome; 6) The areas in which the activity, organization, and program of the lodges appear strongest, and how best they may be more widely adopted and applied; and 7) What lies ahead for the Freemasonry in Ohio.
The committee finds that times and people change, but that the problems seem to persist. It is interesting to note that exactly 20 years ago when Freemasonry was at its zenith in membership in Ohio, our Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Chester Hodges, noted that lodge dues were generally inadequate for that day's operating costs; that lodge attendance was slightly below 10 percent due to poor ritualistic work; that lodges suffered from a failure of interesting programs; that communication with the membership was poor; and that there was a lack of warm fraternal welcome to each other and visitors. So what is new?
'Masonry is what Masons are'. The committee concludes that the phrase succinctly states the measure of relevancy of Freemasonry today. The 'movers and shakers' tend in rural counties to have a higher level of Masonic interest and participation than in the metropolitan counties. Masonry, being what the Masons are, tends then in rural areas to appear more relevant than in the large urban areas. But the principles, the philosophies of Freemasonry are really as relevant today as they ever have been, possibly even more. Society today needs constant values for a moral order. Society is grasping for good, proven values in these days of decay, distrust and corruption. Freemasonry and Freemasons can provide moral and ethical stability.
Our concern is not the relevance of Masonry in society. It is the relevance of Masons as men helping to shape society. To that end, the committee urges each lodge to actively schedule and promote the seeking of light in Masonry on a continuing, regular basis. The committee fears that 'seeking light in Masonry' has become too much a phrase in ritual and too little the principal activity of Masons.
The thoughts, words, and actions of the individual Mason and the enthusiasm with which he displays his style of life in his community is the true measure of Masonic relevance. Although Masonry should not, and does not, engage in partisan affairs, Masons should and often do. Where Masons actively participate in civic pursuits, the community accepts its relevance. Where there are highly visible Masons who are held in high regard, there also is Masonry relevant in society. In those communities, the best seek to identify with the fraternity. It rests on each Mason, individually, to establish, maintain and nurture Freemasonry as a relevant factor in society.
Communication is the lifeblood of any organization. Effective tools in communicating the existence and value of Freemasonry and in the development of active interest and participation of Masons in their fraternity include:

Maintaining Masonic buildings in a condition equal to or better than those in the surrounding community, never permitting them to become eyesores. The Masonic Temple is the first window through which the public sees and forms an opinion of the craft. A critical review of the physical facilities of a lodge should constitute a very important part of the Report of Inspection by a District Deputy Grand Master. Experience tends to establish that a building program involving active participation by many is often the occasion for exceptional interest among the brethren of a lodge.

Giving special attention to well-planned and well-executed public contacts through funeral services, attendance at religious services as a body, and cornerstone-laying ceremonies.

Continuing formal leadership training programs on a lodge or district basis for present and prospective leaders. As important as it is, proficiency in ritualistic work should not be the sole criterion used in the selection of officers. There is merit in having the office seek the man qualified to fill it. For that purpose, a committee of Past Masters could be employed to give counsel and advice in the selection of candidates for lodge office and to participate in officer recruitment.

Frequent short programs at regular and special meetings of the lodge dispensing light in Masonry.

Encouraging the formation of industrial, business, and professional Craft Clubs and groups to create and expand a sense of fellowship and common interest.

Keeping open and active channels of inter-lodge communication, using the District Officers' organizations as much as possible as meaningful catalysts.

Encouraging Fellowcraft Clubs for social activity built around ritualistic endeavors.

Employing special district-wide ritualistic events with included social activity.

Publishing and communicating to the brethren an annual calendar of events in each lodge which involves wives, families, and friends.

Scheduling inter-lodge degree conferrals.

Scheduling activity at which the public is specifically invited.

Actively supporting Masonically-oriented youth organizations.

Using long-term goals and planning committees to study future requirements and wants.

Development of infectious enthusiasm for Masonry.

Avoiding competition with other organizations in the Masonic family for the same leaders. Otherwise, as leaders become overcommitted in time and energy, all suffer.

Keeping sponsors and friends closely identified and involved with the progress of candidates."

1981 -- Tom Land

Sister Beatrice died and went to heaven. She was ninety five years old.
She got up there and she says to St. Peter, "I have served a long time." And he says "Yes, I recognize the fact that you have and you haven't enjoyed anything on Earth. You have spent seventy-five years in the Convent. Now it is time for you to enjoy the world. I am going to give you three days down on Earth. But the first day, I would like for you to go down to New York City, the Big Apple, and look around and see what you find and report to me tonight at 9 o'clock."
So she says, "Well, St. Peter, I will just do that."
So at nine the phone rang and she said, "St. Peter, this is Sister Beatrice. I have been in New York all day and I have been to the Empire State Building, the Twin Towers, been out to the Statue of Liberty, up and down and back and it is just beautiful. It is great. I didn't know such things existed in our dear country."
So he said, "Well, you call me tomorrow night. Your choice is your own."
So she went over to Washington. While she was in Washington, she visited the Lincoln Memorial and so forth. She called St. Peter at 9 o'clock that night and she says
"St. Peter, this is Sister Beatrice. I have been to the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the White House and over to the Capitol. It is just
great. I didn't know we had that in our country down in the United States."
St. Peter said, "Well, that is just great. You call me tomorrow evening."
Well, the phone didn't ring at nine, it didn't ring at eleven, it didn't ring at one. At 2 o'clock the phone rang. She says, "Hey, Pete, this is Bea. I've been down on Bourbon Street in New Orleans." (Laughter and Applause) [R:W: Tom Elkins, DGM of Louisiana]
INVOCATION by Brother Elwood N. Stein
O Thou, before whose face the generations rise and pass away, we praise Thee for all Thy servants who, having lived this life in faith, now live eternally with Thee.
We hold in blessed memory our Brothers with whom we shared a happy fellowship in days past, and thank You most heartily for all their gracious service.
O Thou who countest the number of the stars and healest the broken in heart, let Thy tender mercy be abundantly given to the families of Thy brothers, whose passing we mourn. Grant wives and children, sisters and brothers, assurance that neither death nor life can separate those who love one another in the Lord. Shelter us, we beseech Thee, in the shadow of Thy love, and let Thy merciful kindness be our comfort in this and every day.
We thank Thee for the blessed realization that death which brings us sorrow, likewise brings peace and joy to all who put their trust in Thee.
O Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts into wisdom, until that day when the dust shall return to the Earth as it was and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. In Thy Holy name, we pray. Amen.