Part 6

Love is an attribute of the soul, and imperishable. Our sister's affection ceases not; therefore may she not now be whispering to grief-stricken hearts, "Peace be still," "Lo, I am with you always." Think not that the spirit world is distant. Our loved ones, though lost to mortal sight, may yet be with us in spiritual existence. Let their loving presence be to us a perpetual inspiration, calling us to a higher moral and spiritual life.

These beautiful flowers are the highest expression of Nature's loveliness. We never tire of looking at their perfect and delicately variegated tints. From time immemorial they have been endowed with expressive language. They speak to us, "To whisper hope whene'er our faith grows dim." But these floral emblems, with all their exquisite loveliness, are but dim reflections of the glories that may be unfolded to our spiritual vision. In token of our hope that such an unfolding of spiritual life may come to us all, I scatter these flowers within the grave of our departed sister. May we cherish her memory and emulate her virtues.

Deposits her tribute, and then, addressing the Worthy Patron, says:

Worthy Patron, within the grave, hallowed by the tenderest ties of human affection, we scatter these floral emblems of Nature's loveliness, and spiritual life. May we not trust all else to the Father's loving care?

_W. P._ The Infinite Father's ever watchful care is nowhere more impressively taught, than by His voice speaking to us through the floral kingdom. Over the whole earth where life exists, flowers bloom in endless variety and profusion, there is no place so obscure but that they blossom there and give to the world their beauty and fragrance. Some open with the rising sun, and close with his setting rays. Others open to the full moon and starry firmament, and shrink before the piercing gaze of the king of day.

So the Father's love goes forth by day and night, to the weakest, most humble, and obscure of His children.

We are told to consider the lilies of the field, and learn the paternal love of Him, beyond whose watchful care none can stray. Not a sparrow falls without His notice. "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."

In token of our trust in the all-embracing love of the Infinite Father, I deposit these emblems of His watchful care in the grave of our departed sister.

Drops the flowers, and continues as follows:

Sisters and brothers, within the city of the dead, we consign to the bosom of mother earth all that was mortal of our departed sister. The body we leave in the grave is but the casket which held the precious jewel of life. We bear it tenderly to its resting-place, because it is the form by which we knew her in our Chapter. Peacefully let it rest in the hallowed ground where we place it. Upon her grave flowerets will bloom amid all the countless activities of Nature's life.

"The murmuring brook, the bird on airy wing, And whispering pines, will here her requiem sing."

Over her the fleeting shadows will pass. The rising sun will scatter over the chambers of the dead his gladsome rays, and tint the western sky with the glories of departing day. In the hush of night the feeble rays of countless stars, traveling centuries on their journey here, will finally rest upon her grave.

We leave in this lowly bed the earthly form of our departed sister, and may the hallowing influence of this providence go with us in the remaining journey of our life, and when our earthly mission is over, and we are "beyond the smiling and the weeping" of earth, may we gather with the loved ones gone before.

Let us unite in prayer.

PRAYER.

Our Father who art in Heaven, in whom we live, and in whom are all the issues of life and death. We come to Thee, in this hour of sorrow, and ask that we may so learn the lessons of this hour, that when it shall be our turn to lay aside our mortality, that we may do it with trustful faith in Thee and hope of a glorious immortality. We pray Thee to look with tender compassion upon these Thy children, whose household has been broken by this providence. May they lie passive in the arms of Thy chastening love, and realize that there is wisdom and goodness in all Thy appointments. Sanctify this bereavement to the good of us all. May it be the means of drawing us closer to Thee, and of our loving and serving Thee forever. And as it has pleased Thee to call from the toils of earth the soul of our beloved sister, we commit her remains to the silent tomb. Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, hopefully looking to a joyful reunion with her, in that land where separation and death are known no more, forever. AMEN.

_Response._ So may it ever be.

SINGING.

Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee! Ev'n though it be a cross That raiseth me! Still all my song shall be, Nearer, my God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!

Though like a wanderer, The sun gone down, Darkness be over me, My rest a stone, Yet in my dreams I'd be Nearer, My God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee!

Or, if on joyful wing Cleaving the sky, Sun, moon, and stars forgot, Upward I fly, Still all my song shall be, Nearer, My God, to Thee, Nearer to Thee.

Forms.

PETITION FOR DEGREES.

_To the Worthy Matron, Officers, and Members of ...... Chapter, No. ......, Order of the Eastern Star_:

_The undersigned respectfully petitions to receive the Degrees of the Order of the Eastern Star, and become a member of your Chapter._

_If accepted, ... he pledges .... self to a cheerful obedience to the laws of the Order._

_Residence_ ........... _Signed_ .................

_Recommended by_ .............. _of_ ..............

................ _of_ ...... _Lodge_,

_F. & A. M. of_ ............

PETITION FOR AFFILIATION.

_To the Worthy Matron, Officers, and Members of ...... Chapter, No. ......, Order of the Eastern Star_:

_The undersigned, late a member of ........ Chapter, No. ......, of ............., solicits Affiliation with your Chapter._

_If this Petition shall be granted, .. he pledges .... self to a cheerful obedience to the laws of the Order._

_Residence_ ............ _Signed_ ................

_Recommended by_ ................

....... ........

[_The Petition must be accompanied by a Dimit from the Chapter of which the Petitioner was last a Member, or its absence satisfactorily explained._]

DIMIT.

_To all Members of the Order of the Eastern Star_:

_This Dimit witnesseth,_

_That ..............., whose name appears in the margin of this instrument, was received into .......... Chapter, No. ......, of ......... ........ 18... And that having paid all Dues, and being free from all charges, .. he is at .... own request lawfully dismissed from Membership therein._

_Given under my hand and the Seal of the Chapter, this ...... day of ........., ..._

.................... _Secret y._

Transcriber's Notes:

Missing or obscured punctuation was silently corrected.

Typographical errors were silently corrected.

Inconsistent spelling and hyphenation were made consistent only when a predominant form was found in this book.

Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_).

End of Project Gutenberg's Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star, by Various