Who Is the Masonic Funeral For?

Freemason Funeral

While driving near La Vernia, Texas, I saw a sight that made me pause. A massive American flag was suspended from the ladder of a fire truck. Police cruisers lined the road, their lights flashing in solemn cadence. My first thought was, What happened?

As I drew closer, I realized I was passing a funeral home. Standing in dress blues, several officers saluted as a casket was ushered into a waiting hearse. The gravity of that moment resonated deeply within me. A fallen brother, perhaps not of our Craft but of another sacred brotherhood, was being honored.

This poignant tribute called forth a memory from my past. I was first introduced to Freemasonry at my grandfather’s funeral. His Masonic Brothers stood in quiet dignity, aprons donned, hands clasped in solemn respect. I didn’t fully understand it at the time, but I do now. The funeral isn’t just for the deceased. It’s for those left behind.

We often say Freemasonry is the ultimate brotherhood. But what does that mean when a Brother lays down his working tools? What message do we send when we attend, or fail to attend, his final rites?

In March 2025, I attended the funeral of a Brother who had long labored in the quarry of our fraternity. Only three of us showed up. Think of the dinners he missed with his family, the nights spent in lodge work, and his quiet contributions to our Craft. And yet, at the end, we were nearly absent. What message did that send to his widow? His children?

I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been guilty too. Most funerals are during work hours. But excuses fade when duty calls. It’s time we acknowledge that honoring the dead is also an obligation to the living.

So I propose this: let us form a Funeral Committee composed of our retired or more flexible Brethren. Their primary task should be to attend, represent the Lodge, and extend the embrace of Brotherhood to the grieving family.

We are obligated to our Brethren and their families, those who supported them in their Masonic journeys. Let us not fail them when it matters most. Let our presence declare to all that this man was our Brother and that Freemasonry remembers.

In the end, the funeral is for the family, but also

us: a reminder, a commitment, a call to action.