Funeral and Memorial Service

Vocabulary · 5

Sprig of acacia

An evergreen sprig used in the Masonic memorial as an emblem of the immortality of the soul and of the brother's continuing life beyond the grave.

Lambskin apron

The plain white apron of the Mason, interred with the brother as the badge of a Mason and a token of the purity in which he aspired to stand before the Most High.

Broken column

A monument used in the published memorial as an emblem of life cut short, frequently depicted with a weeping figure and a sprig of acacia.

Public memorial

A Masonic memorial conducted in a form suitable for the presence of friends, relatives, and the general public, distinct from any tyled observance.

Pall-bearer

A brother appointed to escort the casket at a Masonic memorial, typically wearing the white apron and gloves of the order.

Practice questions · 3

1. Of what is the sprig of acacia an emblem in the Masonic memorial?

   • a. The brevity of human life
   • b. The immortality of the soul ✓
   • c. The fellowship of the brethren
   • d. The mourning of the family

2. What article of regalia is traditionally interred with the brother as the badge of a Mason?

   • a. His officer's collar and jewel
   • b. His Past Master's apron and ring
   • c. The plain white lambskin apron ✓
   • d. His Grand Lodge proxy commission

3. What does the broken column in the published memorial represent?

   • a. The decay of ancient buildings
   • b. The end of operative Masonry
   • c. Life cut short ✓
   • d. The fall of a worldly empire