assembled in the character of Freemasons, to resign his body to the earth whence it came [and to offer up to his memory before the world the last testimony of our regard]; thereby demonstrating [the sincerity of our past esteem, and] our inviolable attachment to the principles of the Order.[1]
The great Creator having been pleased, out of his wisdom and mercy, to remove our brother from the cares and troubles of a transitory existence to a state of eternal duration, and thereby to weaken the chain by which we are united, man to man, may we, who survive him, anticipate our approaching fate. May we be more strongly cemented in the ties of union and friendship; that during the short space allotted to our present existence and probation, we may wisely and usefully employ our time; and in the reciprocal intercourse of kind and friendly offices, mutually promote the welfare and happiness of each other, to the honor and glory of God, and the salvation of our own souls.
Unto the grave we have resigned the body of our deceased brother, there to remain until the general resurrection, in favorable expectation that his immortal soul may then partake of the joys which have been prepared for the righteous from the beginning of the world. And may Almighty God, of his infinite goodness, at the grand tribunal of unbiased justice, extend his mercy to him and all of us, and crown our hope with everlasting bliss in the realms of a- ↑ What is included within brackets may be omitted in the case of transient brethren, or otherwise, as the officiating officer may think fit.
