VWB C. Blair Leckie Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4 of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington for 2005-2007 Mailto: cblairl@excite.com

 (March 2007)

My brothers, the article for this month is being shamelessly employed as a call for your assistance.  While it is true that our fraternity is experiencing a kind of rebirth and attracting many positive and committed young men, it is also true that we are, for the most part, a group of elders.  As such, the blunt truth is, each year many of our respected and honorable brethren, die.  Not all of our departed brothers or their families request a Masonic funeral.  But, as the Masonic Service Bureau can confirm, the number of requests for Masonic Services sometimes places an overwhelming burden on their small but dedicated team. 

One of the rights and benefits of being a Mason is the option of choosing a Masonic funeral.  While not all of our departed brethren or their families choose a Masonic service, the numbers who do are overwhelming the Fraternity’s ability to perform them.  The Service Bureau’s team can only do so much.  They are a small group of dedicated Masons, some of whom have served this honorable team for over forty years.  Brethren, they need our assistance.  The requests for Masonic services proliferate and often result in a team patched together from a lodge, a team that does its best but is understandably under prepared.  Our departed brothers, their families and the Craft deserve better.  They deserve our best.

On March 31^st at Greenwood Lodge, 10:00 am, there will be a meeting to consider the feasibility of a District Four Masonic Funeral Team.  We will discuss the make up of the team; time requirements for practice, standards for performance and how we can best assist the Masonic Service Bureau in our district. I know that this is another request for your time but I urge you to consider offering your abilities to this effort. Even if you are a member of a Blue Lodge outside of District Four, you are encouraged to participate, as the team may be able to be of service to adjacent districts. 

My brothers, this is an opportunity to give back to Masonry.  We have within our fraternity the men and the means to put together a dedicated team. I encourage all interested brothers to find the time to participate at this meeting.  Let’s craft a team to meet the need. I can attest having served on a team for two Masonic Funerals, that it is a service greatly appreciated by the families of our departed brothers and a personally rewarding experience.

Thanks to both the District Deputy of the Grand Master in District 4, and the Masonic Monitor which publishes his articles for allowing us to reprint them.  The Masonic Monitor is published monthly (except August) under approval of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington.  The Masonic Monitor can be contacted at: 6619 132nd Avenue NE, PMB 237, Kirkland, WA, 98033-8627, USA.  Phone: (425) 822-4605 - FAX: (425) 822-2535 - Email: masonicmonitor@earthlink.net.