Ritual of the Order of the Eastern Star

by Order of the Eastern Star. General Grand Chapter

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.