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Preface |
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WE as Free & Accepted Masons are taught at
the beginning of our values of being a true
Mason is to look after our Masonic Brother
and their widows. Its one our best
fulfillment to one of our avowed obligations
to one another; it will be such, an honor,
delightful and a full satisfaction of a
great demonstration of our Masonic
Brotherhood to behold.
This Masonic Widow Program is to help our
Lodge to keep in touch with our fallen
brother widow and to show her, that she is
still a vital part of our lodge. We know
how w important it is to keep in touch with
them. To let her know that the time she
shared with her husband Masonry isnt
something she only had with her husband but
with the lodge also.
In adopting a Masonic Widow Program will
help the lodge to do its best to keep in
touch with the Brother Widow. In some cases
we will lose all contact with the widow
after the brother passing. Some are at no
fault of our own and some may be of her own
choosing... She might feel that her time,
with her husband in Masonry, is something
she did just for him. Others are because we
didnt do our part in keeping in touch with
or having something more for them and to
show them that they a part of the lodge. By
having this program in place will help us to
keep in touch with them and offer any
assistance to them. |
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS |
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1.0 |
Purpose
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2.0 |
Scope
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3.0 |
Related
Documents
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4.0 |
Definitions
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5.0 |
Procedure
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6.0 |
Responsibility
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7.0 |
Masonic
Funeral...
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8.0 |
Summary
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9.0 |
Attachment
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1.0 Purpose |
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This Masonic Widows Project is dedicated
to the old and new generation of those who
have lost the heroes, love ones of
yesterday, today and tomorrow, with an
emphasis on healing through sharing stories,
tears and laughter
Masonic Widow to
Masonic Widow.
We are taught as a core value in Freemasonry
to look after our Masonic brethren and their
families. Extend a hand of fellowship,
guidance and assistance to the widow. Thus
to let her know that she is remember, not
forgotten and that she still belongs to our
Masonic Family. |
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2.0 Scope |
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To provide a program with appropriate
material that will enable each individual
Mason in of Daylight Lodge 760 F &AM in the
State of Kentucky to demonstrate his
fidelity to the obligation he took upon
himself to help, aid and assist our Masonic
widows.
When it comes to a Masonic Widow there are
cases when they will lose all contact with
the lodge after their love ones dies. It
may be of her; own doing. She might look at
her time in the Masonic light as something
she only had with her husband.
Adopting an active widow program can ensure
that the lodge does in fact stays in touch
with the brother widow; and offer any
assistance to the said widow if the need
should arise. |
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3.0
Related Document |
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3.1
The Broken Column
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3.2
Widows Certificate
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3.3
Chaplain Letter
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3.4
Grand Lodge Letter
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4.0
Definitions |
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4.1
Broken Column: The broken column
memorializes the end of our earthly
life. Surrounding the broken column;
are acacia leaves, symbolic of our
eternal life.
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4.2
Widows Certificate: Certificate of
Remembrances.
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4.3
Chaplin Letter: A letter from the Lodge
Chaplin to convey our Swore and
Sympathy.
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5.0
Procedure |
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5.1. Maintain the list: Secretary
will compile a list of all Masonic
widows of the Brethren who has passed
away. He will also notify the Grand
Lodge of deceased brethren. Provide
clerical support and brothers data when
needed.
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5.2. Reestablish: Worshipful Master
will contact with the widows of a fallen
brethren to write a personal note to
each widow and hope that she is doing
well and provide her with a lodge point
of contact to all widows who live
locally.
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5.2a Widows who live some distance
from the Lodge: The Secretary should
contact the Grand Lodge Secretary or a
Masonic lodge that she lives closest to;
and request them to keep in contact with
her.
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5.3
Establish contact with a new widow :
Worshipful Master will contact the widow
as soon as he learn of the death of a
fallen Brethren, and express to her our
condolence and she is if there is
anything that we can do to help.
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5.4. Maintain continuing contact:
Schedule personal contact or visit with
the widows at least four or five times a
year to ensure that they are in good
health and is there anything that we
could do within reason.
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5.5
Planned Activity: A Program Design for
our Special Ladies (Our Masonic Widow)
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Invitations:
Mail at least one month prior to the date of
the event (like all of us, they may have
prior commitments). Please hand write your
letter of invitation (optional), we prefer
that you do not use a form letter. Try to
give each letter that special personal
touch. You may want to obtain the help of
your wives or daughters in writing these
letters. |
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Transportation: Ensure that
transportation to and from their home is
provided. Always arrange to have friends or
relatives (not strangers) bring her to the
event. In your follow-up visit as noted in
your invitation to those that have written
that they will not be able to attend, see if
you can determine the reason for their
absence. It may be caused by some physical
hardship and may bring to light instances
where the Loved Ladies team can help in
their future Lodge program. |
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Greeters: Select greeters to meet our
honored guests at the door, pin corsages or
(your choice) issue nameplates and printed
programs. Make every effort to introduce
them to others that have arrived, make them
feel at home, and encourage them to
socialize with one another. |
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Program: Prepare a simple program booklet,
attractive enough for a souvenir (it does
not need to be overly elaborate.). |
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Entertainment: Present an enjoyable
evening, and try to limit the time to an
hour or hour and a half, so as not to become
overwhelming or exhaustive. Barbershop
groups and musical interludes have a good
track record for working well. Try to avoid
long speeches, monologues, slideshows, and
lengthy plays, etc. Be considerate of the
ages of your guests. |
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Dinner: When home cooked and prepared by
the Lodge officers with love, it becomes
more meaningful to all. Endeavor to involve
as many members as you can in the kitchen
and in serving the meal. Try to be selective
of the menu, by taking into consideration
older adults that have dietary medical
issues like diabetes, low sodium diets,
dairy-free diets, etc. |
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Tickets: Keep the price within reason (this
event is NOT a Fund Raiser). Expenses may be
correctly taken from the general expense
account of the Lodge. Free tickets should be
given to honored guests (Special Ladies,
Grand Master or Deputy Grand Master, the
Clergy, Guest Speaker and their wives). |
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Seating arrangements for dinner: Arrange
tables with place settings and table
decorations, etc. Do not crowd tables with
too many seats. The use of paper plates or
plastic utensils should be avoided. Provide
place cards for head table only. Honored
guests should be seated with their friends
and/or wherever they wish. |
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Lodge Hall: Arrange special seats for the
guests, facing the East, and in front of the
Altar. Seats should be tagged in
alphabetical sequence. Arrange seats in
semi-circles, allowing aisle space for the
Grand Master and Worshipful Master to
personally greet each widow. The designated
Master of Ceremonies will call roll as the
Special Ladies are greeted. Those not able
to attend will have their responses read, or
their address given or some positive
comments shared about the absentee with the
audience. |
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Follow-up (day after event): Assign a team
or Lodge member to visit the Special Ladies
who did not attend the event. Present her
with a corsage, nameplate, and/or program
and a list of the entire lodge Special
Ladies together with their addresses and
telephone numbers. Tell her about the
occasion, who was there, people she might
know, etc. Leave a card with names and phone
numbers of whom to call in case a need
arises or they should want information. Do
not say "call so and so". Please provide a
business-type card containing the name,
address and telephone number of the person
to contact in case of an emergency. This
gives them an opportunity to carry it or
leave it conveniently by a phone for future
reference. |
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6.0
Responsibilities |
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6.1
Worshipful Master |
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6.1a Will contact the widow of a fallen
brother, and see if there is any that
the lodge can do, to assist the widow.
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6.1b Supervising the widow program.
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6.1c The Newly Installed Master will
appoint a Committee to provide Masonic
Benevolence and assistance for the
widow.
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6.2
Secretary |
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6.2a Secretary will compile a list of
all Masonic brother in need of
assistance and widows of the Brethren
who has passed away.
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6.2b He will compile two listing one
being local and one for those that are
aboard and out of State.
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6.2c Secretary will contact a lodge
nearest where the brother has moved too.
And ask for their assistant in the widow
program.
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6.3 Chaplin |
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6.3a Will send out a letter Respect of
Resolution. And he will also follow up
to see what the lodge can do to help in
her time of swore.
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6.3b He will compile two listing one
being local and one for those that are
aboard and out of State.
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6.2c Secretary will contact a lodge
nearest where the brother has moved too.
And ask for their assistant in the widow
program.
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7.0 Masonic
Funeral |
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7.1 Conducting
the Masonic Funeral Service for the
family of a deceased Brother is both an
honor and a duty of all Freemasons.
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7.2 Many members may express interest in
having his Lodge perform a Masonic
funeral upon their death. This is your
right as a Mason. But how does one go
about making this preparation and where
can such a service take place? First, a
Masonic funeral is held at the request
of a departed Brother or his family.
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7.2a
Second,
the service may be held in a chapel,
church, synagogue or Lodge room with
committal at graveside, or the complete
service can be performed at any of the
aforementioned places without a
separate, committal. Also, a memorial
service may be requested; however, you
should make your wishes known to your
immediate family. The Masonic service
may be held in conjunction with a
religious service and/or other service.
This is at the pleasure of the family,
the only restriction being that the
Masonic service, once started, must be
completed without interruption for
another service.
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7.3
Discuss this with those
responsible openly and frankly. It is
highly recommended that you: (1) put
your wishes in writing (see attachment
3), (2) give a copy to the person who
will handle your affairs, and (3) place
another copy with your will, insurance
papers and other valuable documents so
that your survivors can clearly comply
with your expressed wishes.
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SUMMARY |
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SUMMARY FOR THE FAMILY |
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1) In the event of
sickness or injury of the Master Mason,
please notify the secretary or other
responsible officer of the Lodge, giving
the nature of confinement, place of
confinement (home or hospital), and
special needs, such as blood donations,
financial, etc.
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2) In case of the death
of the Master Mason, please notify the
secretary or other responsible officer
of the Lodge, giving the place, time and
date of the funeral; attempt to locate
the Master Masons white apron
(Lambskin). If it is the familys
desire, request a Masonic Memorial
Service, and request pall bearers from
Lodge as needed.
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Attachment #1 |
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Widow: |
Brother John J. Doe |
Daylight Lodge #760 |
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Widow: |
Mrs. Jane Dow |
Any Street |
Louisville, Ky. 40219 |
Affiliation: O.E.S. |
Birth Date: |
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Attachment #3 |
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I_____________________________________________________________________________ |
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Name of Brother (print clearly) |
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Being a member of
__________________________________________
Lodge No. _________ |
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Request, at the time of my death, that the
Lodge would provide a Masonic Memorial
Service for me prior to the burial of either
at my casket or urn. I would also like
request Masonic Pall Bearers to be provided
to help; for any and all occasions my family
may need help with. |
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Yes No |
Circle One |
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Spouse_____________________________________________________________________ |
Name |
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Surviving Children
______________________________________________________________ |
Name |
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My family or next of kin have been informed
of my request and have been given a copy of
this form. They will do their utmost to see
that my white Apron (lambskin) be preserved
and given to one of the Officers of the
Lodge, or Funeral Director for proper
display during the Masonic Memorial Service.
Further, it is my request that my Masonic
Apron be buried with my remains. |
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Signed Brother
_____________________________________________________
Date ________________ |
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Signature |
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Lodge to make 2 copies One copy to remain
with the Lodge records and one copy for the
family |
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