A Masonic funeral is something to see. All the brothers from the Lodge are allowed to wear their regalia in public. Top hats with tailed tuxedoes are mixed with lamb skin work aprons that are embroidered with cryptic symbols and embellished with jewels (or maybe just glass facsimiles of gems) Ribbon banners are worn across tuxedoed chests; the ribbons are emblazoned with titles like “Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret.”
Pa’s own outfit presented a problem. Since he was killed wearing his best and only suit while coming home from Mom’s funeral, he had nothing to wear to his own funeral. His Lodge brothers chipped in and dressed Pa in his proper dress. His title was “Sovereign Grand Inquisitor General.” I am told that it is the highest possible rank in the Masonic order. In addition, he wore a golden badge with the title, “Order of the Rosy Cross.”
The Pall Bearers did a remarkable job. Each of them wore identical tailed tuxedoes with top hats with long black ribbon hat bands that hung from the hat down to the buttons where the tails split. Each step, the eight men (selected to be of similar height) would pause in mid-step. They did this remarkable halting staccato march in perfect cadence from the motor hearse that stopped outside the cemetery gates all the way to Pa’s grave next to Mom’s. It was a distance of over 100 yards. Once at the grave, his casket was opened and a rolled shroud was unrolled to cover the front of his body. The Pall bearers tucked the shroud in around the edges. He was already lying on the back portion of the shroud in his casket. The members of the Lodge recite call and response prayers while they sway back and forth in unison. Then, the white casket is sealed and lowered by the Lodge brothers using ropes. Finally, each family member and each Lodge brother helped bury Pa with a shovel full of earth into the grave. There were so many Lodge brothers from all over Oklahoma and Arkansas that the casket was completely buried before they finished their parade past the grave.
The Masons held a lunch for family and friends just like the church did for Mom.