The order of service for a Masonic funeral typically begins with the brethren assembling at the house where the deceased lies. The Master of the lodge opens the lodge in the third degree, followed by an anthem. The body is placed in the center, and the service begins with the Master addressing the assembly with solemn reflections on mortality. The Master then leads the brethren in prayers and hymns, and the body is honored with flowers or herbs. After the service, an oration is delivered, and the lodge is adjourned for the procession to the place of interment, following a specific order of precedence among the brethren and lodges present.
During the interment, further prayers and reflections are offered, emphasizing the lessons of mortality and the virtues of the deceased. The ceremony concludes with the Master offering final words of tribute and the lodge closing in a solemn manner.
As noted in *Illustrations of Masonry by William Preston*, the service includes various rituals and prayers that reflect on the life and virtues of the deceased, reminding the living of their own mortality and the importance of brotherly love and unity.