The Masonic Funeral Ode

22 June 1997 1345 ET

Play the music (Pleyel's Hymn) (421K sound file)

Solemn strikes the funeral chime!
Notes of our departing time,
As we journey here below,
On a pilgrimage of woe.

Brothers, now indulge a tear,
For mortality is here!
See how wide her trophies wave,
O'er the slumbers of the grave.

Here another guest we bring,
Seraphs of celestial wing,
To our funeral altar come,
Waft a friend and brother home.

Lord of all, below, above,
Fill our hearts with Truth and Love.
As dissolves our earthly tie,
Take us to Thy Lodge on High.

Ignatz Pleyel was a contemporary and acquaintance of Franz Joseph Haydn, although there is no evidence that Pleyel was a Freemason. The author of the text is unknown. The middle section of W. H. Auden's poem on the death of William Butler Yeats has the same metrical structure as the Funeral Ode, but Auden is not listed as a Freemason in Denslow's reference. Yeats was involved with many occultist activities in the early 20th century, such as the Order of the Golden Dawn, some of which had many Freemasons as members.

The second verse is not used in some Masonic Jurisdictions. Also see the discussion by Wayne Sirmon with more verses and some detailed comparisons.

One version of the Methodist Hymnal uses Pleyel's Hymn as a setting of words to be used for the dedication of a new church. The words of that hymn make many references to Masonic working tools and leave little doubt that the text was authored by a Freemason, whose choice of Pleyel's Hymn for his setting was anything but a coincidence. It is probable that few Methodist churchgoers are aware of this connection.

Music performed by Dr. Roger M. Firestone, Musician of Henry Lodge #57, A.F.&A.M., Fairfax, VA

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