Page:Ritual of the Order eastern star (1921).djvu/141

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
Funeral Ceremonies.
131

the rising sun and close with his setting rays. Others open to the full moon and starry firmanent and shrink before the piercing gaze of the king of day.

So the Father's love goes forth by day and night to the weakest, most humble and obscure of His children.

We are told to consider the lilies of the field and learn the paternal love of Him, beyond whose watchful care none can stray. Not a sparrow falls without His notice. "Ye are of more value than many sparrows."

In token of our trust in the all-embracing love of the Infinite Father, I deposit these emblems of His watchful care in the grave of our departed sister.

Drops the flowers and continues as follows:

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