Friend's Funeral

Today I spoke at a friend’s funeral. I had to write down what I planned to say because I knew there would be a possibility of me loosing track of my thoughts, repeating myself or rambling without making sense. I tried writing yesterday but as of last night I had only a couple of scant paragraphs without any satisfactory results. I told our present Potentate last night at the Shrine Club event that I was trying to wrap my head around these words I wanted to say. I had all the elements in my head, but there was no flow and what I did have down was all one note. He told me I should get in a quiet place and I would be able write what I needed. I stayed off the computer last night when we got home from the Shrine Club. Not only did my legs hurt but I was tired. Christy woke me up this morning with a text message telling me it was time to get up. I got up, sat down and wrote what I was going to say.

I am at that age when funerals come a lot more often than before. I do not enjoy funerals and today was hard for me for two reasons. One, Jimmy was a close friend, I know his sons and secondly I was there at the family’s final goodbyes. Freemasonry has a special connection with funerals. One of my first Masonic experiences, even when I was just an Entered Apprentice was a funeral. Masonic funerals are one of the rare public Masonic events that give people just a hint to the world of modern Freemasonry. I have been to more funerals of brother masons than any other. Most of the people I am close to have a Masonic connection somehow.

Jimmy was one of the people I connected with through Masonry. Jimmy was self taught in a lot of his knowledge. He researched various historical areas. Jimmy was one of those people you would like to be more like but you realize that in order to be more like him you had to be less like yourself. Jimmy obtained his knowledge from studying and learning with old fashioned efforts. Jimmy was a good man and a good friend, I will miss him.

Tonight I had to decompress and allow myself to relax. I guess a psychic connection with my daughter kicked in because she called exactly at the very moment I needed her to call. We had a good conversation about a various range of subject and it was what I needed. She was a dose of good medicine.

Here is what I said today at Jimmy’s funeral. Thank you for listening.

Jimmy Howell was my friend. He was a friend to many as well as a father and a Brother. Jimmy and I once laughed about how many different titles we had to address each other by, from Sir Knight to Frater, Pilgrim and even Companion. Jimmy wasn’t about titles or rank, he was a friend whom you truly enjoyed being around. Many people will tell you that they have the highest respect for Jimmy; I am one of those people.

My first experience with Brother Jimmy Howell was not a face to face meeting. I first met with a stack of five by seven notes cards. Sixty-eight hand-written cards he used to study and learn the famous Camp Lecture from the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite. Jimmy was late for this particular reunion because of his work, but he made it. I was thankful, because I was told I was going to have to read it if he didn’t arrive on time. Watching Jimmy Howell recite that lecture was like no other ritual I had witnessed before. Throughout the years as I watched him recite this lecture; he only got better and even expanded it with explanations to add to the candidate’s education.

I discovered that he wasn’t just a Masonic ritualist; he was a student, believer and seeker of more light. Jimmy dug deep into the history and background of what we commonly refer to as the ancient mysteries. He studied the connection with religion and ancient societies such as the Druids and Mithras to the development of modern Freemasonry and beliefs. Jimmy introduced me to various pathways of study within the Masonic order. He led me to the Rosicrucians and the Knight Masons. We discussed many concepts and theories which required an open mind and ability to listen without making judgment. A group of us, who spent most of our time in the balcony at the reunions, would meet after the final degree at a little restaurant in Corinth and discuss various aspects of the degree work. Those were treasured times we will always remember fondly. I once asked him about petitioning an affiliated group to Masonry. Jimmy told me that it was my decision alone but he didn’t see why anyone wouldn’t want to seek out more light. That was Jimmy, he was a seeker.

From my many conversations with Jimmy I know he was a true believer in God. Even though he could discuss various pagan societies and controversial religious history, he told me once that he knew that everyone passed through the arms of Jesus. The fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man was indeed a concept that Jimmy Howell understood. We shared similar circumstances and shared counsel with each other on several occasions.

To his family, my father passed away at age 63 after an extended illness. I understand.

My empathy leads me to tell you that you will carry on and you will miss him. There will be times when you feel deeply that you sure could use him with you at the moment. You will remember what he taught you and benefit from him. Then eventfully you will find yourself saying the things that Jimmy said to you. Realizing afterwards who first said that.

I lost another very close friend just three years ago, he was also 63. I was thinking yesterday that this very fact would have surely opened a discussion with Jimmy about the numerological significance. I am now at that stage with this friend where I am saying I sure could use him here right now. He also knew Jimmy and held him in the highest regard. It’s not easy to lose someone this close to you. You will remember him and everyone who knew the man, Jimmy Howell, will be thankful for having him among us. I understand your feelings this day and please know that because of my friendship with Jimmy, I am also your friend.

We will all remember Jimmy Howell. He was a man with minimum ego and one that showed true respect for everyone. He treated everyone as an equal. We gather here today to say goodbye and honor him. Jimmy will always be there as an example of how we should treat others and how we should seek out more light in this life. Loss is never easy, but if I know Jimmy Howell, he is seeking and finding more of that knowledge and learning of the mysteries we are not yet allowed to know on Earth.

From now on when these words are spoken, they will always belong to Jimmy Howell.
“…… no doctrine or faith or knowledge is of value to a man except as it bears fruit in action. If what you may learn here should warrant you on setting a higher estimate upon yourself, you should be thereby led to aim at nobler ends.”

Thank you for allowing me to be here to honor my good friend. We miss him and remember him always as a friend to many and truly a good man.