Western Star Masonic Cemetery

RULES FOR OPERATION
SHASTA MASONIC CEMETERY

WHEREAS,

In 1864, Shasta Lodge No. 57, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, established in the Town of Shasta a fraternal cemetery;
In 1806; Western Star Lodge No. 2, Free and Accepted Masons acquired a one-half interest therein;
In 1936, after the dissolution of Shasta Lodge No. 57, IOOF, Western Star Lodge No. 2, F&AM acquired sole jurisdiction over said cemetery, and now maintains it;

In former years members of both lodges were buried in the cemetery; and in recent years, members of Western Star Lodge and their families have been buried there; and
Western Star Lodge desires to maintain the cemetery in perpetuity as a place of eternal rest for its members and their near kindred;

Committee Duties

 The committee, appointed by the Master of the lodge, shall serve to maintain the cemetery, and see that requests for interment are appropriately investigated and decisions rendered. The committee members will at a minimum constitute the lodge secretary, along with at least 4 master masons of Western Star Lodge.

The secretary will keep the Lodge Master appraised of all current happenings concerning the cemetery and will report the committee’s progress to the lodge during its stated meetings upon request.

The committee upon receiving a request for interment will designate a member to evaluate, according to the established guidelines (rules), the burial privilege of the deceased, and report this information to the committee for further action.

Guidelines for Internment

The Western Star Cemetery Committee, acting for Western Star Lodge, prescribes the following rules for burial in the Shasta Masonic Cemetery:

1. Without charge (save for any necessary expense for grave digging) the following have the privilege of burial therein:
• A brother of this lodge.
• A former brother of this lodge whose membership was in good standing upon death.
• The predeceased spouse of a brother.
• The widow of a brother.
• The unmarried child of a brother.
• In family plots already chosen and set apart for a deceased brother of the lodge, his child or grand-child and the spouse thereof.

2. Except as provided below, grave sites will be assigned only as needed, in existing family plots, or in new plots radiating from the center to the periphery of the cemetery.

3. Following the death and burial of a brother or his pre-deceased wife, the surviving spouse may reserve in advance an adjacent grave site for herself or himself; provided that if the widow remarries, and if she does not, within two years thereafter, elect in writing to retain such reservation, it shall lapse.

4. The Lodge, by majority vote, may for good cause make exceptions to the foregoing rules.