General Ahiman Rezon: Ancient Ceremonies: Laying Foundation Stones of Public Structures

THIS CEREMONY is conducted by the Grand Master and his officers, assisted by the members of the Grand Lodge, and such officers and members of private Lodges as can conveniently attend.

The Chief Magistrate and other civil officers of the place where the building is to be erected, also generally attend on the occasion.

A band of music is provided, and the brethren appear, dressed in dark clothes, and white gloves and aprons.

The Lodge is opened by the Grand Master, and the rules for regulating the procession to and from the place where the ceremony is to be performed, are read by the Grand Secretary.

The necessary cautions are then given from the Chair, and the Grand Lodge is called from labor; after which, the procession sets out in the following order:

Bible, Square, and Compasses, carried by a Master of a Lodge, supported by two Stewards;

A triumphal arch is usually erected at the place where the ceremony is to be performed.

The procession, arriving at the arch, opens to the right and left, and, uncovering, the Grand Master and his officers pass through the lines to the platform, while the rest of the brethren surround the platform, forming a hollow square.

The Grand Master commands silence, and announces the purposes of the occasion, when the following or some other appropriate ODE is sung:

When earth's foundations first was laid,
  By the Almighty Artist's hand,
’Twas then our perfect, our perfect laws were made,
Established by p. 284 his strict command.
  Hail! mysterious, glorious Masonry!
    That makes us ever great and free.

In vain mankind for shelter sought,
  In vain from place to place did roam,
Until from heaven, from heaven he was taught
  To plan, to build, to fix his home.
    Hail! mysterious, etc.

Illustrious hence we date our Art,
  Which now in beauteous piles appear,
And shall to endless, to endless time impart,
  How worthy and how great we are.
    Hail! mysterious, etc.

Nor we less famed for every tie,
  By which the human thought is bound;
Love truth and friendship, and friendship socially,
  Unite our hearts and hands around.
    Hail! mysterious, etc. p. 285

Our actions still by Virtue blest,
  And to our precepts ever true,
The world, admiring, admiring, shall request
  To learn, and our bright paths pursue.
    Hail! mysterious, etc.

The necessary preparations are now made for laying the stone, on which is engraved the year of Masonry, the name of the Grand Master, and such other particulars as may be deemed necessary.

PRAYER:

ALMIGHTY GOD, who hast given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplications unto thee; and dost promise that, where two or three are gathered together in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests; fulfill now, O LORD, the desires and petitions of thy servants, as may be most expedient for them; granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting.—AMEN.

The Grand Treasurer, by the Grand Master's command, places under the stone various sorts of coin and medals, Masonic documents, and such other matters as may be of interest.

The principal Architect then presents the working tools to the Grand Master, who hands the Square to the Deputy Grand Master, the Level to the Senior Grand Warden, and the Plumb to the Junior Grand Warden; when the Grand Master addresses the Grand Officers as follows:

Grand Master. R. W. DEPUTY GRAND MASTER: What is the proper jewel of your office?

G. M. Apply the implement of your office to that portion of the foundation-stone that needs to be proved, and make report.

D. G. M. MOST WORSHIPFUL: I find the stone to be square. The Craftsmen have performed their duty.

S. G. W. Morally, it reminds us of equality, and its use is to lay horizontals.

G. M. Apply the implement of your office to the foundation-stone, and make report.

S. G. W. MOST WORSHIPFUL: I find the stone to be level. The Craftsmen have performed their duty.

J. G. W. Morally, it teaches rectitude of conduct, and we use it to try perpendiculars.

G. M. Apply the implement of your office to the several edges of the foundation-stone, and make report.

J. G. W. MOST WORSHIPFUL: I find the stone is plumb. The Craftsmen have performed their duty.

G. M. This corner-stone has been tested by the proper implements of Masonry. I find that the Craftsmen have skillfully and faithfully performed their duty, and I do declare the stone to

be well formed, true, and trusty, and correctly laid, according to the rules of our ancient Craft.

The Deputy Grand Master comes forward with the vessel of corm, and, scattering it on the stone, says:

I scatter this corn as an emblem of plenty. May the blessings of bounteous Heaven be showered upon us and upon all like patriotic and benevolent undertakings, and inspire the hearts of the people with virtue, wisdom, and gratitude.

The Senior Grand Warden then comes forward with the vessel of WINE, and pours it upon the stone; saying,

I pour this wine as an emblem of joy and gladness. May the Great Ruler of the Universe

bless and prosper our national, state, and city governments, preserve the union of the States, and may it be a bond of Friendship and Brotherly Love that shall endure through all time.

The Junior Grand Warden then comes forward with a vessel of OIL, which he pours upon the stone, saying,

I pour this oil as an emblem of peace. May its blessings abide with us continually, and may the Grand Master of heaven and earth shelter and protect the widow and orphan, shield and defend them from trials and vicissitudes of the world, and so bestow his mercy upon the bereaved, the afflicted, and the sorrowing, that they play know sorrowing and trouble no more.

The Grand Master, standing in front of all, and extending his hands, makes the following

INVOCATION.

MAY the all-bounteous Author of Nature bless the inhabitants of this place with an abundance

of the necessaries, conveniences, and comforts of life; assist in the erection and completion of this building; protect the workmen against every accident; long preserve the structure from decay; and grant to us all a supply of the CORN of nourishment, the WINE of refreshment, and the OIL of joy.—AMEN.

The Grand Master strikes the stone three times with the gavel, and the public grand honors are given.

The Grand Master then delivers over to the Architect the implements of architecture; saying,

WORTHY SIR (or BROTHER): Having thus, as Grand Master of Masons, laid the foundation-stone of this structure, I now deliver these implements of your profession into your hands, intrusting you with the superintendence and direction of the work, having full confidence in your skill and capacity to conduct the same.

MEN AND BRETHREN HERE ASSEMBLED: Be it known unto you, that we be lawful Masons, true and faithful to the laws of our country, and

engaged, by solemn obligations, to erect magnificent buildings, to be serviceable to the brethren, and to fear GOD, the Great Architect of the Universe. We have among us, concealed from the eyes of all men, secrets which cannot be divulged, and which have never been found out; but these secrets are lawful and honorable, and not repugnant to the laws of GOD or man. They were intrusted, in peace and honor, to the Masons of ancient times, and having been faithfully transmitted to us, it is our duty to convey them unimpaired to the latest posterity. Unless our Craft were good, and our calling honorable, we should not have lasted for so many centuries, nor should we have been honored with the patronage of so many illustrious men in all ages, who have ever shown themselves ready to promote our interests and defend us from all adversaries. We are assembled here to-day in the Pace of you all, to build a house, which we pray GOD may deserve to prosper, by becoming a place of concourse for good men, and promoting harmony and brotherly love throughout the world, till time shall be no more.—AMEN.

A voluntary collection is then made by the Grand Stewards among the Brethren for the needy workmen, and the sum collected is placed upon the stone by the Grand Treasurer.

BENEDICTION.

GLORY be to GOD on high, and on earth peace, and good-will toward men! O LORD, we most heartily beseech thee with thy favor to behold and bless this assemblage; pour down thy mercy, like the dew that falls upon the mountains, upon thy servants engaged in the solemn ceremonies of this day. Bless, we pray thee, all the workmen who shall be engaged in the erection of this edifice; keep them from all forms of accidents and harm; grant them in health and prosperity to live; and finally, we hope, after this life, through thy mercy, wisdom, and forgiveness, to attain everlasting joy and felicity, in thy bright mansion—in thy holy temple—not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.—AMEN.

After which, the procession returns in the same order to the place whence it set out, and the Grand Lodge is closed with the usual formalities.

Footnotes

282:* Whenever Knights Templar appear in a procession, they should act as an escort or guard of honor to the Grand Lodge.

LAYING FOUNDATION-STONES

OF

PUBLIC STRUCTURES.

PRAYER:

INVOCATION.

BENEDICTION.

Footnotes