Manual of the Lodge/Ancient Ceremonies of the Order/Ceremony observed at Laying the Foundation Stones of Public Structures

by Albert Gallatin Mackey

SECTION VI.

AT LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONES OF PUBLIC STRUCTURES.

HIS ceremony must only be performed by the Grand Master, assisted by the Grand Lodge, in General Communication. The chief magistrate, and other civil officers of the place where the building is to be erected, generally attend on the occasion. The ceremony is thus conducted:

At the time appointed, the brethren are convened at some convenient place, approved of by the Grand Master. A band of music is provided, and the brethren appear in the insignia of the Order, well dressed, with white gloves and aprons. The Grand Lodge is opened in the first degree, 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 off from labor, after which, the procession, being arranged by the Grand Marshal, sets out in the following order:

Tiler, with drawn sword;
Two Deacons, with staves;
Two Standards (Faith and Hope);
Twelve Fellow Crafts, two and two;
Tiler, with drawn sword;
Entered Apprentices, two and two;
Fellow Crafts, two and two;
Master Masons, two and two;
Tiler, with drawn sword;
Two Deacons, with staves,
Two Standards (Charity and Wisdom);
Secretaries of Lodges, with rolls, two and two
Treasurers of Lodges, with green bags, two and two;
Junior Wardens of Lodges, with pillars, two and two;
Senior Wardens of Lodges, with pillars, two and two;
Masters of Lodges, with hirams, two and two;
Past Masters of Lodges, two and two;
Masons of such of the higher degrees as are recognized by the Grand Lodge, in the form of their respective Orders;
Tiler, with drawn sword;
Two Deacons, with staves;
Two Standards (Strength and Beauty);
Grand Tiler, with drawn sword;
Grand Stewards, with white rods;
Music;
A brother, carrying one of the Orders;
Architect, with some implement of his office;
Four brethren, carrying the four Orders, two and two;
Grand Pursuivant, with sword of state;
Grand Secretary, with his bag;
Grand Treasurer, with his staff;
The Bible, Square, and Compasses, on a crimson velvet cushion, carried by an aged Master Mason, supported by two Deacons with staves:
Grand Chaplain;
Past Grand Wardens;
Past Deputy Grand Masters;
Past Grand Masters;
Chief magistrate and civil officers of the place;
Two Junior Grand Deacons, with staves;
Grand Wardens;
Deputy Grand Master;
Book of Constitutions, carried by the Master of the oldest Lodge;
Grand Master, supported by two Senior Grand Deacons, with staves;
Two Tilers, with swords drawn, close the procession.

The Grand Marshal attends on horseback to regulate the procession.

A triumphal arch is 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 repair to a temporary platform, covered with a carpet, and the rest of the brethren surround the platform. The Grand Master commands silence in the usual Masonic form, when the following Ode is sung:

When earth's foundation first was laid
By the Almighty Artist's hand,
'Twas then our perfect, our perfect laws were made.
Established by his strict command.

chorus.

Hail, mysterious—hail, 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 they were taught
To plan, to build, to fix their home.

Chorus.—Hail, 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.

Chorus.—Hail, etc.

Nor we less fam'd for every tie
By which the human thought is bound;
Love, truth, and friendship, and friendship socially,
Join all our hearts and hands around.

Chorus.—Hail, etc.

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.

Chorus.—Hail, etc.

The necessary preparations are then 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.

The stone is raised up by means of an engine, erected for that purpose in the northeast corner of the intended building.

The Grand Chaplain offers up a short prayer.

The Grand Treasurer then, by the Grand Master's command, places under the stone various sorts of coin and medals of the present age. Solemn music is introduced, and the stone is let down into its place by three gradual motions.

The principal architect then presents the working tools to the Grand Master, who, descending to the foundation, applies the plumb, square, and level to the stone, in their proper positions, and standing in front of all, says in a loud voice:

I have tried and proved this stone by plumb, square, and level, and pronounce it to be well-formed, true, and trusty.

The Deputy Grand Master then presents the Grand Master with the golden vessel of corn, saying:

Most Worshipful, I present you with the corn of nourishment.

The Grand Master then scatters the corn upon the stone, and the Senior Grand Warden presents him with the silver vessel of wine, saving:

Most Worshipful, I present you with the wine of refreshment.

The Grand Master pours the wine upon the stone, and the Junior Grand Warden presents him with the silver vessel of oil, saying:

Most Worshipful, I present you with the oil of joy.

The Grand Master pours the oil upon the stone, and standing in front of all, and extending his hands, he makes the following invocation:

May the all-bounteous Author of Nature bless the inhabitants of this place with all the necessaries, conveniences, and comforts of life; assist in the erection and completion of this building; protect the workmen against every accident; long preserve this structure from decay; and grant to us all a supply of the Corn of nourishment, the Wine of refreshment, and the Oil of joy. So mote it be. Amen.

The Grand Master then strikes the stone three times with his hiram, and the brethren give the public grand honors of Masonry by three times three.

The Grand Master then ascends the platform, and delivers over the various implements of architecture to the architect, 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.

The Grand Master then reascends the platform, and the following Anthem is sung:

"Let there be light!" th' Almighty spoke:
Refulgent streams from chaos broke,
⁠To illume the rising earth!
Well pleas'd the great Jehovah stood;
The power Supreme pronounc'd it good,
⁠And gave the planets birth!

Chorus.—In choral numbers Masons join,
To bless and praise this light divine.

Parent of light, accept our praise!
Who shedd'st on us thy brightest rays,
⁠The light that fills the mind:
By choice selected, lo! we stand,
By friendship join'd a social band!
⁠That love, that aid mankind!

Chorus.—In choral numbers, etc.

The widow's tear, the orphan's cry,
All wants our ready hands supply,
⁠As far as power is given;
The naked clothe, the pris'ner free,
These are thy works, sweet Charity,
⁠Reveal'd to us from heaven.

Chorus.—In choral numbers, etc.

The Grand Master then addresses the assembly as follows:

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 face 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.

The brethren all exclaim:

So mote it be. 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; during which time the, following Song is sung in honor of Masonry:

Hail! Masonry divine!
Glory of ages shine;
⁠Long may'st thou reign!
Where'er thy lodges stand,
May they have great command,
And always grace the land,
⁠Thou art divine.

Great fabrics still arise,
And grace the azure skies—
⁠Great are thy schemes;
Thy noble orders are
Matchless beyond compare;
No art with thee can share;
⁠Thou art divine.

Hiram, the architect,
Did all the craft direct
⁠How they should build;
Sol'mon, great Israel's king.
Did mighty blessings bring.
And left us room to sing,
⁠Hail, Royal Art!

A benediction is then pronounced by the Grand Chaplain 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.

Where the site of the intended building is too remote for the Grand Master to attend in person, a dispensation may be obtained by the nearest Subordinate Lodge to perform the ceremony as near to the customary forms as circumstances will permit.