Pyrate is not the only Brother. Are there any other traveling fellows
amongst us? The corner stone is traditionally laid in the north-east
corner in a ceremony I am not permitted to elaborate on, but it is
probably how Michael got his limp and bad back. There is significance
to the location of stars, again I cannot elaborate unless Ken, you are
ready for your apprenticeship. However, check this site:
http://www.masonicfax.com/cornstone.htm or you can contact Hiram at
[log in to unmask] who can give you all the information you could ever
digest on the subject. Here I post some info of interest and note my
boy Richard Morris Hunt is a Brother:
Re: Statue of Liberty: "Around this time, Bartholdi, who was a member
of Lodge Alsace Lorraine in Paris, which was composed of intellectuals,
writers and government representatives, invited his brothers to view his
masterpiece prior to its leaving their native land for America. It is
also reported that in November of that year, he delivered a lecture and
gave the Lodge a report on the history and various methods used in the
creation of the statue. In 1887, after the statue was dedicated at its
final resting place, Bartholdi told his Lodge brothers of the ardent
welcome he had received in New York and of the wide enthusiasm created
by his work. Meanwhile, in America plans were being made for the laying
of the cornerstone of the pedestal. Chairman William M. Evarts of the
American Committee contacted the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons
of the State of New York, and requested a Masonic ceremony "appropriate
to the occasion". It had been a tradition in America to have the
cornerstone of major public and private buildings and monuments
consecrated with full Masonic rites, ever since President George
Washington, on September 18, 1793, had personally laid the cornerstone
of the United States Capital, with the assistance of the Grand Lodge of
Maryland. Similarly, the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was
laid in a Masonic ceremony. The Evart's invitation, however, was more
than a local manifestation of the influence of the Craft or the
continuance of a national practice. The presentation and erection of
the Statue of Liberty was an occasion of world-wide significance, and
delegating the laying of the cornerstone to the Masonic Fraternity was a
fitting tribute rendered to free men of high principles and recognized
international reputations throughout the world. The date set for the
ceremony was August 5, 1884. The American Committee sent invitations to
all the leading state and municipal leaders across the Nation. The
ceremony was scheduled to begin at two o'clock. Everything humanly
possible was carefully planned. But one factor could not be
controlled--the weather.
On August 5, 1884, it did more than just rain--it poured! However, the
ceremony went off as scheduled. The gaily decorated vessel Bay Ridge,
draped with the Tricolor of France and the Stars and Stripes, ferried
approximately 100 members of the Grand Lodge of New York and visiting
Masonic Grand Officers, along with many civic officials, to Bedloe's
Island. Because of limited space, the traditional Masonic parade was
omitted and the program was begun immediately. A United States Army
band played "La Marseillaise," the French National Anthem, following
with the very popular "Hail Columbia". Then began, on the raised
northeast corner of the pedestal, the formal cornerstone ceremony.
Brother Richard M. Hunt, principal architect of the pedestal, presented
the Working Tools to M\W\ William A. Brodie, Grand Master, who in turn
distributed them to the Grand Lodge officers: R\W\ Frank R. Lawrence,
Deputy Grand Master; R\W\ John W. Vrooman, Senior Grand Warden; and R\W\
James Ten Eyck, Junior Grand Warden. R\W\ Edward M.L. Ehlers, Grand
Secretary and a member of Continental Lodge 287, read the list of items
to be included in the copper box within the cornerstone: A copy of the
United States Constitution; George Washington's Farewell Address; 20
bronze medals of Presidents up through Chester A. Arthur (including
Washington, Monroe, Jackson, Polk, Buchanan, Johnson, and Garfield who
were proven Freemasons); copies of New York City newspapers; a portrait
of Bartholdi; a copy of Poem on Liberty by E.R. Johnes; and a list on
parchment of the Grand Lodge officers. By traditional ceremony, the
cornerstone was then tested and being found, square, level and plumb,
the Deputy Grand Master completed the work by applying the mortar and by
having the stone lowered firmly into place. The Grand Master then
struck three blows with the gavel and declared the stone duly laid. The
elements of consecration, corn, wine and oil, were next presented by
R\W\ Brothers Lawrence, Vrooman and Ten Eyck. The most Worshipful Grand
Master then gave a brief but pointed talk. He posed a question: "Why
call upon the Masonic Fraternity to lay the cornerstone of such a
structure as is here to be erected"? His answer, which is as true
today as it was then, was: "No institution has done more to promote
liberty and to free men from the trammels and chains of ignorance and
tyranny than has Freemasonry".
The principal address was given by the Deputy Grand Master, R\W\ Brother
Lawrence, who said in part: "Massive as this statue is, its physical
proportions sink into comparative obscurity when contrasted with the
nobility of its concept. Liberty Enlightening the World! How lofty the
thought! To be free, is the first, the noblest aspiration of the human
breast. And it is now a universally admitted truth that only in
proportion as men become possessed of liberty, do they become civilized,
enlightened, and useful. . . . As Masons, we cannot appropriate to
ourselves alone the lessons which this monument will teach. Not only to
us, but to all men will it appeal . . . the gigantic figure which is
here to stand in unapproachable grandeur while the centuries pass, will
command: "Be noble, and the nobleness that lies In other men, sleeping,
but never dead, Will rise in majesty to meet thine own"
Best,
Leland
-----Original Message-----
From: A man of honor pays his debts with his own money. --DeGaulle
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gabriel
Orgrease
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 9:28 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [BP] Introduction
Pyrate,
I was in an abandond masonic lodge in Franklin, NY yesterday, it has
been made into a free-for-the--public theater (a very interesting idea
in an agricultural community near Oneonta), a large 3-story timber frame
structure built around 1856 (??) and there were some books laying around
that I could glance at, but not borrow. I was very interested reading in
a handbook for Grand Masters of the Masonic practice of laying of
cornerstones.
My only having unlaid cornerstones I'd like to know if you could shed
some light on the ritual practice of laying them. At least for us lay
masons.
I also need to know, back channel, what is happening with August.
Shaman
--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
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--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
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