Newton High School Cornerstone Ceremony
On Saturday October 19, 2024 at 10:00 am CST, Rainbow Masonic Lodge #735 AF&AM of Newton, Texas had the honor, privilege and pleasure of hosting a cornerstone leveling ceremony at the Newton High School. Members of Newton ISD who were present included: Director of Operations Tabor Westbrook, Superintendent Michelle Barrow, School Board Vice President Johnny Westbrook and Board Member Brent Noble. Representatives from the County of Newton included Newton County Judge Ronald Cochran and District Attorney Courtney Ponthier.
The ceremony began in the newly added auditorium of the high school where Mr. Westbrook stated that the first town hall meeting, which was held for the construction project, took place one week after the tragic events at Uvalde. Community support was well received and a bond was approved for the new construction which will provide a safe environment for the students and staff.
The ceremony was conducted by RW Raborn L. Reader, Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Texas. During the ceremony, the representatives of The Grand Lodge of Texas performed their diligent duties using a square, level, and plumb; tools that are symbolic of the stone mason guild dating back many centuries ago.
These proceedings were conducted by the following Pro Tems of the Grand Lodge of Texas: Grand Master- RW Raborn Reader Jr., Deputy Grand Master- RW Phillip Tharp, Grand Senior Warden- RW Douglas Hudson, Grand Junior Warden- RW Darrel May, Grand Secretary- PM Michael Greer, Grand Chaplain- PM Ronald Meriwether, Grand Orator- PM Kevin Binder, Grand Marshall- PM Cecil Vaden; Grand Senior Deacon- PM Jim Burnett, Grand Junior Deacon- RW Steve Rich, Grand Senior Steward- PM Onnie Weaver, Grand Junior Steward- PM Ben Lindsey, Grand Pursuivant- PM Charles Summers, Grand Musician- PM Eric Gibson, Grand Photographer-W Charles Broussard, Grand Tiler- PM Robert Hopkins.
The following oration was given by Grand Orator Kevin T. Binder, State Cornerstone Coordinator of the Grand Lodge of Texas:
Cornerstone Leveling Ceremony
Why do we level cornerstones & what do the ceremonies mean? One of the ancient customs that Freemasons observe is the Symbolic Leveling of a Cornerstone. The ceremony is as old as Freemasonry itself and connects us directly to the Craftsman & Stonemasons of the Middle Ages who erected the magnificent cathedrals of Europe.
The definition of a cornerstone is a cubical or rectangular polished stone at a corner of a building, near the foundation but not a part of the foundation and high enough to be easily read, having carved upon it, the name of the owner or purpose of the structure, the date of erection and sometimes other information.
The stone is frequently made hollow in order to support a time capsule. The time capsule has “Deposits” of various items which are current to the time. The time capsule is then opened at some point in the future, usually around 100 years later. The tradition of “deposits” of various items dates back to the time of ancient Mesopotamia.
The 3 working tools that are used in the ceremony, the plumb, square and level were first found in a tomb in Egypt and are among the most ancient tools of operative Masonry ever discovered.
We also use the 3 elements of corn, wine and oil to dedicate the cornerstone. These have been used in dedications of buildings since the time of ancient Rome. Corn represents nourishment and plenty, wine represents refreshment and oil represents joy, peace, healing, and comfort.
It is customary in operative Masonry that the first stone of the building should be laid in the Northeast corner. The cornerstone, which is to Freemasons, a symbol of morality, is placed between the North, which Freemasons consider a place of darkness and the East, which Freemasons consider the place of Light. It symbolizes man’s progress from Darkness to Light, from Ignorance to Knowledge.
The cornerstone is the symbol and embodiment of all that is Perfect in Form, Alignment and Character.
Until the development of steel-frame construction in the 20th Century, most buildings were erected by stacking stone on stone. Each part of the building was marked by ceremonies. The foundation stone was the first stone placed underground at the beginning of the building’s foundation. The cornerstone was the first stone placed above ground level - it is a massive stone, marking the northeast corner of the building. At the top of the building was the capstone.
When Freemasons level cornerstone’s they are performing a ceremony that is more than 300 years old.
The earliest record of an official Masonic ceremony, for a public building, was the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland.
References to cornerstone ceremonies are found in the Bible in both the Old and the New Testament, which further indicates their antiquity from a historical perspective. However, cornerstone ceremonies today are normally symbolic and rarely involve the setting of the massive blocks of granite of yesteryear.
American Freemasons have been leveling cornerstones since 1734 when Grand Master Benjamin Franklin presided at the ceremonies for Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Nearly 60 years later, George Washington, who was the Grand Master of Masons in Maryland, leveled the cornerstone of the United States Capitol building on September 18, 1793.
The first Masonic cornerstone in Texas, was leveled on February 3, 1838, when Reverend Lyttleton Fowler, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Texas, presided over ceremonies at the first Protestant Church built west of the Sabine River in San Augustine Texas. In 1885, Z.E. Coombes, Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Texas, leveled the cornerstone of the magnificent State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. In 1994, Billy W. Tinsley, Grand Master of Masons in Texas, leveled the cornerstone on the extension to the same State Capitol building.
More than 115 Texas courthouses, hundreds of public schools, hundreds of City & County buildings (Fire Stations, Police Stations, City Hall’s, Courthouses, etc.) and numerous places of worship have cornerstones that were leveled by Freemasons.
It is a time-honored ceremony that Mason’s perform for their community.
After closing the ceremony, everyone that attended was welcomed back to the Rainbow Lodge #735 where lunch was provided by its members.
RW Deputy Grand Master Raborn Reader stated, “This was one of the most well attended and well-organized cornerstone ceremonies that I’ve attended. It was an honor for the Grand Lodge of Texas to come to Newton. We appreciate the public for attending to support the school and the ceremony.” DGM Reader also stated that he would be honored to conduct cornerstone leveling ceremonies at new buildings of government and public facilities in Newton on request.
Written and illustrated by Shannon Ponthier, Junior Deacon of Rainbow #735.
