Foundation-Stone of New Masonic City Temple Laid

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 79, 24 June 1927, Page 13

Foundation-Stone of New Masonic City Temple Laid

LODGE ARA’S IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

WITH the pouring out of the corn, the wine, and the oil and the ritual of the Masonic craft, the foundationstone of the new temple for the Lodge Ara, No. 348, Irish Constitution, was laid this morning.

AT the Airedale Street site, on A which some of the superstructure of the hall has already been erected, there were assembled members of Ara and others of the city lodges. The ceremony began with the parade of the principals in full regalia. The Worshipful Master of Lodge Ara 344, Mr. J. A. Wamock, then invited the Provincial Grand Master, Mr. C. J. Schnauer, to lay the stone. “The Lodge Ara is the pioneer of Freemasonry in New Zealand,” said Mr. Schnauer in his address to the brethren. It was 47 years ago since the foundation-stone of the Freemasons’ Hall in Princes Street had been laid, and one of Hie brethren, Mr. Powley, had been present. The Grand Master had much pleasure in welcoming Bro. Powley to the present function. Masons were primarily builders. They were enjoined to erect substantial buildings in wood and stone, and to build character by living up to ideals of brotherly love, truth, morality, loyalty and charity. “NOT A RELIGION” They supported law and order, and held allegiance to the King and Government, so that if they followed all the precepts of the Order they should have an unlifting influence on fellowcitizens. “Masonry is not a religion, although our ceremonies are founded on religious rites,” he said. “We believe in the Almighty Being, but we do not support any particular

creed or sect. Masons by the practice of the rules of craft must necessarily be good citizens.” The Provincial Grand Master then called on the Provincial Grand Chaplain, the Rev. A. G. Lee, to ask for the blessing of the Supreme Architect. The reading of the scroll which contains the history of the Ara Lodge was followed by the placing of that document, together with coins of the realm and a newspaper report, in a niche under the foundation-stone. The Junior Grand Warden, Mr. J. E. Birch, and the Senior Grand Warden, Mr. S. C- Coldicutt, on the call of the Grand Master, “tried” the stone in turn, and Mr. Schnauer, having put the level on it himself, pronounced it “tried, true, trusty and square.” With trowel and mallet the Grand Master laid the stone, and the coin from the cornucapia and the wine and oil from goblets were sprinkled on it. The Grand Master declared the stone laid “plumb level and square,” according to the ancient order of the craft. The corn was in token of the wish that blessings might be showered on the people of the Dominion, and the wine and oil that the craft might live in health and strength, that the necessities of life might abound in the world, and that the structure might stand in strength and beauty. The architect, Mr. M. K. Draffin, presented the mallet and trowel to the Provincial Grand Master. The sipging of the Doxology, with the final intonation “So Make It Be,” closed an Impressive ceremony.