Alexander Garrett’s Order of Ceremonies for the Central College Cornerstone Laying, [before 6 October 1817]
II. Alexander Garrett’s Order of Ceremonies for the Central College Cornerstone Laying
[before 6 Oct. 1817]
| Ceremoney to be used in laying the corner stone of the Central College | |||
| Martial | |||
| L T Catlett1 | The Brethern will meet in a room up stairs of the Stone house precisely at 10 Oclock on monday the 6th October 1817. |
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| The lodge there opened and the procession formed. |
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| The Martial will call for the brethern in the following order towit |
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| 2. Tylers, with drawn swords | Bros | Fitch & Colclaser. | |
| 1 Tyler with a drawn sword | 〃 | Clif Harris | |
| Entered apprentices | 2 & 2. | ||
| Fellow-crafts | 2 & 2. | ||
| Master Masons | 2 & 2. | ||
| Past | Master Masons | 2 & 2 | |
| Stewards | 2 & 2. | white rods. | |
| Junior Deacons | 2 & 2 | black rods | |
| Senior Deacons | 2 & 2 | black rods. Chiles & Whitehouse | |
| Secretaries | 2 & 2. | Rolls.2 Carr & Garrett | |
| Treasuries | 2 & 2. | ||
| Junior Wardens | 2 & 2. | pillers & Mallets | |
| Senior Wardens | 2 & 2. | pillars & mallets. Lewis & Craven | |
| Visiting Masters of Lodges | 2 & 2. | with Mallets | |
| Substitute,3 Grand Master & Chaplain | abreast. | with the Bible | |
| Visitors of the Central College | 3. & 3. | ||
| Bearers of Corn Wine & oil | abreast | Pitts; Barksdale; & Fretwell, | |
| Orator & aid | 2 & 2. | Southall & Fagg aid | |
| Princepal Architeck | Jno m Perry | ||
| Band of Music | in a line | ||
| Tyler with a drawn sword | Wertenbaker | ||
| Judge Stewart. | |||
| Attornies 2 & 2 | |||
| Visiting Gentlemen 2 & 2 | |||
1st Square} |
On arriveing at the arch erected near the building, the procession will pass under it untill the G, Master shall arrive at the mouth of the arch when the Martial will command Halt: those who have passed the arch will then half face inwards, and open the line leaveing a p[assa]ge of 8 feet. The Grand Master with those in his rear will then march along the line untill he shall arrive at the corner of the building, when they will halt. the Visitors of the Central College will here be conducted by the martial & placed on the right of the Grand Master & Chaplain, in a line two feet distant from the side wall of the building: The bearers of the Corn wine & oil will next march to the left of the substitute and pla[c]e themselves in a line two feet distant from the side wall. The Orator his aid and the Architec will next march to the left & place themselves in front of the Grand Master; The Band of music and Tyler will march up in the rear of the Grand Master & here stand. The Judge and other invited Gentlemen will march up and take their stand in the rear of the Band of music | ||
| 2d Square | The rear lines which remain open all this time so soon as the above square is formed will then face to the right & left outwards. The 2 first4 in the rear will join arms & march thro the line untill they arrive on the rear of the invited Gent, here they will seperate one marching to the right the other to the left placeing themselves on the right and left of the Music.5 the 2d couple will proceed in like manner all takeing care to form a square in the rear of that already formed distant therefrom at least 2 paces | ||
| Martial. | Will then Command Silence in a loud Voice | ||
| Chaplain, | Will then deliver a prayer | ||
| Bro. Fagg. | A masonic Anthem. … Brothers join in chorus only | ||
| G Master | Gent Visitors of the Central College. You have been pleased to grant to the masoni[c] order here present, the high & important previlage of laying the corner stone of this building. Will you if you please further indulge us with your aid & participation on this interesting occasion | ||
| G Master. | May allmighty God without invocation to whom, no work of importance should be begun bless this undertakeing and enable us to carry it on with success—protect this College; the object of which institution, is to instill into the minds of Youth principles of sound knowledge. To inspire them with the love of religion & virtue and prepare them for filling the various situations in society with credit to themselves and benefit to their country | ||
| Sub. & Archt | The Substitute & Principal Architec will now proceed to lay the stone in its bed. | ||
| Substitute. | Will then present the G Master, with the square plumb & level saying Right W. G Master, I present you with these implements used by our [a]ncient fraternity with which you will please proceed to assertain the fitness of this stone. | ||
| G Master. | Placeing himself at the east corner of the stone, Says Gent Visitors of the C:C. will each of you apply this square to this stone & assertain its fitness | ||
| The plumb is next presented in like manner. | |||
| The level is next presented in like manner | |||
| The G Master then will apply them himself in like manner after which will return them to the Substitute | |||
| Substitute. | Then will present to the G Master a mallet. | ||
| G Master. | Will strike the stone 3 times saying, ‘I pronounce this stone well formed true & trusty’6 | ||
| Brethern. | 3 loud huzzas | ||
| Music | Hail Columbia for 57 minutes | ||
| Martial | Will Command Halt. | ||
| B. Pitts | Will then present the vesel of Corn8 to the substitute who will present it to the G Master who will scatter it on the stone | ||
| Bro Barksdale. | Will then present the vesel of wine in like manner. | ||
| Bro. Fretwell | Will next present the vesel of oil in like manner. | ||
| G Master | May the all bountious Author of nature bless the Inhabitants of Virginia and particularly the Guardians of this our infant institution with all the [n]ecessaries, conveniencies and comforts of life: increase their love of knowledge and liberty, Give them energy to prosecute their present undertakeing to the credit of themselves the advancement of our youth and the security of our liberties, Assist in the erection and completion of this building. Protect the workmen against every accident, and long preserve this structure from decay, and give to us all in needed supply, the corn of nourishment the wine of refreshment and the oil of joy Amen. | ||
| [Br]ethern | So mote it be 3 times Amen | ||
| G Master | To the Chaplain “Revd Sir. Have we here the 1st & greatest light of masonry”9 | ||
| Chaplain | It is in my hand Right Worshipfull | ||
| G Master | What instruction does it give on this occasion | ||
| Chaplain. | Thus saith the Lord God, behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone a sure foundation,—Judgment also will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet; for behold the Stone which I have laid before Joshua, upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold I will engrave the engraveing thereof saith the Lord of Hosts, bless Ye the Lord all ye servants of the Lord lift up your hands in the sanctuary and bless the Lord; the Lord that made heaven & earth bless thee10 out of Zion | ||
| Brethern | Grand Honors | ||
| Chaplain | A Prayer.11 | ||
| G Master | Gent Visitors of the C.C: The masonic societies haveing exercised your kind previlage granted them by laying (with your aid) the corner stone of this structure beg leave to offer you their best wishes for its prosperity | ||
| Band | Yankee doodle12 | ||
| Orator | Then conducted to an eminance by his aid, will proceed with his oration [. . .] after which the martial will call for music | ||
| Martial. | Music. when the band will play13 Jeffersons march dureing which the Sword bearers who are on the extreem ends of the rear square will face about and march close in the rear of the squares untill they arrive in the rear of the envited Gentlemen. here they will form the arch with their swords. the Brethern also on the extreem end of the rear square will in like manner face about and march in the rear of the square passing under the swords move on to the mouth of the erected arch where Bro. Harris Tyler will be standing. When this square shall be formed in the line the front Square will then display itself. the G Master faceing about with his Substitute & Chaplain those of that square14 formerly in his rear & now in front will open to the right and left. When the G. Master Substitute & Chaplain w[ill] march forward the Visitors of the C.C will next follow on. The [bearers?] of corn, wine & oil, will next form themselves in the rear of the [. . .] The Orator & aid in the rear of them, the P. Architec next the [. . .] of music next, The Tyler in the rear, then Judge, Attor[nies] [. . .] invited Gentlemen 2 & 2 will form themselves in the rear of the Tyler as before After the line of march is formed the | ||
| Martial | Will command Halt (for a moment) | ||
| Martial | Will then Command music. | ||
| Band. | Madisons march … When the procession shall arrive at the Stone house those in front of the G Master will open to the right & left thro which the G Master & the other brethern in his rear will march into the lodge room, close the Lodge & repair to dinner with the Visitors & invited Gentlemen | ||
MS (ViU: AG); entirely in Garrett’s hand; edges damaged and holes in manuscript; unbracketed ellipses in original; endorsed by Garrett: “Corner Stone of Central College Lay’d the 6th Oct. 1817.”
In Freemasonry, tylers prevent “the uninitiated from intruding upon the secrecy of the lodge or meeting,” master masons are “fully qualified” members who have “passed the third degree,” deacons hold “a particular inferior office in a lodge,” and wardens “assist the Worshipful Master,” the head of a lodge (). may the all bountious author … oil of joy amen closely follows the blessing to be given at a “Ceremony observed at laying the Foundation Stone of Public Structures” in Thomas Smith Webb, The Freemason’s Monitor; or Illustrations of Masonry (new ed., Salem, Mass., 1816; Ezra Lincoln, printer), 109.
In the Bible, thus saith the lord god … righteousness to the plummet is in Isaiah 28.16–7; for behold the stone … saith the lord of hosts is in Zechariah 3.9; and bless ye the lord … bless thee out of zion comes from Psalm 134.
1. Name reworked from “A Dawson.” Here and below, “Martial” is a variant of “Marshal.”
2. Manuscript: “Roles.”
3. Preceding this word Garrett canceled “Catlett.”
4. Preceding four words reworked from erased and illegible phrase, with omitted period at right margin editorially supplied.
5. Word interlined in place of “G Master.”
6. Omitted closing quotation mark editorially supplied.
7. Reworked from “10.”
8. Reworked from “oil.”
9. Omitted closing quotation mark editorially supplied.
10. Manuscript: “the.”
11. Line interlined.
12. Line reworked from “Chaplain A prayer.”
13. Manuscript: “pay.”
14. Preceding three words interlined.
Index Entries
- Barksdale, Nelson; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Bible; Isaiah referenced search
- Bible; mentioned search
- Bible; Psalms referenced search
- Bible; Zechariah referenced search
- Carr, Mr. (Freemason); and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Catlett, Lawrence T.; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Central College; and Freemasons search
- Central College; cornerstone laying search
- Central College Board of Visitors; and cornerstone laying search
- Charlottesville, Va.; Freemasons of search
- Charlottesville Lodge No. 90 (Masonic); and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Chiles, Henry; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Colclaser, Daniel; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- corn; ceremonial use of search
- Craven, John H.; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Dawson, Allen; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Fagg, John; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Fitch, William D.; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Freemasonry; and Central College search
- Fretwell, Mr. (Freemason); and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Garrett, Alexander; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Hail Columbia (song) search
- Harris, Clifton; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Jefferson’s March (song) search
- Lewis, David Jackson; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Madison’s March (song) search
- music; Hail Columbia (song) search
- music; Jefferson’s March (song) search
- music; Madison’s March (song) search
- music; Masonic anthem search
- music; Yankee Doodle (song) search
- oil; ceremonial use of search
- Perry, John M.; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Pitts, Mr. (Freemason); and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Southall, Valentine Wood; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Stone House Tavern (Charlottesville) search
- Stuart, Archibald; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- tools; levels search
- tools; plumbs search
- tools; squares search
- Wertenbaker, William; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Whitehouse, Mr.; and Central College cornerstone laying search
- Widow’s Sons’ Lodge No. 60 (Masonic); and Central College cornerstone laying search
- wine; ceremonial use of search
- Yankee Doodle (song) search