Corner Stone Laying
By James McIntyre
The following lines were read at the festival after the stone had been laid by Grand Master Col. Moffat, of a church on the Culloden road, with Masonic honors.
In this quiet spot this day of June,
Which will not be forgotten soon,
For when your little church on hill
You overflowingly did fill,
You then resolved there should arise
Church worthy of your enterprise,
You've laid foundation broad and deep,
And showers of blessings may you reap.
Craft of King Hiram and Saint John
Have come to lay the corner stone,
At the call of our Grand Master
Who was invited by your pastor,
With silver trowel all so fair
He laid foundation on the square,
May you be blessed with Christian love,
And we all meet in Lodge above.
Poem Analysis:
James McIntyre’s Corner Stone Laying is a short, celebratory poem that commemorates the ceremonial laying of a church's cornerstone with Masonic honors. Written in accessible rhyming couplets, the poem reflects the spirit of community, faith, and fraternity. It captures a moment of significance for both the congregation and the local Masonic lodge, elevating the occasion with religious and symbolic meaning.
1. A Celebration of Community and Faith
The poem begins by grounding the event in a specific time and place: “In this quiet spot this day of June, / Which will not be forgotten soon.” McIntyre signals that the day marks an important milestone, not just for the immediate participants, but for the broader legacy of the church and the surrounding community.
He notes that the current church — referred to as the “little church on hill” — was filled to overflowing, prompting a communal decision to build a new, grander church. This reference to growth and shared resolve conveys a sense of collective purpose and faith-driven ambition: “Church worthy of your enterprise.”
The idea of a “foundation broad and deep” implies not only structural stability but also spiritual and moral rootedness. McIntyre closes the stanza with a benediction: “And showers of blessings may you reap,” invoking divine favor on the project and its participants.
2. The Masonic Tradition and Symbolism
The second stanza introduces the Masonic order as an honored participant in the ceremony. McIntyre references “the Craft of King Hiram and Saint John,” invoking both biblical and Masonic figures. King Hiram of Tyre, who supplied materials for Solomon’s Temple, and Saint John (likely referring to the two Saints John — the Baptist and the Evangelist — who are Masonic patrons), anchor the ceremony in both scripture and Masonic tradition.
The presence of the Grand Master, invited by the church’s pastor, represents a meaningful collaboration between religious and fraternal institutions. The act of laying the cornerstone “with silver trowel all so fair” is a symbolic act performed “on the square,” a phrase rich in Masonic meaning. "Square" alludes both to literal measurement and to moral rectitude — a life lived by truth and fairness.
This merging of the sacred and the symbolic elevates the event beyond a mere construction milestone; it becomes a moral and spiritual gesture — a commitment to build not just a church of stone, but a fellowship grounded in love, duty, and virtue.
3. Hope for Eternal Fellowship
The poem ends with a final spiritual hope: “May you be blessed with Christian love, / And we all meet in Lodge above.” This line merges Christian eschatology with Masonic imagery. The “Lodge above” is a poetic metaphor for heaven, where all righteous souls — regardless of earthly role or order — are united. It is both a prayer and a vision of eternal fraternity, suggesting that the work done here on Earth, whether spiritual or communal, carries into the afterlife.
A Moment of Sacred Fellowship
Corner Stone Laying by James McIntyre is a heartfelt tribute to a sacred and communal occasion. Through simple rhymes and sincere tone, the poem honors the convergence of religious devotion and Masonic tradition. It celebrates the act of building not only in physical terms but in spiritual ones, framing the church’s construction as a testament to shared values of faith, brotherhood, and hope.
Ultimately, McIntyre’s poem is less about architectural achievement and more about the lasting bonds between people and the higher ideals they serve. It reminds us that cornerstones are not just material — they are symbolic of unity, purpose, and the foundations of a meaningful life.