Freemasons in courthouse ceremony
Clad in ceremonial attire, a group of Freemasons from the Grand Lodge in San Francisco and four local lodges conducted an age-old ceremony Friday.
More than 100 people gathered for the centuries-old cornerstone ceremony at the Sutter County Superior Courthouse in Yuba City.
“This ceremony, the setting of the cornerstone by the Masons, has a long, rich, traditional history that dates back over 400 years,” Sutter County Supervisor Dan Flores said. “The cornerstone, or the first stone, was important to building construction because all the stones would be set in relationship to the first stone, or the cornerstone.”
Over time, the cornerstone ceremony became largely symbolic, but the concept of placing a stone or plaque acknowledging the people who designed and built the structure as well as the year it was complete, is still of value to the community, he said.
“In times past, all the townspeople would gather and they’d get ready for the ceremony – there’d be a parade through the town for the ceremony and then it would culminate in the ceremony,” Flores said. “After the ceremony, they’d go out and celebrate, and from what I’ve heard way late into the night, and since it happens to be St. Patty’s Day, it’d be appropriate to celebrate so we can carry on with that tradition.”
Flores, who is a Mason, addressed the crowd and thanked members of the Grand Lodge, who officiated the ceremony, the four regional Masonic lodges that coordinated the effort and Court Executive Officer Stephanie Hansel.
“I’m pleased that we could work with the Freemasons on the ceremony,” Hansel said. “I understand they don’t do too many of these, and they did a very nice job with the event.”
Grand Lodge of California Grand Marshal John Heisner officiated with help from several other officers from the San Francisco-based state organization, located atop Nob Hill.
Following a prayer, a time capsule was placed below the plaque, which is used in place of a cornerstone for this ceremony.
Other Masons used a square, level and plumb to check the trueness of the plaque and ceremonial cornerstone. Wine and oil were added to a small dish by other members.
Hansel said the exact location of the plaque on the courthouse and when it would be installed has yet to be determined.