The Newtown bee., 1902-06-27

and teaching. And while Free Mason
ry is not religious institution. a
such, in the same sense in which tn
Church is, and while it seeks primaril
to promote and cherish the social an,
moral virtues and universal brother
hood of mankind, rather than to teacl
and defend the Holy Scriptu res
or maintain the church of God. still
we can rejoice in the fact that we ar,
"oullt upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus
himself being the chief corner stone. ,
Let US reflect for moment what the
corner stone is and what it symbolizes
In operative masonry it lies at the
corner of two walls and unites them
SO as to bind the structure together in
one. 1t is the stone laid at one corner
OF the foundation Of the edifce as the
starting point of the building. In the
case OF church, or some other noble
structure for public use, it is the
foundation stone which is made to
signify the spirit and purpose of the
building and is placed with ritual
ceremonies and formal literary exer-
c'ses, and holds within it or beneath
1t, repositories of historical documents.
coins, medals, etc, as characteristic of
the times. In many instances the Ma
sonic ritual is used in the laying of
cornerstones, or as they are sometimes
called, memorial stones. Hence
THE CORNER STONE sYMBoL1zEs THE
IDEAL,
principal, or purpose for which the
structure is to stand-that which is Of
the greatest Importance, and indis-
pensible to the character and attain.
ment OF the end desired, or intended.
The spiritual family of God is repre-
sented under the figure Of holy tenn
pie and Christ Jesus himself is the
chief corner stone. 'Jesus saith unto
them, did We never read in the scrin-
lures, the stone which the builders re-
]ected, the same was made the head
OF the corner, this was from the Lord.
and it is marvellous in our eyes?"
IheSe words are found in the 18th
Psalm, portion of which is supposed
70 have been sung at the dedication Of
The Temple of Solomon, and also at
Inc dedication of the second Temple.
Ihey are quoted as referring to an in
;ldent which may have occurred in
'he construction Of the building. A
certain stone of peculiar form, it is
aid, was passed by, again and again.
L was tried and measured and laid
lslde repeatedly, it was even rejected
IS being of no use; it was regarded as
Mistake by the workmen; until at the
asst when the time had come to fiji it's
'lace the great Master Builder called
or IL and 10! it was the head of the ,
orner!
mat our Lord applied this figure to +
himself in his relations to His own
eople, as being "the Corner stone Of ;
ne one great living temple of the re- q
eemed, whether Jews or Gentiles, is r
st Peter takes up this i
nought in his defence before the i
ulers and elders, as recorded in the a
cts OF the Apostles "A: 11), when he n
eclares: "He is the stone which was n
It at naught of you the builders. T
'hlch was made the head of the cor n
er. And in none other is there saliva u
on "
Again, st Peter in his first epistle is
=: 49,, refers to Christ as "a living
one: rejected indeed of men. but
18th God elect, precious, We also as
wing stones, are built up spiritual
'use, to be holy priesthood, to offer
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to
Cd through Jesus Christ. Because -
is contained in scripture, Behold. 7 " ".
IN Zion chief corner stone, elect. ~
eclous: and he that believeth on a..
i'm shall not be put to shame" ~ y.
And these words are found in the -,
OK OF the prophet Isaiah, (2S: 10y. =.
The symbolism of the corner STONE VI
rich with spiritual suggestions of ~
divine wisdom. In the imagery ~
Oriental speech it stands for a chief -
a prince-the leader and support Of ~
people: and in the Holy Scriptures
notes the Messiah-the Head of the
urch, (which is the blessed COM
~ or all faithful neOnla A,a