The San Francisco call., 1909-10-13
MASONS GATHER AT
SOLEMN CEREMONY
Cornerstone of Scottish Rite
Cathedral Lowered Into Place
Before Big Throng
Uniformed Ranks of Knights
Templar and Consistory
Head Great Parade

With the solemn ceremonies of the
Masonic order the cornerstone of the
new Scottish Rite temple of Free Ma
sonry at the northeast corner of Sutter
street and Van Ness avenue was low
cred into its place yesterday afternoon.
Oscar Lawler, most worshipful grand
master of Masons of California, ce-
mented the block in its position in the
foundation wall of the new building
and presided throughout the exercises
which accompanied the formality.
The Scottish Rite temple is to be a
magnificent four story steel and stone
building, the contract cost of which is
$330,000. There was an immense out
pouring of Masons for the ceremonies
attending the laying of the cornerstone,
and Van Ness avenue was closed to
were in progress.
MASONIC BODIES PARADE
Captain of Police Gleeson had charge
of the police detail, which kept the
streets in the vicinity cleared of traffic
and assisted in the arrangements for
the laying of the stone. The parade
of Masons marched from Golden Gate
commandery hall at Sutter and Steiner
streets after a meeting of the grand
lodge of California held at that place.
The uniformed bodies of knights Tenn
plar and Scottish Rite led the parade
and formed in either side of Van Ness
avenue, while the grand lodge officers
marched between their files to the plat
form erected within the framework of
the new temple.
The cornerstone laying was under the
auspices of the grand lodge of Free
and Accepted Masons of California, and
the parade from Golden Gate hall in
cluded representatives of every Ma
sonic body in the city. The new
temple is to be the home of San Fran
cisco bodies No. /, Ancient. and Ac-
cepted Scottish Rite, which includes the
lodge of perfection and the chapter,
council and consistory. These bodies are
all in line. while the grand lodge was
escorted by the California bodies OF
the Scottish Rite
The trowelN with which the corner
stone was laid was a handsome beaten
silver implement with ivory handle, on
the blade of which was the insignia of
the order and an appropriate inscrip-
ton The trowel was presented to
Grand Master Lawler by W. P. Filmer
in behalf of the Scottish Rite Temple
association. The music incident to the
laying of the cornerstone was given by
the choir of the grand lodge under the
direction of Organist Samuel Mayer.
DEDICATION OF CATHEDRAL
Following the presentation of the
trowel by Filmer. Grand Master Law
Ter led the ritualistic ceremonies. The
orator of the day was Judge Benjamin
+. Bledsoe. grand lecturer Various
officers of the grand lodge assisted in
the placing of the stone and the pour
ing over it of libations of corn, wine
and oil. The dedication of the build
ing itself was as a house, erected to
God, and destined to stand as symbol
of truth, intelligence, honesty and in
tegrity in the pursuit of the highest
ideals of mankind.
In the receptacle placed under the
cornerstone were sealed a roster of
the members of the San Francisco bod
ies of the Ancient and Accepted Scot
tish Rite of Free Masonry, a copy of
the Trestle Board for October, 1903,