The Canyon Lake Times - Texas
http://www.timesguardian.com/2007/050207/050207-1.html

Masons set the cornerstone on a great landmark day for Canyon Lake High School

May 2, 2007

by Crystal Gottfried
Staff Writer

The laying of the cornerstone for a public building has been a revered responsibility of Masons since ancient times.

Last Saturday, Canyon Lake Lodge #1425 of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons President Steve Salyer introduced the Grand Masonic Lodge dignitaries who would “dedicate and set” the cornerstone on the new Canyon Lake High School in a ceremony that is as old as civilization itself.

“This is a great landmark day for us,” said Comal Independent School District Trustee Frank Baker. “It is a momentous day for us. The Comal ISD administration has set us up for success in this new school, and we have a great partnership going with the community. We thank you for your support.”

Principal of the new high school, Cheryl Koury, echoed Baker’s thanks.

“We are looking forward to moving into our new school in the next two or three weeks,” she said. “It is sure to be very exciting for us all.”

Acting Grand Master Archie Scott began the “stone leveling” ceremony.

“This ceremony couldn’t be for a better thing that leveling a cornerstone for such a fine building as this,” he said. “When the kids get through this school, they’ll have some wonderful memories.”

Then the masons invoked the “great architect of the universe” to start the symbolic tasks of measuring, plumbing, and leveling the cornerstone that will complete the construction of Canyon Lake’s first high school.

After each task, the mason involved announced, “the craftsmen have done their duty.”

The masons passed around two time capsules among those gathered. Coins, notes, business cards and other mementoes when into the aluminum cylinders that will go into the northeast corner wall right before the engraved cornerstone is cemented into place.

The northeast placement of the cornerstone is also an ancient tradition among masons. The north location stands for darkness while the east location represents light; man’s journey from darkness to light, from ignorance to knowledge through education.

Throughout Texas history, Masons have leveled cornerstones of school, churches, local government building and public buildings.

It is considered a great honor by Masons to perform this service for their communities.

The earliest record of an official Masonic ceremony for a public building was the laying of the Foundation Stone of the New Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Scotland, on August 2, 1738.

When this latest ceremony ended, the masons from the local lodge and the Grand Lodge of Texas were satisfied that the cornerstone was “sound and strong” and the new Canyon Lake High School building “rested upon a firm spiritual and temporal foundation.”

Thus begins a new era for incoming students Canyon Lake High School, and the banner of the CLHS “Hawks” will fly beginning this August.