Stone Laying Ceremony

Mount Hermon Lodge 118 in 2008, has a Worshipful Master that is also a practical stone mason, Mark Bloomfield.  The side entrance to the Temple was a rather rickety affair of wooden steps and handicap ramp.  The side entrance is also heavily used as it is the access door to the parking lot that the Brothers and visitors use.  So our  Worshipful Master rebuilt the stairs and ramp with brick and mortar to blend and compliment the existing temple.  He included much symbolic Masonic geometry in the design of the brickwork and also carved stones with Masonic symbols that are inset throughout.   Mark designed and carved three special stones for the steps.  Each stone being the emblems of one of the main bodies the utilize the Temple.  Scottish Rite, York Rite and our Blue Lodge.  All three stones were carved from one stone.  A special ceremony was held to place the specially carved three stones for the steps.  All three Masonic bodies, Scottish Rite, York Rite and our own Blue Lodge participated as did many others from Eastern Star, Order of Amaranth, plus community friends and families.

Mark Bloomfield, Mount Hermon Lodge 118, Lodge Master

The three stones that will be laid, still connected.

Bag Piper John Parks played for the ceremony.

Worshipful Master Mark Bloomfield preparing the stones and area.

Worshipful Master Mark Bloomfield holds up the piece of stone that connected the three stones that will be laid.  He uses it as a metaphor of those things that can separate all Masonic bodies from functioning well together, and yet reality is that they are truly one family.

 The pieces that separated the stones are symbolically thrown away as a gesture for future unity and Fraternal Brotherhood.

Master of Mt Hermon Lodge 118, Mark places the stone of Masonry.




AASR Valley of Asheville Personal Representative of the SGIG, James L. Medlin 33^o, places the Scottish Rite stone.

Asheville Chapter #25 Royal Arch Masons, Secretary, Carroll Melton, places the York rite stone.


Candid shots of some of the people at the ceremony: