Cornerstone ceremonies are for public buildings and additions to an existing building. They must be a school, place of worship, or public structure such as a national, state, or city public building. The Grand Lodge performs the ceremony of a cornerstone laying.
The building will have to have a cornerstone planned for the building itself. It is normally placed on the face of the building, or front Northwest side of the building. It can also be placed on a flag pole or similar structure near the building.
Local dignitaries such as the Mayor, School Superintendent, Fire Chief, Police Chief, or Sheriff will often be asked to prepare a short speech at the ceremony. They may be assigned places of honor in a procession, but not as actual participants in the ceremonial exercises.
A Cornerstone laying can also be symbolic, in that it is placed on a tripod and the ceremony is performed inside a building outside of weather, and then put in its place by regular stone masons sometime after the ceremony is completed.
A video of a Centennial Cornerstone Ceremony in 2023 is available for George Washington National Memorial.
While the ceremony of laying a cornerstone is distinctly a Grand Lodge ceremony, we are able to contact the Grand Lodge, prepare a time capsule, and coordinate other activities necessary in the process.
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Local Cornerstons
| Year | Date | Town | Building |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1853 | June 24 | Staunton | Lutheran Church |
| 1860 | July | Woodstock | Methodist Church (torn down) |
| 1867 | May 29 | Winchester | Masonic Temple |
| 1869 | September 9 | Edinburg | Methodist Episcopal Church South |
| 1876 | September 14 | Strasburg | Methodist Church |
| 1880 | April 17 | Maurertown | Methodist Church |
| 1880 | May 29 | Tom’s Brook | Methodist Episcopal Church South |
| 1881 | October 18 | Yorktown | Yorktown Victory Monument |
| 1890 | August 21 | Lexington | Methodist Church South |
| 1905 | August 2 | Front Royal | Methodist Episcopal Church South |
| 1905 | August 23 | Woodstock | Methodist Church |
| 1905 | September 9 | Strasburg | Methodist Church |
| 1916 | June | Harrisonburg | Dormitory at the State Normal School |
| 1916 | June 24 | Woodstock | Wesley Chapel M. E. Church South |
| 1923 | November | Alexandria | George Washington Masonic Memorial |
| 1923 | May 14 | Front Royal | Memorial Gateway to Randolph-Macon Academy |
| <1926 | Front Royal | Front Royal Municipal Building | |
| <1926 | Front Royal | Warren County Court House | |
| 1926 | July 14 | Charlottesville | Tubercular Pavilion |
| 1926 | July 29 | Front Royal | Masonic Temple (torn down) |
| 1926 | August 8 | Berryville | Methodist Church South |
| 1927 | September 1 | Front Royal | Randolph-Macon Academy |
| 1932 | April 22 | Luray | Methodist Episcopal Church |
| 1935 | August 17 | Front Royal | Municipal Building opened August 17, 2013 |
| 1988 | Front Royal | Masonic Temple |
Strausburg Methodist Church South
On September 14, 1876, the lodge accepted an invitation from Spurmont Lodge No. 98 to lay a cornerstone at the Methodist Church South in Strasburg.
Methodist Episcopal Church South
August 6, 1905
On August 2, 1905, Grand Master T. N. Davis along with members of Unity Lodge No. 146 laid the corner-stone at the Front Royal Methodist Episcopal Church South with the Grand Master of Masons in Virginia. It was reported that 125 Masons were participating with a large crowd.
Items within the metallic box contained
- Warren Sentinel
- Baltimore South Methodist
- Names of the trustees of the Corporation of Front Royal
- Officers and teachers of Front Royal Graded School
- Church Hymnal
- Book of Discipline
- Names of the subscribers to the building fund
- Name of the Church
- Names of the Pastors
- Trustees
- Building and Finance Committees
- Program for the Cornerstone Laying by Unity Lodge No. 146 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Virginia
- Name of the Grand Master
- Names of the Officers and Members of Unity Lodge
- A ticket to the dinner for visiting brethren
- 50, 25, and 10 cent coins, one penny
The event was well received and the Lodge received and accepted an invitation from Cassia Lodge No. 142 at its next meeting to assist in laying the cornerstone for another Methodist Church to occur on August 23. Which in turn was followed by a similar invitation from Spurmont Lodge No. 98 taking place on September 9.
George W. Wright Memorial Tubercular Pavilion
On July 14, 1926, over 600 masons gathered for an event for the Masonic Relief Foundation. Room 2036 of the George W. Wright Memorial Tubercular Pavilion at the Blue Ridge Sanatorium in Charlottesville was furnished by Brother W. G. Dearing (Past Master 1930) of Unity Lodge No. 146.
Randolph-Macon Academy
Richmond Times-Dispatch
August 28, 1927
As a new Randolph-Macon Academy building of Southern colonial style neared completion, the Lodge had charge of the ceremonies to lay the corner stone on September 1, 1927, in which the building was advertised to be as close to fireproof that was possible. The prior building was destroyed by fire in January 1927. Large crowds were expected.
Town Hall
On August 17, 2013 the Lodge participated in replacing the cornerstone at the Front Royal Town Hall after it was opened to present the contents to the Warren County Historical Society.
Unity Lodge No. 146 
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