History of St. Saviour's,
Nelson, British Columbia
Cornerstone of St. Saviour’s
laid with full Masonic Honours

“Well an truly laid was the cornerstone of St. Saviour’s Church with full Masonic Honours by the Most Worshipful Grand Master D. Wilson, officers and members of Nelson lodge A. F. & A. M.

A special communication of the Grand Lodge of British Columbia, A. F. & A. M., was held in the Masonic hall at Nelson, yesterday afternoon, the most worshipful Bro. D. Wilson of Victoria, grand master presiding.”

About 75 members of the craft were present in the procession presented a very credible appearance; they had come from as far a field as Revelstoke. The route from the lodge room was up Baker Street, thence up Ward Street to the church. As the procession approached the church choir, who were provided with seats on the floor covering the foundation, sang the church hymn, “The church’s one foundation.”

When the procession halted at the church the members uncovered and the grand master and his officers passed through the lines together with the escort to the platform, where the rest of the brethren surrounded the platform, forming a hollow square. The grand marshal then proclaimed silence, after which the vicar of the church, Rev. H. Akehurst, addressed the grand master, requesting him to lay the corner stone of the new edifice. The grand master briefly replied, accepting the work and expressing his best wishes for the success of St. Saviour’s church and parish. The grand chaplain then offered a prayer.

By command of the grand master, the grand treasurer then deposited in the cavity under the stone a casket containing a copy of the Daily Miner of August 12; a copy of the weekly Tribune of August 6; a copy of the Economist of August 10; a short history of the parish and church of St. Saviour’s; a list of church dignitaries of the province; vicar and officers of the church; list of contributors to the new church; copy of the constitution of the grand lodge of British Columbia and proceedings of the grand lodge of 1898 and the circular convening this special communication; the bylaws of the Nelson lodge, and list of officers, also the current coins of Canada.

The most worshipful grand master, assisted by the acting grand lodge officers, then proceeded to lay the cornet stone in due ancient form. The stone, which was a square block of granite, hung on a derrick by ropes, and at a signal from the grand master, was lowered to position by three regular stops, the members of the order giving the grand honours. The superintendent of works then presented the working tools to the grand master, who handed the square to the deputy grand master, the level to the grand senior warden, and the plumb to the junior warden. After the measuring and uses of the working tools had been explained by the grand officers, on command of the grand master the corner stone was tested and was found to be square, level and plumb, and the craftsmen were reported to have faithfully performed their work. The grand master then declared the stone to be well formed, true and trusty, and correctly laid according to the rules of free masonry.

The elements of consecration were then presented. The deputy grand master scattered on the stone a vessel of corn as an emblem of plenty; the senior warden poured over the stone a vessel of wine as an emblem of joy and gladness, and the junior grand warden poured a vessel of oil as an emblem of peace and consolation. As each office was performed the brethren responded: “So mote it be.”

The grand master then delivered the following invocation: “May the all bounteous Author of nature bless the people of this place with an a abundance of the necessaries, conveniences and comforts of life. May He assist in the erection and completion of this undertaking; protect the workmen from accident; long preserve the structure from decay and ruin, and grant unto us and all men an abundant supply of the corn of nourishment, the wine of refreshment, and the oil of joy.”

He then struck the stone three times with the gavel and delivered over to the architect G. D. Curtis the implements of Masonic architecture. An anthem was now sung, after which the grand master addressed the audience explaining the object of the order of Ancint, Free and Accepted Free Masons, and the reasons such ceremonies as that which he performed.

Rev. Mr. Akehurst replied on behalf of the parish of St. Saviour’s thanking the most worshipful grand master and the officers of the grand lodge for laying the corner stone and expressing his best wishes for the prosperity of the noble order of free masonry.

After the benediction by the grand chaplain the procession was reformed and marched back to the lodge room, where the communication of the grand lodge was closed.

According to the Nelson Daily News, August 12, 1998, celebrating 100th anniversary since the corner stone was laid, Jim Smith who has been responsible for collecting the history of St. Saviour’s said he was told first hand by many who witnessed this event. Even though the church was gutted in 1929 by fire, the foundation was not damaged so the items deposited in the granite are still well kept.

Though the corner stone at St. Saviour’s was the first laid in the Kootenay by the Masons, it was not the last. Other corner stones in Nelson include Central School (1908), Kootenay Lake Hospital (1916), Masonic Lodge (1923) and Trafalgar Junior High (1924).