September 18, 2014 (Thursday)
On this date, Sept 18, 1793, two hundred twenty-one years ago, George Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol Building, still under construction at the time. There was no center section yet. Only the Building housing the Senate and the building that housed the House of Representatives were visible on the site, still more or less in the wilderness. It was a humdinger of a ceremony, with George Washington dressed, as always, in his near-regal suit, participating in a Masonic ceremony for the occasion. First he laid down an ornately-engraved silver plate, then the big cornerstone. No cameras available, but the scene became the subject for paintings of many artists of the day.
Fast forward 100 years. It is 1893. We wanted to have a big celebration for the Centennial of the Capitol building’s cornerstone. What’s that? It can’t be found? No kidding. It could not be found. But somehow the days passed and it was no longer on the minds of people. Another 100 years went by,and suddenly it was 1993. Would you believe we went through the same routine again? Where’s the cornerstone? We looked and looked, and by this time had technological gadgets that are foolproof. Surely it will be found. But no, it never was found.
A little postscript. Although not much was said about it, there was also a cornerstone laid by the Masons at the White House (not called that for another 100+ years). Guess what?
That one can’t be found, either. Strange.
Well, cheer up. We Christians have a Cornerstone that cannot be lost or forgotten. Here is what the Bible says: “..you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22 NIV).
