Corner Stone inlaid at U. S. White House on Oct. 13, 1800

President George Washington, Leader of the Lodge of the Continental Army, assisted by the Grand Master of Maryland Joseph Clark in a Masonic Ritural

Ceremony

At 10:00 a.m. on September 18, President of the United States George Washington and his Masonic entourage crossed the Potomac River to arrive in Federal City (District of Columbia). There, they were joined by an escort consisting of the Alexandria Volunteer Artillery, and members of Masonic lodges from Virginia, Maryland, Georgetown, and Federal City/ They proceeded to the construction grounds approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) away.^[3] At the site of the Capitol, Washington was received by Joseph Clark, the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. A silver plaque, fashioned by Georgetown silversmith Caleb Bentley, was handed to Washington, who stepped into the foundation trench and placed the plaque, whereupon the cornerstone was lowered. The plaque was inscribed with a brief tribute to the “military valor and prudence” of Washington, and dedicated the building in the “first year, of the second term, of the presidency of George Washington … and in the year of Masonry 5,793.”^[1]

Washington, accompanied by three Worshipful Masters carrying sacrifices of corn, wine, and oil, then struck the stone three times with a gavel, as prescribed by Masonic custom. Washington exited the trench to ritual chanting by the assembled Masons and a 15-gun salute (one gun for each U.S. state) from the Alexandria Volunteer Artillery. Clark then delivered a short invocation, after which a 500 pounds (230 kg) ox was slaughtered and roasted.^[1]