Franklin County Board of Commissioners Deny Second Stone Request

For the second time, Franklin County commissioners have said no to a request by the Lavonia chapter of the Masons to install a cornerstone on the new EMS building now under construction on Gerrard Road in the Lavonia Industrial Park.

The initial request came at a work session in February and was voted down by the board.

At that time, commissioner Clint Harper said he was concerned that a Masonic cornerstone would be seen as political advertising.

Harper said, “A lot of it’s political.  This belongs to Franklin County.  This belongs to the citizens.  They paid for it.  As commissioners, we didn’t have a lot to do with it either way.  I’m against doing this.  It’s advertising.  It’s advertisement for politicians also, and if it does pass, I would like the motion to be amended to where my name did not appear on it.”

And commissioner Bob Franklin said he was worried if the county allowed the Masons to put up a cornerstone with their symbol on it, other groups would want the same thing on other buildings.

Not giving up, the board heard from the District Deputy to the Grand Master of the Masons in Georgia, Steve Wooten, at their work session last week.

Wooten said the cornerstone is not about advertising or making a political statement.

Quoting from their bylaws, Wooten said the cornerstone is placed to remember those who serve their communities.

Wooten said, “It says, ‘Since. . .when requested to do so Masons have laid the cornerstones of public and charitable institutions, monuments, and seats of learning designed to outlast all other materials in the building, so that when that eternal ocean whose waves or years shall have engulfed all who were present at the laying ceremonies, the cornerstone will remain to tell the passer,  by its inscription that there once existed upon that perhaps desolate spot a monument consecrated to some sacred, moral, or benevolent purpose.’”

But at their regular meeting Monday night, commissioner Jeff Jacques noted the Mason’s bylaws also indicate a cornerstone must be requested.

Jacques said, “In looking at the by-laws, I have found over 20 references.  And I’m going to read verbatim.  It says,  ‘In no instances is it proper for Masons to lay a cornerstone of any other than a public or a Masonic edifice and then only by special request from the proper authorities,’ which in this case would be the Board of Commissioners.”

Sheriff Stevie Thomas, who is a member of the Lavonia lodge, noted Monday that while the Lodge had not been solicited by the county, it would still be a good idea to honor those who have served as EMT’s in the city.

Commission chair Thomas Bridges then called for a motion, but the request died again for lack of a motion.