Historian - July 2007

In a great and devastating fire on Christmas Eve, 1806, St. John’s Church in Portsmouth was burned to the ground. It didn’t take long for that faithful Parish to make the decision to rebuild and soon after, in the name of God and with the help of many supporters including St. John’s Lodge and the NH Masonic Fraternity, construction of a great new sanctuary on Chapel Street was begun.

It was the Spring of 1807, scarcely five months after the terrific loss, and Thomas Thompson, a longtime active member of the Church, was making plans for a great ceremony that would mark the beginning of the reconstruction project. A master builder, merchant, and sea captain, Thompson was an immensely important figure in Portsmouth and throughout the State. In his position as the 4th Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, Brother Thompson sent an invitation to St. John’s Lodge that was read by our Worshipful Master Benjamin Brierly at the stated meeting in June 1807. The minutes of the Lodge, which are all safely kept in a climate controlled vault in the Temple, recorded the following: “At the very polite invitation of the Most Worshipful Thomas Thompson, Grand Master of Masons, to walk in procession and assist in the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of St. John’s Church.” The ceremony was planned for St. John’s Day – June 24, 1807. The records go on to indicate an action by the Lodge: “Voted that a sum not to exceed twenty dollars be appropriated for the purpose of purchasing a set of coins and medals to be deposited under the cornerstone of St. John’s Church.”

The June 27, 1807 edition of The Portsmouth Observer recorded an account of the ceremony which is paraphrased as follows: The cornerstone was, on Wednesday last laid in ample form, by the Most Worshipful Thomas Thompson, Esq. Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire, assisted by many Brethren of the Order, who assembled at the Lodge Room and formed a procession, in which they were joined by many other gentlemen of the State. The procession moved soon after 11 o’clock in the following order – Washington Lodge, St. John’s Lodge, Band of Music, [a number of Church supporters, state and local officials, military officers and clergymen], Grand Lodge, the Governor and his Aids immediately proceeding the Grand Master. The newspaper article continued with a description of the scene: a temporary floor laid over the foundation, enclosed with a railing, and an arch was erected which was ornamented with civic and Masonic decorations. The Most Worshipful Grand Master took his seat at high 12. The ceremony commenced with an ode, after which the Grand Master, assisted by the craft, proceeded to lay the cornerstone in ample form, under which were deposited coins of the United States, medals of the Illustrious Washington, and a plate with the following inscription:

A.D. 1732

Queens Chapel was built on this spot.

A.D. 1791

It received the name of St. John’s Church by act of incorporation.

December 24, 1806

It was burned to the ground.

June 24, 1807 – A.L. ICC,DCCCVII

This corner stone was laid in ample form by Thomas Thompson, Esq.

Grand Master of Masons in New Hampshire

duly assisted by the Grand Lodge, and St. Johns Lodge No. 1

and honored by the presence of

John Langdon, Esq. Governor of the State

and the principal Citizens of Portsmouth.

XXXIst Year of the Independence of the U.S. of America

Thomas Jefferson, President

On the plate’s reverse were these words: With medals and coin were presented by St. John’s Lodge No. 1, Portsmouth, N.H.

There’s more to the story. Part II will appear next month! See you then.

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