On Saturday, January 26th, the City of Panora along with officers from the Grand Lodge of Iowa, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons will be putting on a Cornerstone Laying Ceremony for the new Panora City Hall building.
The ceremony will be at Veterans Memorial Auditorium and members of the Grand Lodge will have a dedication ceremony as well as the presentation of the engraved stone to the City of Panora. While the stone was purchased by the Grand Lodge of Iowa, it is the City of Panora that will is funding the installation.
Panora Masonic Lodge No. 121 secretary Richard Ellis explains that while the ceremony will take place tomorrow, the cutting of the cornerstone will occur later in the year when the weather is warmer. Ellis notes that there were several Founding Fathers that were Masons, including George Washington, and that Washington D.C. is full of Masonic symbols, and that’s a strong tie to the nation for a community like Panora.
The ceremony begins at 1 PM and Ellis notes that it is open to the public and strongly encourages the local community to come out and attend the ceremony.