Photographs of the Shinto Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Yokohama Masonic Temple have been posted.
After almost twenty-four hours of heavy rain, the day of the ceremony dawned cloudy but dry. Brethren arriving a the site found that Seki Komuten, the designated construction company, had erected a large tent and laid plastic sheeting over the muddier parts of the ground.
After ritually washing their hands at the entrance, the Brethren took their seats on the right of the tent. Mr. Seki, president of Seki Komuten, Mr. Sakano, the chief architect, and other representatives of the construction company sat on the left.
At 11 am a priest from the Honmoku Shrine began the ceremony by 'calling down' the Gods. He then proceeded to purify the four quarters by waving paper streamers and scattering white paper petals. The Gods having been invited down and the site having been purified, Mr. Sakano initiated the groundbreaking by cutting a sheaf of grass with a symbolic scythe, giving the traditional triple cry of 'Hey, hey, HEY!'
Bro. Thomas Hodges, reigning Master of Lodge Star in the East No. 640 SC and Secretary and Past Master of Far East Lodge No. 1 JC, took a symbolic wooden hoe and buried it deeply in the ground. Mr. Seki followed using a symbolic shovel.
The assembled Brethren were then called forward by name, each taking a sprig of sacred sakaki from the Shinto priest and laying it on the altar, stem forward. Each Brother then stepped back, bowed twice, clapped twice, and bowed once before returning to his seat.
The Shinto priest brought the ceremony to an end by inviting the Gods to leave the site.
After the ceremony had finished, small flat porcelain saucers were handed out and filled with fresh rice wine. The Shinto priest then led everyone in a toast to the safe and successful completion of the construction work, and the continuing health and prosperity of all present.
The ceremony finished at 11:45 am, the Brethren leaving the site in the capable hands of the builders and looking forward to resumption of their own labors in October.