The laying of the Keystone of the Entrance Archway of the New Buildings took place, with full Masonic honours, on Monday, September 24th, 1928, the ceremony being performed by Mr. Charles Keyser, M.A., J.P., F.S.A., P.G.M. Although the laying of foundation stones, including a previous one at the School, had frequently been made the occasion of Masonic ceremonial, this was the first time that a Keystone-laying ceremony had been accorded that honour.

The new wing, now completed, has been erected at the west end of the School playground, and is connected to the main building by an archway bearing the School arms. Faced with flint and stone, in Gothic style, it harmonises with the other School buildings. The plans provide complete accommodation, including classrooms, cloak-rooms, etc., for one hundred and twenty pupils.

The ceremony was one of quiet dignity, which must have impressed deeply the great gathering of parents and friends of the School who occupied all the available space.

On the platform surrounding, and level with, the Keystone, were Mr. C.E. Keyser., Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire; Mr. W.H.Underhill, Deputy Provincial Grand Master; Mr. P. Elton Longmore and Mr. M.G. Chant, Wardens; Canon F. Halsey (Chaplain); Mr. E.J. Blain, Director of Ceremonies; Mr. T.E. Davies, Treasurer; Major James Parsons, Secretary; Mr. Percival C. Blow, Architect; Mr. Hugh Cumberland, Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Bedfordshire; Mr.P.G. Mallory, Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Buckinghamshire (Secretary, Royal Masonic Institution for Boys, Rev.T.T. Blockley. Past Grand Chaplain; Sir Alfred Robins. F.J.I., President of the Board of General Purposes of the Grand Lodge of England; Mr. E.P. Debenham, Past Grand Master, W.M. Old Albanian Lodge (Cleric to the Governors of the School): the Dean of St. Albans, Chairman of the Governors; the Mayor of St. Albans and Major E. Montague Jones (Headmaster).

Members of the O.T.C. formed two lines leading from the entrance gates to the platform, and between those the procession from the Town Hall of St. Albans, consisting of Old Boys of the School, the Mayor of St. Albans (Mr. J.C.H. Lewis) and the Corporation, and the Freemasons, about three hundred in number, entered the School precincts. The brethren formed up two deep in front of the O.T.C., until the Grand Officers had passed to their positions on the platform, and then took their stand around the platform.

In a speech, of which every word could be heard with the aid of the Marconiphone amplifiers, the Provincial Grand Master said:
  
   “All who are assembled to-day, to behold this ceremony, know all of you that we be lawful Masons, true and faithful to the laws of our country and established of old with peace and honour, in most countries, and engaged by solemn obligations to erect magnificent buildings to be serviceable to the brethren and to fear God, the Great Architect of the Universe.

  “We have amongst us, concealed from the eyes of all men, secrets which cannot be divulged; but these secrets are lawful and honourable, and not repugnant to the laws of God on man. They were entrusted, in peace and honour, to Masons of ancient times, and have been faithfully transmitted to us, and it is our duty to convey them, unimpaired, to the latest posterity.

  “Unless our Craft were good and our calling honourable, we should not have lasted for so many centuries, nor should we have been honoured with the patronage of so many illustrious men in all ages, who have ever shown themselves ready to promote our interests, and to defend us against all adversaries.

   “We are here assembled to-day in the presence of you all, to assist in laying, in ancient form, the Keystone of this building, which we pray God may deserve to prosper as a place of education and instruct scholars that they may be a credit to their School and Country until time shall be no more. And as the first duty of Masons in any undertaking is to invoke the blessing of the Great Architect of the Universe on their work, I call upon you to unite with our Acting Provincial Grand Chaplain in an address to the Throne of Grace.”

After prayer by the Chaplain, the hymn “O God, our help in ages past” was sung.

Then followed the ceremony of placing two phials in the cavity of the Keystone by the Provincial Grand Treasurer and Provincial Grand Secretary, respectively, the former announcing: “This phial contains one of each of the current coins of the Realm for the year 1928.” and the latter: “This phial holds a record of the School since 1907, a copy of the plans of the building existing to-day, a copy of The Times, a copy of The Herts Advertiser, a copy of The Albanian, and a copy of The Masonic News for June 2nd, 1928, giving an account of the consecration of the Old Albanian .Lodge.”

The Deputy Grand Master called upon the Secretary to read the inscription on the plate fixed on the porch, which runs as follows

  “The Keystone to the entrance arch of this building was laid on September 24th, 1928, with full Masonic rites, by C.E. Keyser, M.A., J.P., F.S.A., Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire. Percival C. Blow, A.R.I.B.A., Chartered Architect.”

Then, having been presented with a silver trowel by the Architect, the Provincial Grand Master prepared the stone with mortar, and it was lowered by three distinct movements and adjusted by the Architect, assisted by two Fellow Crafts.

There followed the second part of the ceremony. Adjusting the stone on its bed by striking it with a heavy maul, handed to him by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Provincial Grand Master said :— “ With Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice, let our work be completed.”  He proved the bed of the Stone by the plumb-rule, handed to him by the Provincial Grand Junior Warden; proved the base of the stone by the level, handed to him by the Provincial Grand Senior Warden; and proved the bed of the stone by the square, handed to him by the Worshipful Master of the Old Albanian Lodge, announcing on each occasion, respectively :— “I find this stone to be laid plumb. The craftsmen have prepared it true and trust’.” “I find this stone to be set level. The craftsmen have laboured skillfully.” “I find this stone to be set plumb, level, and square, and that the craftsmen have worked well.”

The last part of the ceremony was the most spectacular. Bearers of the vessels containing corn, wine, and oil carried them to the Provincial Grand Master, whilst the Chaplain recited passages from the sacred writings, and then, following the singing of the Brethren, he scattered corn on the stone, “the Emblem of Plenty,” and poured wine, and, afterwards, oil over it, the emblems of “Joy and Gladness “ and “Peace and Charity.”

After prayer by the Chaplain and the singing of the hymn “Now thank we all our God,” the Dean of St. Albans pronounced the benediction.

A vote of thanks to the Provincial Grand Master, for laying the Keystone, was proposed by the Dean of St. Albans, and seconded by the Mayor of St. Albans.
  
Replying to the vote of thanks, the Provincial Grand Master said that the laying of a Keystone was an unique event, and that, as a Mason, he was particularly proud to take a leading part on such an occasion. He also mentioned the tradition that St. Alban was the first English Mason.

The close of the ceremony was signified by the firing of a feu-de-joie by the O.T.C., and the singing of the National Anthem.