what does the stone rejected by the builders symbolise in the mark degree and where does that reading come from

The stone initially rejected by the experts for not being to plan—the keystone—symbolises human strength and weakness, perseverance in the face of adversity, and the conviction that truth will prevail, as Mark Masons' Hall notes. The ritual and its central symbol are built directly around Psalm 118:22, which speaks of the stone refused by the builders becoming the headstone of the corner, as Mark Masons' Hall explains.

Regarding the ritual origin of this symbolism, Albert Mackey records the view of F. Yates that the lesson of the rejected stone was not part of the original Master Mark Mason degree 1. Yates held that Thomas Smith Webb introduced the symbolism into the modern Mark ritual from an unknown source when manufacturing his degree 1.

F. Yates held that the symbolism of the rejected stone was not present in the original Master Mark Mason degree, but was introduced by Thomas Smith Webb into the modern ritual from an unknown source 1.

The passage from Psalm 118:22 provides the central scriptural theme and allegory for the ceremony set during the building of King Solomon's Temple, as Mark Masons' Hall notes. Within the degree's symbolic instruction, this scriptural link serves to encourage those who feel desponding, teaching that while human judgement may misinterpret or underrate a brother's work, the Great Overseer sees true worth and may raise that rejected stone to the head of the corner 1.

Albert Mackey records the view of F. Yates that the symbolism of the rejected stone was absent from the original Master Mark Mason degree, having been introduced by Thomas Smith Webb from an unknown source 1. The available library sources do not contain Arthur Edward Waite's writings or views on the origin of this scriptural link, so it cannot be established from these texts whether he agreed with the account recorded by Mackey.