Here Lies John Renie

[Carmen Elsa Irarragorri Wyland]

Here Lies John Renie

John Renie was a house painter who died at the age of 33. He is believed to have carved his own grave-stone. People were confused when the gravestone was first erected. They could read the words “here,“ “lies,” “John,” and “Renie” but they didn’t understand the reason behind such a complex carving.

170 years after his death, a local tv station brought in an expert who came to the conclusion that it is an acrostic in which “Here lies John Renie” can be read 46,000 different ways.

Some believe this was his way of “tricking” the devil while others believe that Renie, a founding member of the Oddfellows Friendly Society, had created proto-Masonic code.