The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-21

Laying q eve Corner Stone or 81. Peters
Church, Poughke, Psio, BY Archbashsp
Hughes.
FROM OUR SPECIAL REPoRrER.
Last Tuesday afternoon, OF hall past five o'clock.
the ceremony o! laying the corner stone OF st.
Peters Church Mill street. Poughkeepsie, took place
with the usual ceremonies, in the presence of about
one thousand people.
The ceremonies commenced with reading the
l26th Psalm which was followed by chanting the
50th and seth Psalms.
A PRAYER having been offered up by one of the
olereymen present, his Grace the Archbishop then
took silver trowel ard having in his hand the box
containing sundry records, newspapers, coins, 30,
deposited it in the hollow of the stone, and proceeded
to Law the corner stone of the building in the usual
form.
Archbishop Hughes proceeded to deliver his ser
mon for the occasion lie began by saying tlcy
had first disposed of the prescribed forms Of
the ritual of laying the corner stone of
the house to be erected to the honor and
services Of Almighty God. II was for them an
suspicious occasion-it evidence Of their m
creasing numbers, and was also evidence Of their
increasing zeal and fidelity to their holy religion.
But short time ago or two priests would be SUI
fcent to watch over the entire flock between there
and Albany. 1t was beautiful PROJECT indeed to
erect house for the worship of God overlooking the
noble Hudson. 1t might be to many subec. Of
curiosity 10 understand why it was that so much
ceremony should be used-why a sermon should DC
pTeached-why SO many psalms should be chantcd,
and why the corner stone should be sprinked with
holy water Those things appeared IN the eyes OF those
who did not understand the matter unlntellgible
and superstitious. All these forms have mean
ing. All the chanting and the sermon preached on
the occasion had meaning, not re CARDS the rude
material but for the ends they set apart. He
did Aot to say that the stones were made holy
Tor they were inanimate, but were consscrated to
the services OF Almighty God. There was reason
why those ceremonies were used. When God had
created man in the Garden Of Eden innocence
smiled there; but sin has reduced that beautiful
world to one Of villany and wickedness. The world
before the fall OF Adam was the temple, In which
God the supreme object OF alteration, ana he
(Adani) was the interpreter of his wisdom and
power; but alter he fell from his innocence
the whole temple was polluted, and God, dis
obeyed, inflicted mans guilt the inauimRe
things. The very earth was changed by his decree.
Every day they witne ssed the increasing force OF
Geds decree after tie fall Of Adam. 1t was no mys-
terry why he punished tue world for its wickedness
the only mystery which lie could not solve, and
which never had been solved, was why God permits
sin to remain in the world By the sin of Adam
death to the human race. All things, even mani
mate, were since that time polluted, therefore it be-
the buildings erected for the worship OF the Al
mighty God But although God had cursed the
earth, he still, from his mercy, resolved to save
sinners by sending Messiah to the posterty
of Adam. Hence the promise OF the Messiah pro-
claimed in the sacrii e aud in type. How lmpor
tant it for them 10 remember taat the testimony
Of the truth alone could save them. Thus God had
redeemed man from his fearful and awful condition
by sending a Saviour descended from Adam himself
into the world to Does hot every day orin.
forth some evidence Of the force and duration OF
Gods decree upon the fali Of our first parents
Thus by the sweat Of his brow has TO earn his
bread until he shall return to that dust from gheace
he came. The Greeks lad peculiar belief
about man; they saw him laboring in pain, and jet
could not explain why he was not enjoying himself
He did not suppose that the Almighty God took
pleasure in inficting pain On Mankind. Again, ne
said that it was great mystery why God permitted
sin TO exist but still man would not he free unless he
had tie power TO pay the Almighty homage at bis
pleasure Gods love for us was plainly visible; they
should easily comprehend that in his love and mercy
for Us he took mans image upon him. He could
very easily account for all the plaques to which man
kind were subjectedfor the iamines, wars and sick
ness with which they were visited. There was auo-
Tier reason why the ceremonies should be used at
consecration which was because the building was an
Offering Of the poor, wh.uh made every stone
stone, and because the edce was to be dedicated
to Divine truth. He concluded by earnestly ex-
hoTting them 70 continue in their zeal in the work
that had SO vigorously begun There they would
have their children baptized, and there parties would
be united il the bonds OF holy wedlock. They had
chosen good site for their church. and had every
opportunity to prosper, il they would avoid all that
was evil, and practice all thai was holy aud good
The services having been concluded the assembage
DEPARTED, highly gratified with the ceremonies His
Grace then retired, in company with the other mem
bers Of tie clergy officiating on the occasion.
This building is situated on . high bank, overlook
ing the Hudson river and commanding fine view
OF he surrounding scenery. 1t Is an addition 10 the
church already built The dimensions are fttytwo
fee. front, and seventy.fve feet Deep The building
will be constructed entirely Of brick. and when
nected with the building now standing will form
cross The pastor OF the church is the Rev Mr.
O'Reardon. His congregation numbers about fifteen
hundred Tie expense of building the church will
cost about sc 900.