The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-28
Laying OF the Corner Stone OF the New nIetho-
dist Episcopal School Building on tho Five


Points, on the site of the Old Brewery.
This building has been long contemplated by the
Ladies' Home Missionary Society Of the Methodist
Episcopal church, the members of which have been
DESTROYS of extending the benefits of education to the
children Of the poor in the immediate neighborhood
of the Five Points In accordance with the original
design the building will be Of brick. Of seventyfve
feet front, and forty feet Deep It will be three
stories, beside the basement. The first story will be
made schoolroom, the second will be q chapel. and
the third story will be receptacle for the infrm
poor. The building having been reared, yesterday
was appointed for the conservation and laying of the
corner stone by Bishop James,
Previous to the ceremony, several addresses were
delivered in the temporary school room erected in
the little park, by clergymen who had been invited
to take part in the proceedings. The room was very
much crowded by promiscuous assembage and on
of the Dutch Reformed church. DR.. Potts, OF the
Presbyterian church, Dr. Kenneday OF the Methodist
church, and others.
announced that the proceedings would be opened by
the Rev. Mr. Lucky, the missionary, reading scrip
lures.
After the reading, the Rev. Mr.. MARrTNpALE,
p. E., gave out the hymn at page 234. commencing
Before Jehovah's awful throne,
Ye nations bow with sacred joy,
And know the Lord is God alone
He create, and he destroy
DR.. ScoTT, Of the Dutch Reformed church, of
Newark, gave out prayers, in which he thanked
God for the opportunities which have been afforded
to Christians to extend their holy religion and dis
play the charities inculcated by their Master. He
concluded by hoping that all Christians would ever
keep in remembrance the mercies of Cod who, he
trusted would continue to extend his mercies, and
bless their good efforts for the ameliorati0n Of the
condition of their fellows, and particularly the I'M
fortunate people Of the Five Points.
Bishop JAMES then announced that brief history
of the Ladies' Home Missionary Society Of the Me-
thodist Episcopal Church would be read by the
Rev. Dr.. HoLDIoH, one of the secretaries Of the
American Bible Society, who traced the history OF
the society from the first moment of its starting, and
stated that the 5000 raised at Metropolitan Hal!
lately had been applied TO the rearing Of the build
ing which was that day to be conseciased and IRON
which SO many benefits were expected to be derived.
The money thus raised showed that the public
rightly appreciated the efforts made for the anne
Iteration Of the people of the Five Points. At the
present moment, upwards of one hundred scholars
in daily attendance at the temporary school, and
entertained that many more children would be re-
claimed, and the people generally be instructed in
virtue and religion.
The Rev. DR.. DE WITT rose and said My friends
it gives infinite and great pleasure to witness this
scene, and to be invited to take part in the exer
cises connected with it, l had heard and read Of
the operations now about to result in the rearing Of
the building, Of which the corner stone Is now to be
laid and felt deep interest in its success and pros
perity. had intended to visit this scene but have
been prevented or withheld from it, and am pleased
now to see the deveopement Of those transformations
which are to take place in spot which 80 recently
was the receptacle Of pollution, vice, and misery
When the building Is erected, q new spring shall
open and spread far its cleansing, purifying innu-
ence. We have many buildings erected in differ.
ent parts Of the city, to accommodate the rich and
the higher orders Of society, (and God grant they
may all be entered with the true spirit Of piey) but
have we not been neglecting to give attention
to the multitude, the mass, that is to give q
tone to society," trust that this undertaking may
on him, it will afford an exemplifcation OF the
powers Of the gospel, and stimulate the Christian
church, and prove not only the means of spiritual
good to the class Of the community here presented
but be the element Of revived spirit of faith, and
prayer, and exercise in the church of our Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. And we, as the disciples Of
Christ, having his mind and spirit should have our
eyes and hearts uplifted to his throne and reaching
afterwards to this work Tho gospel reaches to the
lowest depths while it elevates to the Ofestheghts.
1t was so found in the first ages OF the Christian
church; andam0ng the common people who heard the
teachings Of Christ gladly, while rulers believed not
in him, there an influence spreading among the
masses until at length, it reached upward. And
believe there will be deterioration OF religion anon
the higher orders unless it be brought down to the
mass ofthe community. Soft will ever be found. When
there was stagnation and declenson of religion in
Great Britain, John Wesley and others spread it
again among the masses, and there was revival OF
evangelical truths. So with the Moravians, that lit
tie band of laborious and pOus Christians. Now, in
the present instance God has given you tokens of his
favor and his blessings When we look at the cha
racter Of this work, we may well believe in the pro-
violence and good will Of the Almighty. This work
will be a stimulus to effort in other Christian
churches know Of nothing that will melt the heart
Of bigotry so much as Christians coming together on
common ground, to work for Christ. Oh! let, then,
the spirit penetrate deep into the spirit Of the Chris
OH ind hos frnth he hat
humble the sinner and exalt the Saviour, link of
common brotherhood-a link of virtue. We need it in
this time Of prosperity. We need It, and God grant
that it may have the influence OF inspiring us with
holy love. ! will not detan you further. will only
say God speed us in our work Of faith and the labor
of love.
Rev. DR.. POTTs next addressed the meeting. He
sad-"Upon this rock will ! build my church, and
the gates Of hell shall not prevail against it, The
first part OF this text of Scripture reached my ears
as was passing through the street on my way to
tie house this morning; and from the sarcastic ac
cent in which it was uttered, you may guess who 1t
was that uttered it, smile, that looked very much
like sneer, was directed at this temporary house
But. my dear friends, it would be well if we rebut
ted that sarcasm practically, by carrying into effect
the text and perseverng strenuously in the work of
saving souls. ! cannot but he reminded when |
look at these rough boards and to this low patched
roof Of the last occasion it was my privilege to meet
for religious exercises under such roofamOst the
very picture Of the one we are now assembled in;
pitched in region scarcely more dark and more
desolate-scarcely more given over to the evil one
than this. II was among the Choctaw heather In.
dams, who surrounded it on all sides. Christian
philanthropy induced US to go amongst those lost
sheep, and proclaim the word of God, and show
them the spirit OF love. That building was crowded
by far different company to this; for the psalm
sung just now assures me ! am amongst protested
believers in the Christian religion. II was the DESC
late benighted Indians who were collected under
that roof, to be addressed in words of truth. But
The region we now in had az little knowledge of
the light of TRUTH fourteen months ago, as the
Choctaw Indians But with regard to the efforts
made to ameorate the condition Of the poor, am
not Of those who inclined to depreciate the
wealthy class. / am not Of those who think the
only way to proclaim the excellence Of the zeal and
love for the outcast is to make out that there is
lack Of philanthropy the part Of the wealthy. 1t
may be so in individual instances, but not invaria-
bly,; for after all, dear friends, from whence have