The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-26
LOCAL MATTERS.

city, for the Masonic Fraternity 1t having been set
apart for celebrating the Festival OF one of their
| virtue are held by them IA bright and shining ex
amples for all brethren OF the mystic tie" In adj
dition to this "testiye OCCASION Loge Franchise
No. 81 had consented to lay the corner stone OF
the new Methodist Church on Union HILL the soern.
nifty OF which is always attractive and imposing TO
| the unnated.
Some few minutes after 10 o'clock the frater-
nifty formed into line at the corner of 9th and Main
streets. and, preceded by the "Cornet Band, -
| marched from there to Union Hill where the new
| church is being erected
| When we reached the hill, notwithstanding the
intensity OF the heat, hundreds of anxious specta.
tors were gathered to witness the laying of the
ner stone OF the new temple of the Most High, and
| despite the scorching rays of old SOL" which
| seemed to descend with unusual severity the hu-
man mass continued to increase until the vacant
space around was literally transformed into great
| sea OF living, moving beings. Old age and youth
the staid matron and the lovely damsel Just bloom
| Ing into womanhood, were there-whiIe the bellies
and beaux Of Church and Union Hills, turned out
| in vast numbers, wearing their most fascinating
smiles, to welcome with warm hearts the scores of
| strangers they were then impatienlv expecting to
| arrive. We were truly gratiied to perceive among
| this crowd, the venerable Patriarch of Metho.
| dism, the Rev. PHILIP COURTNEY whose IONS
| laugh and pious, benevolent countenance always
| make those around him, feel that there is vet one
| christian OF the olden time in our midst. Mr..
Courtney is perhaps of the most active cheer.
full men OF his age in this vicinity and we could but
| remark how cordially he was received by old and
young, as ne passed from group to group, shaking
hands and kindly responding to such questions as
| were propounded to him, as he moved through the
| field OF living beings then surrounded him. Would
| that we had more such men as Philip Courtney to
hold up as guides to the youth of the present dav
AT hall past II O'Clock the music of the band on
| Church Hill, announced the approach OF the pro-
| eesslon, and in a few minutes thereafter the Ma.
sonic Fraternity marched up 25th street and then
west to the place for the new edifce, where plat
form had been erected fort the ministers of thegospe
| and seats prepared for the " Order
CeTenonfes.-After the large assenlblage had be.
| come composed. the Rev. Mr. BoaGs, station
| Preacher at Asbury Chapel, and a member of the
| Masonic Fraternity, arose, and in clear and dis
| tinct voice, commenced the religious service by
reading lesson to be found in the first episte gene
raj OF Peter second chapter and from the 9th to the
10th verses, inclusive
The Rev. j. Fl. DAVIS then read hymn COM
mencing Behold the sure foundations" etc in
which the assemblage joined in singing
Rev PHILLIP COURTNEY offered up prayer
which tor eloqnence and appropriateness, have
never heard equaled on any occasion Every
word the old Minister uttered seemed to have been
| revealed to him as he passed along from subject
TO subject each sentence apparently striking deep
INTO the hearts OF his attentive hearers His toucn-
ing appeals in behalf OF the Church. and of the Ma
sonic Fraternity were sublinely beautiful as well
as poetcal, and created deep impression upon
| the minds OF his audience.
Rev. Mr.. Boggs next introduced Dr. L. NJ LEE
who in his usually bland and felictous STYLE deliv-
cred an address of fifteen minutes length which,
as far as we could hear, an outline history of
the church of God, and its moral effects upon all
communities whenever erected. DR.. l. in refer
ring to the preaching of the gospel on Union HILL
stated that on the 10Th of March, 1885 the Rev
BENZ. X. DUvAL, an able and enthusiastic Metho.
dist called on him and stated his desire to build
new church. DR.. l.. readily seconded the suages-
ton, and at the request of Mr.. Duval, appointed
Board of Trustees to hold the property. In Il very
short time after this Notwithstanding the neighbor
hood was then sparsey settled, the small chapel be
tween 9th and 18th Streets (noW worshipped ia by
the colored people,) was erected. But few years
| had rolled around, when that building was found
too small TO accommodate the congregation and As
bury Chapel was built; and now, that in turn, is to
| be supplanted by another and more substantial ed
edihce, and similar reason. DR.. L., in conclusion
stated, that collection would be taken up to aid
| in erecting the new church, alter which the
| stone would be laid The Masonic Fraternity would
| then march to Asbury Chapel to listen to the adj
| dress OF Col. August
Rev. Mr.. BoGGs then gave list of the articles to
be deposited IN the corner stone of the new Methe
| dist Episcopal Church, South, on Union H June
| 9th, 1854, which is as follows:
short history OF Union Station from its origin
down to the present time. with the names of the
Presiding Elder oiths District, Preacher in charge
Local Preachers, EXhorters, Stewards, Trustees
| Committees, list OF the entire membership, with a
| notice of the Sunday School and number of Scho
| lars.
The members in society and the names of official
Episcopal Church South, in the city of Richmond,
with the autographs of each preacher in charge.
The minutes of the Conferences OF the NJ. f.
Church South, and The reported proceedings OF the
General Conference OF 1854,
Methodist Hymn Book and Discipline.
Copies OF the various newspapers and period
calls published in the city OF Richmond.
Names of the State and City officers
Minutes of the Grand Lodge, and copy OF the
bylaws of Loge Franchise, with list of members
aud whence hailing.
A writing on parchment of the officers of Dove
Lodge, No. 81, for the present year
Names of the contractors for building the new
church-Messrs. ]. Watts and S. Freeman.
Name of the person presenting the corner stone
Mr.. Rogers, marble worker.
Name of the person presenting the box for the
deposits-Mr. A. h Crump. .-.
Every thing being in readiness, Master F. w Ro-
ser, of Loee Francaise now gave the order, and
the Masonic Fraternity moved to the northeast
ner OF the foundation for the new church, where
other ceremonies were to be conducted.
Tie Corner Stone was block of clouded mar
BILE, fifteen inches long, eight deep and ten wide,
with an open space in the centre for the reception
OF the deposit box, eight inches long, five inches
wide ana five inches deep. This as deposited in
its proper place, by Master Roster and his trater-
nal aids, and after being leveled and squared, the
| usual Masonic ceremonies were gone through with
it, which in themselves were truly imposing
The Procession was again formed, and the Ma
| sonic Fraternity preceded by the Cornet Band.
marched to Asbury Chapel to listen to an address
by Col. 7. P. August, late master of Dove Lodge,
No. 81. On reaching the Chapel, which was speed
lily filed with the fair daughters of Church and
Union Hills and the Masonic Fraternity, Col Au
gust escorted to the pulpit by Dr. Dove and the
Rev. Mr.. Boggs. each taking seats by his side.
The audience was then called to order after which
DR.. Dove arose and introduced the orator to the
| assemblage.
Col THos. ?. August, said that the ceremonies
| which had been witnessed were no idle unmean-
| ing pageant, hut were the appropriate ceremonies
paid by the Masonic fraternity Throughout the chris
tan world this day to their iustrious Saint and
patron John the Baptist to whom it was dedicated
who had proclaimed the advent Of the Messiah, and
was the honored instrument of his induction into
F. the priestiy oifice--who from the consecrated
stream of Jordan, had pointed the multitude to the
/ Master and cried, "Behold the lamb of God who
| taketh away the sins oil the world After noticing
the many events in the life OF St John, and his VIC
| lent death in obedience to the promise extorted by
| Herodias from the Petrarch, andt bis fidelity
minister, he said that his character and precepts
formed portion OF the Masonic mystic circle, be-
yond which no person should permit his passions,
prejudices interests to carry him; and that on
this day it well to remind them of the virtues
| Of the oh istian uairon of masonry and TN hold