Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-06-12
LAYING the Conner Stone.


Laying the Corner Stone.
We remarked, as going to prcss las.
week, that large Prceessic. can;
~ ssse". the l1..rresting ceremonies flay-
.ng the Corner Stone ofthe New Episcopal
Church. The Procession consisted of tue
Masonic Fraternity, the Order of Odd Fell
lows, and the Sons of Temperance, under
the direction of Col. J. b. Baldwin, Chief
Marshall, and the Masonic MaTshalls, Maj.
J. B. Watts, and E. M. Cushing, Esq
Many strangers attached to these Societies,
were in attendance, and the Procession, en-
liyeped by the Middlebrook Band, was
one of the largest we have seen in Staun-
ton for many years. On entering the head
Of Beverly street, it moved to the site Of
the New Church, where beautiful and
impressive Masonic Ode was sung by the
ORDERS assisted by the ladies'.
The massive and beautifully cut Corner
Stone, presented by Mr.. J. M. Burnett, was
then lowered to its place, under the super
intendence of Prof. Johns, late of n. York,
the Architect Of the Building. The time
honored Masonic Ceremonies were then
performed by Rev. r. II. Phillips, the
Master for the occasion, who, after apply
ing the appropriate working tools, pro-
neuHeed the Stone, 'eWell formed true and
rusty" and pouring over it corn, wine and
oil, the scripture symbols of "pleniy, cheer
lulness aud .iov," laid the Stone in lis place
with the usual ceremonies and grand hon
oFs. After short address by the Master
to the Architect, iii which the latter was
sole.nnly charged to erect an edifice s'con-
renient. appropriate aud tasteful, in keep
ing with the sacred purpose in view, and
an honor 10 his profession" and expressing
the cerdisl wish that rhealtl aad harmony
might attend the Master Builder aud craft,
aiming whom 10 contention should ever
exist, but ihaf noble contentious, or rather
emulation of who can best work OF best a.
gree" the Procession moved to the Church
already we'll flied, except The reserved
seats, with ladies, where, after a beautiful
anthem BY the Choir, the Rt. Rev Bishop
Johns delivered one of the most chaste and
appropriate addresses it has ever been our
privilege to hear on such an occasion. Il
would be vain to attemp, to give synop-
sis of the address, but those who listened
to the eledaen, language in which the good
Bishop described the visit of a stranger to
our Valley and the interesting Institutions
of benevolence and education which would
greet his delighted eye as he first caught
from the hills glimpse of our town, will
never forget his beautiful and just discrimi-
nations, as he traced the origin o. these ell
egant State charities, as well as the noble
Institution of learning, and the Temple OF
Law, to the influence of Christ's religion,
and that hence he might well look to the
towering spires of Gods Temple with a
more absorbing interest than any other
objects. The beautiful and touching de.
sc.iption of the different churches, who
would find comfort and strength in the
sacred ediiice, the coner stone of which
had. Just been laid, was listened to with
breathless attention by the vast concourse,
and in many an eye did the writer see the
gistening tear drop, attesting the power
of the Orators eloquence. We regard
Bishop Johns as one OF the most finished
and graceful orators of the day, and few
can equal HIM in richness aud beauty o
language, purity of style and elcquence o
| manner.
The building will be of brick, 50 Tee
long and 80 feet wide, and will coniair
500 stiffness