The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-13
Laying n Corner Stone


The corner stone of the First Baptist Meet
ing-house, to be erected on the corner of Con-
gress and Wilmot streets, was laid at 4 o'clock
yesterday afternoon, in the presence of a very
large number of spectators. The services were
peculiarly interesting and impressive. aDy, s.s
The order of exercises were announced by
Joseph H. Coffin, ESQ.,, chairman of the Com
mittee of Arrangements, as follows:-.54 --a
Reading of Scriptures and Prayer by the Pastor of
the Church.
Statement OF the History OF the Enterprise by the
Chairman OF the Building Committee.
Laying of the Corner >tOne by the Pastor assisted
by the Building Committee and the Contrac-
Singing select hymn written by Rev. J. R. Scott for
ner Pastor Of tho Church, to the tune Of
! .-Y Dundee" by the audience.
.s.., Address by DR. Smaller.
Singing Of An original hymn by the children OF the
. -. ----.e Sabbath School. ~ E
Speeches by Rev. Mr.. Hart, of Yarmouth, Rev. Mr..
Morrison, of Portland, and others.
? -.-- DoxolOgy. l- G.44= .tal
4 Benedictfon.
The box deposited beneath the Corner Stone
contained the following articles:
AcOpy of the Manual of the First Baptist Church,
tory Of the Church from the beginning the present
time; list Of the names Of the present Pastor and
officers and members Of the Church; names of off,
GERS Of the Sabbath School; paper containing an
extract from tho records of tho Society; sketch OF
tho proceedings OF the Building Committee relative
to tie erection of the Church; communication from
the contractors the mason work to the Chairman
of the Building Committee order OF exercises, with
copy of the hymns sung by the Sabbath SCHOOL, ac-
count of the great cOnfagfatiOn bs John Neal; last
issues of all the daily and weekly newspapers of the
city, first two copies of the Zion Advocate issued at
ter the fire. photographs OF the Pastor and Chairman
of tho Building Committee; several coins contributed
by the Architect and Others The box also contains
several other articles of less Importance but all incl
dental to the occasion. -.... .... ...
H. taf fIA anti
by the chairman of the building committee,
DR.. w. G. Robinson, we select the following
partial description of the edifice =
The order of architecture 10 the Norman
Gothic the front of rubble brown stone with
one on the corner of Wilmot street, ID feet
square, and 80 feet high to the battlement the
other Is feet square and 81 feet high. The side
and rear walls will be of brick, painted and
sanded in imitation of stone, corresponding
with the towers and front. The entire length
of the house, including the chancel, is ITO feet
by s. in width The audience room is about
81 feet wide by 20 feet in depth. Height of
walls of audience room, rs feet, and to the apex
of the arch of the same, 46 feet. Beneath the
IL feet in height, affording ample accommoda-
tiOns for the Sabbath School and evening meet
ings, &c. -sa1 Ell 30 ------- I'll
The architect of the building is Mr.. L. New
comb, whose fine workmanship, seen in many
of the buildings erected here within the past
year, attest his great ability in the profession.
The masonry is to be done by Messrs. Hines &
Ackcn. This is q new firm here, and, so far a.
their work has been completed in the founda-
ton, it is handsome and substantial testi-
mony in their favor. Mr. Acken has recently
come here from New York, bringing from lead
ing architects the highest recommendations as
a most thorough and accomplished mechanic
and reliable gentleman; and we are glad to
welcome such men,. Mr. Hines is well known
in this community, and any special notice of
him il simply superfuous. Mr.. Charles M.
Brainerd has contracted to furnish all the rub
BILE and cut stone, except the granite under
pining, which is prepared by Messrs. Hawkes.
& Wescott The contracts for the other por-
tions of the work have not yet been made. 1t
is hoped that the lecture room will be so far
completed as to be ready for occupany by the
latter part of September. s.L. III ~.
Judging from the elevations and plans pre-
sented by the Arthitect, we think this edifice
will prslsnt the handsomest front of any in
the city. Certainly it will be a great ornament
to that portion of Congress street and to Lin
coin Park, which it fronts. .1l alsea.J 5aT