The national Republican., 1867-08-23

INTERESTING CEREMoSIEs-LAYINGA A CORNER
| lSroSE.-Yesterday afternoon the grand and i'd:
| teresting ceremonies Of laying the corner stone
Of the First Baptist Church, at the corner Of
Congress and Gay streets, took place. Notwith.
| standing the threatening aspect Of the weather,
hundreds had congregated at the scene long be.
fore 8 O'Clock, and BY ~ p. m, the hour I'm.
nounced for the opening exercises, the streets
In the vicinity, and the grounds upon which the
sacred edifce is to be erected, were literally
packed with ladies and gentlemen, anxious to
witness the grand and unusual spectacle.
About O'Clock the Grand Lodge Of Free and
Accepted Masons, headed by Heads American
Brass Band, followed by the Sunday School chill.
dren and teachers Of the First Baptist church,
and the choir Of Dunbarton street NJ. L. church,
arrived, and took position within the inclosure,
the Masonic order forming around the northeast
corner Of the lot. whore the corner stone was to
be laid.
Tho exercises were opened with prayer by the
Rev. James Nelson, pastor, after which the
| choir Of the Dunbarton Street Church, executed
with fne effect the appropriate hymn, Behold
this, your foundation, which God and Zion lays >
Rev. Mr.. Willis, Of Alexandria, then read
portion of tho scriptures from the Sd chapter ol
| Isaiah, commencing at the llth verse.
At the conclusion Of tho reading, the band per
formed beautiful selection, at tho termin on
Of which Rev. DR.. Gillette, Of the Thirteenth
street DhpLlbt huuTeaseu tue hsbotnDlhke,
lie said the threatening aspect of tho weather
would not permit the services to be prolonged
but tho occasion for which We had assembled
was interesting, for who Is not identified In tho
we'll being Of the country. Many around US
are poor, while again numbers are wealthy
Men are rich by the saving appliances vouch.
safed through the will Of God. Where religion
prevails, the speaker said the schools were most
effective, for the schools and the church go hand
L.. nj xvhan N
community that Is prosperous, We have but to
look q short distance to find the chursh and the
school house. Where the power of truth and
religion Is greatest, the Church Of Christ exists
The citizens Of Georgetown, Of Washington, Of
the United States, and Of the world, are inter
ested in what wo are doing to-day, for If virtue
Is here, so Is the teaching Of Jesus Christ and
what conform to his behosts. The Reverend
Divine, In conclusion, said the occasion was one
Of glory to God and man, and who will not say
"Amen.'
Rev. Mr.. Hewlett, of Calvary Baptist Church,
offered up short prayer, In which he asked the
blessing Of tho Almighty on the members Of the
church, and that God would preserve the struc.
ture through every storm.
The ceremonies Of laying the stone was then
proceeded with. small tin box, containing a
history OF tho church, religious and secular
journals, tho name of the pastor, seal Of the
Grand Lodge Of +. A. NJ, list Of the members,
and specimen Of fractional currency and coin
was placed in the cavity and covered with a
marble stone.
Hon. B. B. French, Grand Master pro tenn.
In the absence of Grand Master Whiting, then
conducted the ceremonies Of the Order as
follows:
Grand Master.-Right worshipfal Junior
Grand Warden, what Is the jewel Of your Office
Junior Grand Warden.-The plumb, Most
Worshipful.
Grand Master-Havo you applied the plumb
to such parts Of this cornerstone as should be
plumb?
Junior Grand warden.-I have, Most wor.
shipful, and the craftsmen have done their duty,
Grand Master.-Right Worshipful Senior
Grand Warden, what Is the jewel Of your office
Senior Grand Wardsn.-The level, Most Wor.
shipful.
to such parts Of this corner stone rs should be
level7
Senior Grand Warden.--I have Most Wor.
shipfu, and the craftsmen have done their duty.
Grand Master.-Right worshipful Deputy
Grand Master, you will now apply the square to
this corner stone and see II 1t Is duly squared.
Deputy Grand Master.-Most Worshipful l
have applied the square to the several parts Of
this corner. stone that should bo square, and the
craftsmen have done their duty.
Grand Master.-As these implements of archi.
lecture in the hands Of tho skillful operative
mason enable him to prepare and adjust the
sundry materials Of which the complete ediice
is composed, SO do they, in the hands Of enlight.
ened and accepted speculative masons teach
them to prepare their minds as living stonos for
that spiritual building that "houso not made
with hands, eternal In the Heavens" The
plumb morally admonishes us to walk uprightly
In all our several stations before God and man
Tho square teaches US to square our actions by
the perfect square of virtue, fulfilling the golden
rule Of doing unto others as we would they
should do unto us" And by the level, we are
reminded that, in the eyes Of Him in whom we
live and move and have our being, We are all
upon perfect equality-all equally near to and
equally distant from llim-and that we are all
travelling upon the level Of time, to "that undis.
covered country from whose bourne no traveller
returns
The Deputy Grand Master then presented to
the Grand Master a vessel containing corn, and
before sprinkling it upon the stone said;
BRETHREN: The corn, wine, and oil which you
carry in your professions, and which are the
oonsecrating elements used on occasions like the
present, are to remind us that in the pilgrimage
Of life We are to impart portion Of our bread
to tho huugry-to sond cup Of our wine to
cheer tho sorrowful, and to pour the healing oil