The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-07
| motion, the board then adjourned.
" GROOMING OF THE ROOF
Interesting Exercises Mt the New Ger
man Lutheran Church-Addresses Of
General Wugener, Rev. Mr.. Muller
and Mr.. DevercuI.


General wagener, Rev. Mr.. Muller
and Mr.. DevercuI.
Tho interesting ceremony Of crowning the
gable rafter of the roof OF the new German Lu-
theran Church, on King street, took plaoe at 3
O'Clock yesterday afternoon.
The church is, OF course, yet uncompleted, but
the exercises were conducted within its walls,
inside OF which, at the hour designated, about
three or four hundred persons assembled From
the steepIe nuttcred several German nags, and
the doorway was arched over with flowers and
everyreens, and wreaths and other decorations
were tastily arranged about the chancel.
PRESENTATION OF THE CROWN.
Promptly at O'Clock number OF young ladies'
presented q crown-wreath to Rev. Mr. Muller,
the pastor, who presented 1t to Mr.. John 81. Deve-
reuX, the architect, with the following remarks:
Mr.. Architect-In the name OF the Building
Committee OF this new German Lutheran Cnurca,
present TO you this wreath to adorn Herewith the
highest point OF the gable rafter OF this building
This crown OF flowers is woven oy the lalr aanos
of ladies' who work Nntired for the completion OF
this church. and borne by my catechumens, who
If God permits will in future initiate the example
OF their mothers. There Is an old custom IN tne
German Father!and to adorn the gable ralter
when the roof Of building Is erected. Tnls sig
nifIes as far as understand it. the JOY OF tile
workmen that the most difficult part OF their
work has been completed, and their hopes for the
speedy completion Of the whole building.
Mr.. Architect, allow me to express TO you AZ
this opportanity In behalf Of the Building Com
mittee OF the church edl1ce, their sincere ae-
Inowledgement OF the faithful and artistic exc
cution OF your plans, and OF the friendly relatonS
thai exist between yourself anu saiu conms.ee, e.
thI5 present
you this day. soon be superseded by more lasi-
ing one, the sign OF salvation on the highest point
OF the steeple, and may still more lovely crowns
than these soon be woven In this mouse OF God
by the worshipping congregation.
To the artist that shaped and completed TINS
temple OF the trune God, 1t will ever be glorl-
Gus monument Of his Skill, anu crown TO MS
merits.
Nr. Devereux then hoisted the crown to the
gable rafter, saying:
Reverend Sir-In accepting this beautiful
wreath from YOU allow me to say to you, sir. that
among all men and In all times, the progress OF
religion has been characterized BY the advance o!
civilization. No greater proof OF the progress OF
a people can be exhibited than by the grandeur
and nlagniuccnce OF their temples dedicated TO
the worship OF Almighty God. Whether we looS
with wonder at the vaulted ceilings and lofty
dome OF Strassburg, that magnincens Tempe PIE VI
your own creation, or at the more distant beau.
ties Of Solomon's Temple, they all point win an
nnerrinr finger to the immortal imprint
upon the soul OF man OF that Gou-llke
essence which so llEens him 70 ms haker,
in the will and power to create, and oneT as the
work OF his hands this tribute to. his creator
What Is too good or too grand for man TO ofler TO
God Had he the wealth OF the ocean, could ne
raise this temple OF gold and stud IL with din.
monts he could not pay for one drop or that
precious blood shed for US IN the Passion OF Our
Lord in the Garden OF Gethsemane. spring, yer,
nal spring, ne join our voice TO your tones III
tnra N h0nQr
GENERAL wAGENERs ADDnEss.
After this, General Wagener, the orator OF the
occasion, delivered the following able and inter-
esting address:
Ladies and Genuen,en-Tou have been greeted
with music and song with garlands anu reloic-
ing. What may he the meaning OF our exceeding
great happiness Of this luoilant ucmonstratlon;
Behold we have crowned our work anu the L0rd
has blessed US, that but one SOLITARY aeG.ae,s uaS
clouded the recullections of more than years
arduous e1ertions. The German, when he departs
from the home Of his fathers for the land OF the
stranger carries with him and nourlShes the
memories OF the mild and beautiful manners OF
his people: whatever is most excellent Is most
dear 10 him, and he endeaTors 10 perpetaaie anu
preserve 1t In the dwelling place OF ms chiluIen
and descendants. You are glad OF his INDUSTRY
and frugalisy, OF his love OF law and order, ana
OF his honest devotion to the land OF MS adop,
ton. Are yOu not glad also oil his melodies ana
harmony, OF his smiles and MS mowers; inen
greet him to-day with kindness, ana pear
With his eXultant shout, for to-day he mas
planted another seed OF his fatherland:;
Shall tell you the meaning OF these peculiar und
impressive ceremonies? Then traVei WIN Ine
into the vista OF the past and imagine yourseil
in world of thousand years ago. IL was tneh
that the German was forced, by his great EN-
peror Charles, to opea his heart TO the new uis'
persaton. He had adhered with iron tenaclty 70
his to ns hs sR Was very
dear to him. for il was reflex OF bis own Ger
man character, mild and mercllul, almost as tne
beautiful sentiment OF the Saviour. Like MN,
the German called his Heavenly Master, "Goden
Cott,r uhc good y and prayed TO him as bis "All-
ya.r, ~ universal Father!l Our great historian
tells us "that the religious worship ol the Ger
mans was closely associated with nature. |. was
a veneration Of her great powers ana phehomena.
They considered it at variance with the dignity
of tile Divinity 10 cuclose Him within walls. or 10
conceive and represent Him In human snape.
They built no temples. but they censecratcd 10
and woods, OF which nature had lormeu
the pillars, and whose canopy was tne
Infinite Heaven ITSELF" And when at last the
German embraced Christianity, he carried inc
memory of his domes OF oak into his new temple
and the TeutOnic order Of architecture, which Is
eXemplifed IL the sacred ediice before you, IS
symbol In its arches aud points anu COMBINE.
tions OF the great forest which the German loVed
SO well. Thc miaster Of Strassburg, with its
tower OF o35 steps, 5e4 feet high, the hlghesL III
the world, was the first pure Teutonic House OF
Col. The cornerstone was laid in the year loiS,
and the steeple was painted In 1880 that An
Years were consumed in the entire construction.
mention these particulars, because IL WAS mere
that this days festival had its origin inc build
ers were an association, bound together oy feil-
rloA, solemn obligations, honor and dlsclpllne,
and were beloved by the people OF oil classes.
SO that whenever an important pertlon OF
their work had been finished, the youths and
u,aidens OF the district would flock around them
with garlandS and gifts, and crown their success
with festivities and the dance. Other parts OF
Germany, where other great works were after
wards In process OF erection, as for instance, the
great ministers OF Vienna and Um ana the yet
greater domes or Cologne, Majdeburg, spires anu
Freiburg, also adopted this manner OF testllylng
their satisfaction. and thus 1t has contlnued 10
our day, with some slight differences IN manner
| and mole, the custom 10 crown the "Richtung
or ..framng" even OF inferior buildings, with the
| garlands of JOY and hospitality.
On the day when the frame IS secured ana tne
| external proportions are permanently dete
| mincd the proprietor with his family ana ms
friends and neighborS, all In their FESTIVE sulls
with music and flowers, proceeds 10 Inc new eul'
dee and is there greeted by the workmen IN lhelr
| Sunday attire. The senior craftsmen now al
yancrs with the square and compass. which nc
| presents TO the master, and requests MN 10 eN
! anime carefully whether the work has been wei
and faithfully dune. The master will express llis
| satisfaction and make donation tU the craft
sometimes OF costly gifts The mistress VIII DS
| there with her escort OF fair matdenS, ana VIII
| lender to the senior her congratulations anu j
| corOnet OF flowers, which lie will carry up to th'
| neat 10 decorate the accomplished work. From
| The uiddy height he will then pronounce an orr
| tion in praise or tile Lord, OF his masters anu y
| persed over the earth, and he VIII urlnI
hott,a or wine In memory or the 0C