Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-02

LAYING OF CHURCH CORNER STONE IN
LEOMINsTBR. The corner stone of the new
Evangelical (Congregational) church building
in Leominster was laid, with appropriate exer-
cises, yesterday afternoon, beginning at two
O'Clock, in the presence of large gathering.
The exercises, which were under the direction of
Rev. VIM. ]. Bait, pastor of the church, began
with the singing of the anthem by the choir, fol-
lowed by reading of appropriate selections from
scripture by Rev. I. G. Russell, of tho Baptist
church; singing of the hymn beginning,
Builder of mighty worlds on worlds" prayer
by Rev. Horace Parker of Pepperell, former
pastor; hymn, "Christ, our corner stone"
Then followed the address by Rev. Charles H.
Payson, for the last fourteen years distinguished
pastor in New York city, and son of Rev.
Philip PaysOn, who was the first pastor of the
church. Mr.. Bait, in introducing him, made
an interesting allusion to the fact that this
society, after meeting for worship for few
years in private residences, built its first house
of worship in 1924, and settled MIR. Payson's
father as its first pastor in 1925. Mr. Payson
began his address by happy reference to the
associations and scenes connected with his resi-
dence in the town during his childhood and
early youth, and to the noble fathers and
mothers in Israel I'M old Leominster now long
since gone to their rest, whose godlike and
Christian influence did so much to form the
character of the present generation.
He gave many interesting "reminiscences of
former times, and by way of comparison spoke
of New England, the land of his birth, as pre-
senting many striking contrasts in character
with his adopted state and city, and especially
with New York city, where with 400 churches
they had 1000 dram shops He closed by n
happy allusion to the favorable influences of
New England climate and New England Gull
ture and character upon the character of the
country.
Then came the ceremony of laying the corner
stone, which was done under the direction of
James Bennett and VIM. Nj. Rowland, the latter
being chairman of the.building committee of the
church. The contents of the eaden box, about
a foot square, which was deposited in the cavity
prepared for il, were as follows:
Articles of faith and covenant of the church;
list Of members in Nov, 1870; names of officers
and teachers of the Sunday school, D. b. STRAIT
ton, superintendent; catalogue Of the library;
history of the ladies charitable society and other
organizations connected with the church; an
nua reports of state conferences for 1870 and
1871; programme of the days exercises, specif-
cations of church buildings, builders names
&C.; map of Leomuster for 1880; catalogue of
the town library; ID. Wilder lhistory of Leom-
minister; ian American dollar coined in 1872;
photograph of the new house; engraving of the
church burned Feb. 81, 1879, sermon at the
funeral of Rev, Thomas Gardner, the second
minister of Leomnster who died In 1914, aged
seventy.nine, by Rev. Nathaniel Thayer,
ID. d., for ffty-two years a settled min
lister in Leominster; sermon by Rev. Eli
Fay at the funeral of Captain II. Z. .lor-
gensen, killed at Gettysburg in 1858 sermon by
Rev. Nathaniel Hall at the ordination OF Rev.
Hiram Wilmington, 1915; sermon by Rev. o.
Graves Hubbard after the repairing Of the late
building. about Is years ago; temperance adj
dress by Rev. Abel Conant in 1888; address by
d. Wilder and poem by Dea, Abel G. Wilder at
the dedication of the town hall, some ten years
ago. centennial address by Rev Il. p Stebbius,
ID. d., in 1913; blank diploma Gu which are
names OF all the graduates of the high school:
reports OF the state board of health and educa.
ton for 1879; town officers and town reports for
present year; photographs of present and some
Of former pastors Of the church; copies of the
Congregaionalist, Fltchburg Sentinel, Roll Call.
Boston Journal and Worcester Spy; ana various
other documents containing local statistics i'm
reference to Leicester.
The following hymn, written for the occasion
BY James Bennett, Esq, was then sung to the
tune Of Old Hundred: