The New York herald., 1872-10-05
TIE CORNER STONE OF ST. THOMAS CHAPEL.

BROOKLYN, Oct. A, 1872. ii. w. SLOCUM.
THE CORNER STONE OF ST. THOMAS CHAPEL.
Solemn Services Amid the Unfinished
Walls of the Edilce-The Address Of
Bishop Potter.
For some months new ediGce has been building
in East Sixtieth street. between Second and Third
avenues and it now is rapidly approaching COM
pletion. 1t is erected by the congregation OF the
Episcopal Church OF st. Thomas, which Is situated
at the corner of Ffyt tHird street and Fifth avenue,
and has itself been recently remodelled and re-
paired. The cost OF this church was very great,
bnt notwithstanding this fact a fund has been
raised in q remarkably short time for the building
OF chapel in locality where Its need was greatly
felt. The impressive ceremony OF laying Its corner
stone was yesterday performed by Bishop Potter,
assisted by several well known subordinate mem-
bcrs Of the college.
The new chapel is situated on the south
side Of SiXtleth street. The side walls have
been completed but the facade and part Of the
rear elevation are yet to be built. The dimensions
OF the interior are 93 feet OF length by SO feet OF
BREADTH and it VIII be divided into nave with an
electOry and two aisles. Tie material used in the
construction is Philadelphia brick, with trimmings
side Of the principal OF the three entrances, and is
about two feet square, and craven In front is
ana the 0f nsepon in Curious Gothic etters
"ls72.n In the centre Of the stone Is
a rectangular cavity, IN % which was placed
OF the time THE Bible a Book OF Common Prayer
OF the Protestant Episcopal Church, the register OF
Missions for October, 1879, the journal OF the
Eighty-elghth Annual Convention of the diocese Of
New York. tae Journal OF the General Convention
1872 newspapers, religious and secular, containing
notices OF the laying OF the corner stone-viz the
Church Journal the church ana State and the
HERALD; the names of the bishop of the diocese,
OF the rector, assistant ministry, wardens and ves-
officers Of St. Thomas Association for parish work,
of the Architect and Building Committee ana or
the master builders OF the chapel; one silver coin
OF the value Of onehalf shekel the form OF prayer
and praise used on the present occasion; and
finally prayer, the substance OF which IS, 'Our
Lord Jesus Xt. this corner stone, so Thou enable
us to bring forth the headstone thereof with shout
a Gyne cnr e M son
from the adjoining residence OF the Rev. Mr.. Camp
bell in his robes OF ollce, and was accompanied by
plices:-The Revs. Mr.. Woodruff, Mr. Norton, Mr..
Walker, Of Calvary parish; Mr.; Nesbitt, OF Fren-
Of the parish Of the Holy sepacre; Mr.. Cornelius
smith, Of st. James, and Mr.. schneider, Of st.
Marks. The Bishop walked last in the procession,
over the diminished wall Of the edidce, there
and near the corner stone was stationed a
quartet Of voices, who, when the reverend party
hdu Tedcieu tie Spot sang SUN" Ol
service, psalm % In which they joined by the
people. After the usual prayers the Bishop, In a
solemn manner, striking the stone with hammer
with the utterance of each sacred name, said din
the name OF the Father, and of the Son. and OF the
Holy Ghost Amen" The rest OF the ceremony was
the singing OF hymns and the "GlOria in EXcesis I"
with prayer by the Bishop. The last hymn was
sung to the air or "Old Hundredn:-
These walls to Thine honor raise,
Long may they echo In Thy prase
Aud Thou, descending, I'LL the place
With the rich tokens OF Thy grace.
The venerable Bishop then addressed the clergy
and people, expressing his peculiar pleasure i'll
congratulating them upon the event Of the day. II
was Il wonderful thing that every such occasion
as this they took mething which was common q
little portion OF this sinsaned earth, here In this
worldly city so full OF passion, so full OF SIM Of
cularity and OF death-and restored to 1t something
OF heaven by consecrating it to holy purpose.
The enterprise would draw down blessings upon
them. The very service itself told the whole story
He laid the corner stone in the name of Father,
Son and Holy Ghost. SO oil the way
and through lie in this church
the beginning and the end was with gloria Fater
on the lips. Everything that was to be said of
Christ to-day was to be said tomorrow. While
everything changed, the Church changed not.
Her practices were the same which would be found
In the primitive Church; for in all the early ages
there was no other ministry in the world but the
threefOld ministry OF the Episcopal Church.
The ceremony closed with a benediction from the
Bishop and the assemblage then dispersed.