Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-05-09
THE CRY
n. a PUBLISHING HOUSE.
The Cornerstone Of the New Build
ing Laid Yesterday.


The Ceremonies.
A very large number of persons gather ed
yesterday morning on the cleared porti on
Of the site Of the old M. E. Publishing House
to WitDess the ceremonies incident to lay
Ing the cornerstone of the new edifce.
The windows Of the buildings all about the
scene of the exercises were Gowded
with spectators, and, in addition,
others took up position on the house
tops. Only a part of the spectators
on the ground could obtain seats, they
were so numerous, although it was thought
that ample accommodation had been pro-
vided in this respect. A canopy shielded
the choir, who occupied a central position.
The Bishops and other clergy were located
on covered platform close to the site OF
the cornerstone. The spectators were ex-
posed to the gun, except few who came
provided with umbrellas. A hymn was
first read by Bishop Marvin:
''Father, into Thy hands alone
have my all restored"
Bishop Kavanaugh made an impressive
prayer.
Bishop Keener read the second hymn:
"Bebold the sure foundation-stone
Which God in Zion lays, Ea
u To build our heavenly hopes upon, g.
And his eternal praise"
Appropriate sentences from the Scriptures
were read by Bishop Doggett, after which
the following were deposited in the usual
manner: -
A copy of the Bible.
Hymn Book and Discipline.
e eI,A aH E1,n
Methodist Episcopal Church South"
Friendly Talks on Church Union"
All the newspapers of the church, and
the secular papers of the city of the Sth in
slant, and other documents.
Quarterly Reviews of the NJ. E. Church
South, North and in England.
Names of the subscribers to the new
| building of the Publishing House.
Names of Bishops.
Names of Book Agents and Editors of the
Publishing House; and of all its employees.
Miscellaneous books.
In laying the cornerstone Bishop Paine
said 'tWe lay this cornerstone of the
house to be built for the dissemination of
Christian literature, and to be known as the
Publishing House of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church South, in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost" Voices Amen.
ADDRESS OF BISHOP PIERCE.
Bishop Pierce then said: Christian
Friends-I am not only hoarse, but l am in
other respects, too unwen to fill my part of
the programme of the present service. But
rather than subject another to the annoy
ance and embarrassment of sudden call
| to take my. place, | will try and stand in
my lot for few moments.
The heavens before us, all radiant with
sunshine, are not brighter than the pros
poets of Southern Methodism on this aus
pieious occasion. Christian Hope leans
over her in the light Of hallowed prophecy,
and the shadows of the past but constitute
q background from which stand out the
holder relief Of Assurance and Encourage
| ment which cheer her on to future and
more glorious trfumphs. The Publishing
House may well say it is good for me that
l have been afflicted. (Sensation.) And
| although she has no reason to quote in ap-
| plication to herself the remaining clause of
the text, ''though before I was afflicted I
went astray," yet she may add: 81
have been embarrassed with the
burthen of debt entailed upon me by the
distress of war. have been embarrassed
by the division of the public mind on the
question of my location. have been en-
barrassed by an ill-shapen, inconyenient,
unattractive habitation. But misfortune
has rallied around me the sympathies of
the country. The generous response OF
the church and her friends have not only
repaired my losses but endowed me with
capacity for enlargement, improvement,
/ Al, l..
The question Of location has been settled
beyond the possible contingencies of the
future, and now lay the cornerstone OIL
the structure which is to loom in grandeur
and glory, polished after the similtude of a
palace; and glad am to escape from the
ashes and debris of that place where
have been GRO Wded (confned) and well nigh
smothered."
The history of this Concern, as it was
but illustrates another fact in the history Of
most people, and especially of the good
Apparent evils are but blessings in disguise
and Clouds-which deepen and darken
along the sky and cast on US their ominou:
shadows, are yet rich in mercies and break
in blessings on our heads. 1t is consoline
thought that no evil spirit has anything tC
do with the government of the world. Il
is ruled by the God of Love. Voice
"Amen."] Our sharpest pangs, our sever
est anguish, our most dreadful calamitie:
are not the infection of malignant prin
ciple; of an unsympathizing mind. No
are they blown upon us by the winds O.
chance, nor borne down by the torrent of al
unintelligent destiny, but they are meteC
out by infinite wisdom and infinite love,
without which not 8 sparrow falleth to the
ground nor a single hair from the hair Of
man. know it is the practice in some
quarters to ignore Methodism-its exis
tence, its progress, its influence, its power
Persecution cast her out in the days of hel
infancy. Ignorance and prejudice anC
jealousy have slandered and reproached he
all along. But she has survived it all anI
prospered in spite of all. (Voice-"Tha
is good.") T ithful to her mission, she ha!
outlivsd the rancor of her enemies. Faith
full to her calling in the future she will ye
command the homage aud admiration O
the world. Indeed a great revolution il
going on in the minds of Europe and Am
erica. The name of our immortal founde
is emerging in brightness and glory, from
the mystery of his own time; and tn
shadows that fingered around it are dis
solving in the light of the new revelation
and the time will come when the world vii
subscribe to him the sentiment that she i
without parallel in the annals of man
kind" (Voice-"Amen.") know tina
reproach is sometimes cast upon US as
people. The changes have been rung upol
this till some of Methodism's oldest friend
are disposed to admit that she is behind tn,
times; recreant to her duty and destiny ant
losing her prestige in the world. Methodisn
has always been the friend and patron ant
ally of education and knowledge, and L TAX
it on me to say, to-day, that there is NJ
church, no organization, which has contrib
uted more to the general intelligence of tn
American people than Methodism through
her instrumentalities and her institutions
We have always believed in the sentimen
| tbaF n faSfa fo,. YalioioTe kpouladoa vyoq al