, 1873-05-14
LAIRD COLLIER,S CHURCH.

LNylnE OF the Cornerstone OF tho New
! Church of lilac NIcssinh--Intcrostlna
Addresses - -
Tho cornerstone Of tho Church Of tho Messiah
(Unitarian), now being oreetod at the southoasi
corner of Michigan nvonuo ind Twenty third
etroot was laid yesterday afternoon. Tho cero.
monies incident thoreto were exceedingly inter-
esting. and were Witnessed By about a hundred
uombera of tho congregation and others.
Whom tho largo stone Which ia to occupy such
an important position in tho building was placel
upon its Foundation by tho workmen, tho Rev,
Robert Laird Collier announced tho 237th hymn,
which was sung by tho assembled people. Prayer
was then of1eroa by the same clergyman, follow
cd by the reading OF tho third chapter Of Trst
0orinthlans by tho Row. Mr.. Wontlto.
MED. L. Bhoroy, Il prominent member of tho
Church Of tho Moasiah, thon approached Mr..
Collier, and presented him with handsome sill
vor trowel, In the nnne Of Mesars. Cochrane d
Miller, tho architects Of the building, A1r. sho-
roy said that whom tho society entered into q
contract with thoso gontlemon It nado them tho
| superintendonts Of tho structure. The work 80
far had progressed to tho entire satisfaction Of
| every ono. Having performed tloir dutios, tho
architects did not believe that 1Ir. Colior could
perform his IN tho laying of tho cornerstone
without tho proper inBtr1mont and therefore
they presented tho trowel. They hoped ho
would accopt 1t, and retain it when tho work
would bo over.
Nlr. Collier tondered his thanks for the gift in
briof and suitable tornlB.
The trowol ia inHcribed aa follows: HPro-
sented to Robert Laird ColIior OIL tho occasion Of
laying the corner stone Of tho rew Church OF tue
Ggs,a Msr Rsbfadsfs Gbhfsso May 49, 1873 by coohrane
Mr. Collier placed tho handlo of tho troyyol
upon tho cornerstone, and said {. 1 ,ronouuco
th stono VOL lnid IL tho name Of tho Father, Of
stone, aud said no hoped that all Who woro thon
present would tako part in the detiicatory eor-
vioe no1t October. 1lo had beon much i1nnross-
81 81. BY the ceremony Of laying tho stono.. Every
blue sky, the bright sun, tho grecn earth, aud
, 1h@ rst e q t19 . sssra1
ono Of thankfulnosa that another church % was to
bo added to tho tomples Of God In Chicago.
THOR second thought should DO one Of congratu-
lation TINT tho membors Of tho Church Of the
Messiah, who lad boon wandering about for go
many worry months, would soon iiutl spiritual
homo. I1o trusted that tho ceremony would not
be looked upon lightly, but would DO remember
cd ae an olnblom of tile uolid foundation upon
which their fAith rested,
The Roy. Robert CoIl5cr followed from tho
aamo platform. Ho had read somewhere that
the nexs thing to dotago was a1lccdotnge, and
believed TINT he was drawing toward that portion
anytng without going backward and telling old ID
stories. But III tho faoo of the coronony which
ho had Witnessed ho could not forgot tho old
home that tho First M Unitarian Society, of Chi
cago occupied On & washington street many
hearts gathered bencath it's roof and worked
faithfully for the bolief that was in thom. Tho
result could ho clearly Roon. Tho laying Of tue
cornerstone Of tho Churcl, Of the Messiah
ism and Of tho City OF Chicago. no felt glad aud
proud Of tho fourth founaatlon-stone, for it
aaowod a,sn l., tho !, vitality and grit of those
onsos Of 'habs0 bs h st 'ns 2d4 'Sof' s iS ro
many aociclies Of other denominations had
combined together in ono church building, aud |
practically neapdonod their distinct organiza-
had always folt sure that II they stood up man-
fully by themselves tho four Unitarian churchoa |
would como out bottor for it in tho end. Those !
WHO had passed away since tho laat cornerstone |
that their spirits woro with them in tho. joy Of |
the present oeromony. lie had faith in tho !
Church OF the Messiah, aud in Tho glory OF jtv |
future, il 1t would continue to look atcadtaally
Tho nov. Robert Laird Collier announced that
tho lcaden box deposited beneath the corner
stone contained q full history OF tie First Uni |
tartan Society, list Of tho officers Of the soci-,
grogation Of the Church OF tho Messiah, tho
SECOND volume Of "sunday Bormons," by
Robert Laird Collior, n volume Of s'Day Uuto
uay, copies Of tho Chicago dolly papors, pieces
Of currency aud coin, . copy OF tho Christian
!tegsster, and q copy Of tho Liberal Christian
atone Of the Church Of tho MosaAh, On tic Cor
nor OF Wabaall ayonuo and Hubbard court, had
been laid. That church had boon dedicated on
the 18th OF April 1865, and tho Society hatl wor-
ehtpod in II until the fire. Since tl!on it had
boon worshlping in halls, Md would con-
tinno to do 80 until tho now church waa
dedicated. Ho could not tell tho joy
1e folt when he looked unon iLa IN.
building Of tho walls and tho prospect before
the Church. In common with tic other Uuita-
ria1 churches Of tho city, it had great mission
TO perform i'll labcraliaing the sentiments and
boon done in this respect alroady,-Bo much,
indood,, as to all him with tho Aopo that tho
day will como when 1t will mako no difference
what the ,aonominational name of O preacl,or
who occupios pulpit may bo.
IL. T4e he ceremonies wore closed by tho singing OF