New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-23

10y very appropriate prayer by Rev. !. NJ.
SimnIs. \ piece e music was then sung hy
the choir. aler which The ancient ceremonies
of laying the stone WAS performed in very
impressive manner by the Grand Master, L.
II. Tnpn.rr
Rev. [. l.. Houston, pastor of the Fr,t
Bryan BAPTIST chur, h, then introduced 'hc
Rev. pr. II. VI. Turner. actin, Grand hap
lain Of the Grand Lodge Tor Gcor-ui. : TIE
orator "f the day. Rev. Or. Turner, Oh tax
ins the stand, proceeded +" deliscy one of the
most eloquent and effective addresses ever
delivered in this city. He gave very inter-
csting history ct the laying of corner stones,
which has been Il gcvercd custom since the
building Of King Solnmon's Temple, that
magnificent building designed 10y David and
executed by the most ancient Of Grand Mas
tiers.
The orator gave a lengthy description of
the origin and significance of the layivC of
foundation stones, aud read several portions
from the Bible aud New Testament in sup
post "f his ar"uments-hc was proud to
assist in the dedication of an cdiiice to the
worship of God, To education. morality, truth.
aud Intelligence" What is needed tn make
the church a success is an educated ministry;
the pulpit of Georgia was Srnaninc under an
ignorant ministry, both white and culnred
the day was rapidly passing away when an
ignorant, corrupt pulpit could carry aud con-
troll the cclorcd people by relating dream
and in that dream was seen heavy cloud,
and out of that cloud came white figure
but they never could see black one and
the figure told him 40 and so must Ice done
This superstition was rapidly giving way To
the light Of knowledge and truth.
The speaker then gave an Interesting his
tOrical sketch of the old building which stood
on the site on which the new cliiirc i about
to be erected. His recital of the trial, aud
sullerings Of old Andrew Bryan over Il hun
bred years a.o in his efforts to plant The
light of religion among his rs'c in Georgia,
wa. listened t. With great attention by the
Inmsnss audience. Rev. DR.. Toomcr then
rcAl from B.nedict's history Of the BaptiSts
several part. bcarir-, on the noble qualities
ana virtues pl bryan. W men he read the
portion where old Andrew WIS taken out
and scvcr-y whipped because ~ his zeal and
energy displayed in dittusing religion and
thought among his long suffering people,
many of his hearers were deeply affected
He believed with Mr. Benedict. that Andrew
Bryan had done more for civilization and
religion than all the learned Doctors of Amer
lea and Europe combined.
The address brought to light the fact not
generally known, that the first >uuday-School
ever established was that inauguratcd by
John Wesley, in Savannah, on the very spot
where Christ's Episcopal church now stands,
and the first colorcd church established in
Georgia was on the very spot the audience
were assembled upon.
After DR.. Turner had concluded, a public
collection was taken up and the sum of 2G2
realized, with pledges from several prnm
nent gentlemen present for much more.
The Grand Lodge was then formed, and
took their line of march for their hall, when
the vast crowd dispersed with much food for
thought
In my next | will give you the policy of
the dominant party in Georgia, which is re-
garded With much alarm by the law-abidin%
people of the State.
Truly Yours FLINT,