Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-04-25
jackson Mission Church.
LAYING OF THE COMMISSIONS.
Imposing Ceremonies.

On Tuesday the corner stone Of the Third
! Methodist Church, OF Jackson, was laid
with imposing ceremonies. The building
TO be erected, the foundation Of which is
now well and strongly built, is located in
Northwest Jackson, on the corner Of
CampbSli street and Talbot Avenue The
ground was donated by Mrs. Emily Good
win and Mr.. J. A. Collins, OF this city. Its
location is attractive, even beautiful. Neat
cottages, fresh and graceful from the build
er's hand fields and gardens, green with
Natures spontaneous offerings-majestic
trees, crowned with the buds and blossoms
Of a generous proyidence-and evergreens,
deathless as hope, emblems OF immortality,
surround the eOnsecrated spot upon which
is to arise the structure dedicated to the
only true and living God. The building is
70 be Of solid brick masonry, 33x5O feet,
with chancel after the modern style of
architecture. It's height, from floor to cell
ing, win be about so or 40 feet. 1t is a
Mission Church, born Of Methodist enthu-
siaEm and enterprise, child OF the chief
pioneer Of christianity IN the United States.
A few months ago, in q small cottage hard
by the ute of the new church, a small band
Of christians met, organized Mission and
a Sunday school under the guidance OF the
Reverends Thomas Taylor and A. b. Jones.
The new church, of which we write, is the
fruit OF their eloquent, earnest, christian
efforts. The ceremony of laying the corner
stone was not only beautiful but lastingly
impressive. The hymn was read by the
Rev. B.'A. Hays, and the large crowd as
sembled, Joined in singing it, The Rev.
]. A. Heard led in the prayers appointed
for such occasions, and the entire audience
joined him in uttering that prayer of all
prayers, the "Lord's Prayer" The Scrip
ture lesson was read by the Rev. A. W.
Jones, in u style both impressive and touch
ing. Then the various archives to be de-
deposited in the cornerstone were placed
in the same in the following order:
1st-The Bible, the cornerstone of all
hopeful human structures; then the Metho-
dist Discipline; then the Deed to the
grounds, with the names OF the generous
donors; then the name of the first Pastor
of the First Methodist Church, in jackson,
with the names of its members, all deposit
ed by the Rev. ]. A. Heard.
2nd-History of the Mission Church, with
the names OF its members, pastors and
founders, deposited by the Rev. Thomas
Taylor.
3rd-Masonic D Documents, by Col. Rob't.
1. Chester-the oldest Mason in Tennessee,
bHt one.
4th-Odd Fellows Documents, by r. W.
May, the Recorder OF the city, venerable in
years and in the confidence Of the people
Of Jackson, among whom he has lived for
half century.
5th-Arehives of the knights of Py thias,
by Milton Ro5erts.
Temperance Documents, by DR.. B.
L. Rozell.
Tth-The names of the Municipal officers
Of Jackson, by Mayor John A. Arlington.
Sth- Catalogues Of the City Schools, Con
ference Ministers, and other church papers,
by the Rev. A. W. Jones, the educational
pioneer OF West Tennessee.
9th-Church and City papers, by Col. W.
W. Gates, the oldest and most distinguish
| ed Editor IN Tennessee.
1lth-A One Dollar Confederate bill by
Master Julian Heard, and Ten Dollar one
by Mayor Arlington, commemorative OF a
patriotic cause that is lost and yet one that
history will not let die.
12th-A silver coin by L. Weir, one Of
the oldest citizens of jackson.
After the deposits were all made the Rev.
]. A. Heard delivered a short but beautiful
address. He was followed by the Rev. B.
A. Hays in a few brief but pertinent re-
marks. The Rev. E. MeNair was then
called on but gracefully declined to make a
speech. The Rev. \. W. Jones delivered
the address Of the occasion, His thoughts,
although spontaneous, were none the less
appropriate. Clothed in choice words,
touching "reminiscences Of the long past,
bright and shining with the matches
splendors OF hope not born TO die, his
thoughts sunk deep into every heart and
/ found an echo there. He preached the first
sermon ever preached in the First Metho-
dist Church Of this city, and has conducted
here for more than thirty years, an institu,
ton Of learning whose influence has in.
creased with its years. Col. Robrt. l. Ches
ter, the oldest Mason in Tennessee, except
DR.. W. E. Butler, made few strong prae
teal and appropriate remarks. The eere
monies Of the occasion were closed by tbs
Rev. J. A. Heard, and by singing the Dox
ology, the sublimest of h INNS
The occasion was one fruitful CT thought
A thousand years hence, when the anti
quarian comes to investigate the ruins o
Jackson, be may in his researches discovel
the cornerstone laid on Tuesday. Thl
documents it contains will be curious one
to him, and doubtless the wise men OF tina
advanced sse will be called together L
decipher its strange hieroglyphies OF 4 Ian
guage as lost to them as the language 0
ancient Egypt is lost to US We imagin
that we see those learned Swans in coun
ell; how they will differ and quarrel as {
the meaning of this word and that word
the exhaustive essays they Will write il
, support of their different opiRions, and nov
they will come out Of the whole eontro
versy about rs ignorant as when they wen
into it. But there is one question abou
which they will not differ. The corner
| stone they md amid the ruins Of ancien
Jackson will be evidence to them that eYel
: the ancients knew, revereneed and honore'
: | the only true God; that the star whicl
I | guided the wise men to Bethlehem neye
ceased to shine; that the power, and glory
and mercy of Him who said, Il came int
the world to save sinners" knew in no sue
ceeding age either twilight or darkness.