Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-06-25
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF A

LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF A
CHURCH.-The corner stone Of the M. E.
church (colored), Rev. Robert Steele, pas
tor, on Augusta street, was laid yesterday
at II O'Clock with appropriate ceremonies
performed by Mt. Zion Lodge, No. u, of
colored Masons. The congregation of this
church, which is now worshipping in its
frame building opposite the Academy, on
New street, is composed of cOlored citizens
Of the best standing in our community,
and numbers among it a large majority of
the colored property of the town.
By good management and economy they
have been enabled to add So, 16O in money
to the value of their old church and lot,
estimated at $4,000, thus making 81 100
paid the contractors on the $4,000 the
new church will cost. AS an evidence of
the industry with which the members en-
tered into the building of the new church,
each male member gave days work to
the digging of the foundation, the minis
ter making the detail for labor out Of the
congregation, as was best suited to their
convenience, and thus saving in five days
$500 Of the cost of building. The building
committee consists of Aaron Shoveler, R.
J. Shelton, Frank Ware, Frank Overton
and Washington Roberts. The building
will be of brick, so feet wide by rs feet
long, Gothic style, made after plans drawn
by Mr.. C. w. Gilman. 1t will be two sto-
ries high, the first or ground floor of II
tab toi, ca ,haf
room SO feet square, teachers room and
vestry room, and the hall through which
entrance is gained from the street under
Gothic portico. The upper story, Of 20
feet pitch, will contain the auditorium,
with seating capacity Of 700, and around
it will run galleries supported by iron col
umns. The woodwork will not be painted.
but will be fine finished white pine, which
will present an agreeable effect. This
style will prevail except in the pulpit, al
tar railing, and ends Of the pews, which
will be Of black walnut The gallery sup
porting columns will be Of fiuted iron
bronzed. An ornamental cornice four feet
in girth will run around the ceiling, giving
it an elliptical shape. The building will
be lighted in the day by windows of white
glass, except in front, where there will be
a large double window of stained glass
crowned by smaller ofiel window, also
stained. Gas will be used at night. There
is large ventilator in the ceiling, and
ventilators from below running up through
the walls, with their outlets above, con-
All
brick of the edifce was laid Oh Monday
last. and it will be finished in about four
months, ready for occupation. The whole
work is contracted for by Messrs. VIM.
Jordan and J. D. Shomo.
Before II O'Clock there were fully 1900
uso1cred persons assembled at the founda-
zion Of the church to witness the laying of
the corner stone, presenting most Or
.derlv and well dressed assemblage. At
fhat hour Mt Zion Lodge No. II, colored
Masons of Staunton, numbering Az mem
s,ers: the King Hiram Lodge No. 1876,
seolored Odd Fellows. of Stanton number
ang %, and the Jefferson Lodge No. ID, Of
eolored Masons of Charlottesville, arrived,
all presenting most creditable appear
ance. the Stanton colored Masons at
tracing good deal of attention by their
handsome regalia. Rev. WV. Foreman,
presideng elder of the district, stated the
object Of the assembly, after which col
lection was taken up. The corner stone
was then laid by Mt. Zion Lodge, and
Rev. W. B. Derrick, CT the Third Street
Methodist Church of Richmond, followed
in an appropriate address; in closing which
he urged the eolored people to cultivate
friendly relations with the whites, remind
ING them of the value to them in all re-
spects Of the good will of the latter, and
the Importance of retaining it by abstain
ing from any acts calculated to ALLEVIATE it,
At the close of the ceremonies which hao
heen accompanied by singing, the CROWD
aisuersed; Mt. Zian Lodge of Masons re-
pairing to it's lodge and installing the fol
lowing officers: Thos. B. Gaskins, W. M.
Oscar d. Morris, S.W.; Alfred W, Brown
J.W.: Geo. C, Cabell, treasurer; Robert
J. Shelton, secretary. and 0. j. johnson
Tiler.