Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-17
Church DpIicatiOu


Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
FALLS CHURCH, Sept Is. We had lovely
weather to-day for the laying Of the corner
stone Of the new NJ. E. Church. The proposed
edifce will be one of The neaest in the ccu"'y-
splendid stone high basement" with frame
superstrucure aud steeple seventy five feet
high-located admirably 90 hillside near the
statioo. The ceremonies commenced at ii a.
u. with devotional exercises and music, after
which NJ. W. A. Duncan was introduced and
spoke as follows:
My CHRISTIAN FRIE> Ds The objects for which we
to-day assembled is one that must commend
itself not only to the community in whica we live to
the denomination under whose auspices this building
is going up, to the Church of Christ generally to
philanthropic men and women everywhere but also
the reat Architect of the Universe We should come
therefore to the task with grateful and Joyous as we'll as
humble hearts-grateful and joyous that we are the
honored instruments of Gods providence in helpips
forward, limited though our sphere and ability be-
His benign plans for the evangezaon and salvation
| OF mankind and We should be humble FROM the con.
seriousness OF our weakness and inability to come up
to the full measure of desires in this regard
When by the Divine hand Eden was planted and our
first parents placed therein, they needed no temple in
which to offer their alteration and praise to the gver
of all their joy and happiness, the giver of every
good and perfect gift Sin had not yet darkened the
bright picture of paradseno necessity then for the
sacrlfcal altar of aonement no necessity to crave
pardon, MS no transgression had yet been committed
Serene and radiant the lovely face of nat re- then
standing kneeling the SOFT green CARPET spread
over the bosom of their mother EARTH surrounded by
graceful columns, the lofty trees of Eden growing on
the banks of is lucid streams and shaded by their
lofty canopies: Gods glorious eyes, bcamng with
soft rcfugent light not with the angry gaze of of
| Tended Deity, Adam and Eve could safely breathe
their morning prisons and whisper forth their yesper
songs OF praise But alas for their descendants when
the serpent invaded their home of purity and foued
with his Shiny trail their prmeval innocence, all was
| changed. Then angry winds began to blow, fierce
lightning to blind, and deafening thunder to apral
| the frightened universe. And now torrid heat and
biting frost and dripping rain admonish to provide
| shelter IN which we may gather together and in
safety from the untriendly elements engage in our
| devotions.
Holy writ tells us that Noah buildcd Al altar to
| the Lord. This is the first mention we have of q
place set apart for worship. And remember that
there and then that great promise made "I will
| not again curse the ground any more for man s
sake; while the earth remaineth, seed time and bar
vest and cold and heat and summer and winter and
day and night shall not cease" And Abraham pitched
his tent, and there he buded altar to the Lord and
called upon the name of the Lord for this good man
well knew there was no safety in his tent without the
Divine protection. And jacob and Moses and the
prophets built affairs and King Solomon built house
for the Lord to dwell in So that we are not without
| many llustrious examples in this good work 1t is
perhaps to be regretted that We have not with us the
brethren OF the mystic tie to conduct with their beau
tliul and imposing ceremonies the exercises to-day
| We're they present they would tell you that this
foundation AMI this corner stone are of the most
durable material known in nature stable as the
mountains, and that the cement which unites the
different pieces in one common is typical of that
brotherly love and affection which should unite us
into one sacred band of friends, among whom no con-
tention should exist, but that noble contention
or rather emulation of who can best work or best
agree. But beautiful as is the imagery and true in
| ono sense as 1t is, we must not be deceived. This
sohd stone shall melt, the pyramids shall decay tho
| antcduviau monuments discovered in China shall
share the common fate: Old Time, with his relentless
scythe, shall sweep everything away, and with his
| bony fingers crumble them into the silent dust
| 'The cloud capped towers, the gorgeous palaces
The solemn temples the great globe itself;
Yea all which it inherit shall dissolve
| And like an unsubstantia pageant faded
| Leave not wreck behind"
But, my Christian friends, the foundation of tho
church we hope to erect here is not of any such per-
lshable material the stone which the builders refused
we propose to make the head of the corner St. Mark
says, The stone which the builders rejected is be-
come the head of the corner" On the foundation,
Christ Jesus hope to establish here church to bu Id
~ NS' sori.'J "h"so hhueucc ior Soou VIII pe Ielt
throughout the whole community, to erect here an
altar where all conveniently an comfortably as
semble together, and where We deyoutl? hope the
spirit of the Lord may be felt to the comfort and ioy
OF many weary SOULS where sinners may be convinced
and converted, straying sheep brought in again to
the fold of the Good Shepherd, fathers and mothers
in Israel cheered and gaddened III ir Journey and
youths and madcns grow up to become pillars, pol
ished pillars in the temple of the living God.
Rev. MIR. Boyer and Presiding Elder A. J.
Porter delivered stirring addresses.
Subscriptions we're made aud money collected
to the amount Of $3.50.
An excellent dlnuer was next discussed on
the beautiful green, in front OF Mr. Isaac Cross.
nuns house, from which respectable sum
was realized.
Business is fair 90 the whole. and our village
is IN the van on the march Of progress.
~