Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-09-15
LAYING A CORNER STONE.

LAYING a CORNER STONE.
LAYING THE CORNERS ToNE OF THE SEC
oND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH - WHAT
THE BUILDING is TO BE-HISTORY OF
THE CoNGREGATIoN- AT THE
CEREMONIES.
&C., &C., &C.
The cornerstone of the church edifice
of the Second Presbyterian congregation,
| of which Rev. MacDuff Simpson is pastor,
was laid on Saturday last. The building
is located on the corner of Frederick and
Lewis streets, and is to be of brick with a
tower, and the dimensions of the edlfice
are 50 by Sc feet. 1t will be Of two stories,
the basement being for Sabbath-school.
The main audience room will contain 25O
seats, and will be lighted by windows OF
stained glass, including a large one Oh
Gothic style in the front. The edifice will
cost So 900, and be SO constructed that it
NAV be enlarged at small additional cost.
| The contractors for the work are w. M.
Jordan & Co., and it will be ready for use
by the 21st of October. This is just about
ONE YEAR
| from the time the first steps were taken to
erect a separate congregation. On the
! 10Th Ut last October, Lexington Presbytery
after warm debate, granted thirteen
members of the Presbyterian church their
petition to organize new church-only
five members Of Presbytery voting against
it. On the 18th OF the following month,
the congregation was organized in the
Town Hall, Rev. J. W. Resebro preaching
the sermon, and Rev. r. g. Walker and
Elder David S. Bell assisting. The con-
gregation elected Chas. D. Mccoy, Elder,
and Henry a. Walker and VIM. a. Hud-
son, Deacons, and call was made on Rev.
MacDum Simpson to become their pastor,
signed by the following names: Charles
u. Mccoy, Henry A. Walker, VIM. A.
Hudson, jed Hotchkiss, Mrs. Lucy D.
Woods, Mrs. Wm. a. Hudson, Janet K.
Woods, John S. Lipscomb, Mrs. J. S. Lips
comb, Chas. W. S. Turner, JAS W. Morri-
son, N. Harvey Efinger, Mrs. Margaret
D. Efinger, j. Fred. Effinger, W. G. Gel
ger, Mrs. G. D. Mccoy, Annie T. Smith,
Nellie NJ. Hotchkiss, Thos. S. Doyle, Mrs.
Jed. Hotchkiss, Annie L. Hotchlziss, Mrs.
J. W. Morrison, and Holmes Erwin. On
the 2lst Of December, Presbytery dissolved
the relations OF Rev. MacDuff Simpson
with Loeb Willow church, and he was in
stalled as pastor of the Second Presbyte-
rian church, Rev. DR.. D. B. Ewing preach
ing the sermon, Rev. w. T. Richardson
delivering the charge to the pastor, and
Rev. W. D. Campbell delivering the charge
to the people. Under Mr.. Simpsons pas
toral care, the congregation has had large
number of accessions, and has a Sabbath
school in successful operation.
THE CEREMONY OF LAYING THE CORNER
STONE
was witnessed by some four or five hundred
persons, and performed by the Masonic
fraternity of Staunton, assisted by a dele
CATION Of brethren from the lodge at
Swoope's Depot, while the Stonewal Bri-
gade band added their beautiful music to
the interest Of the occasion. Rev. R. II.
Phillips, of the Virginia Female Institute.
was the Masonic chaplain of the occasion.
PRONOUNCED GOOD.
The work was taken possession of by
Past Master A. M. Fauntleroy, who, after
proving the stone with the plumb, the
square and the level, pronounced it good.
He then poured from silver vessels liba-
tions Of wine and oil upon the stone, and
taking from a golden vessel an offering Of
wheat, scattered it over the stone. The
messages to after generations, sealed in a
metal box, were then placed in the stone.
They were
THE DEPOSITS.
and consisted of U. S. coin, from 1884 to
1876, and some Mexican, Central American,
Russian, English and French coin; ro lis of
the Masonic organization and West Au-
gusta Guards; some Confederate money;
photograph of Gen. Lee; a Confederate
flag; the Staunton papers, and the follow
ing publications: Richmond "Dispatch,"
of Oct. Goth, 1875, containing an account
of the Stonewall Jackson statue celebra-
ton; stGoodson Gazette" the sprightly
organ Of the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Insti-
tuition; Southern Churehman," Central
Presbyterian, Richmond christian Ad-
vocate,'' Religious Herald" Lutheran
Visitor" and German. Lutheran paper.
RETURNING THE IMPLEMENTS.
Past Master Fauntleroy then returned
the implements Of architecture to the
architect, saying:
Worthy Sir:-Haying thus, as presiding
Master Of Masons, laid the foundation of
this building, deliver into your hands the
implements Of architecture, intrusting you
with the superintendence and direction of
the work, in full confidence Of your ability
| and skill to conduct the same. And I de-
sire to say that as Masons we feel deep
and abiding interest in the work under
going erection. The noble principles
which are the peculiar characteristics of
| the time-honored order of Masonry, are
founded upon the immutable truths of
Christianity. This structure when COM
pleted is to be dedicated and consecrated
to the diffusion of Evangelical truth and
the extension of our Great Redeemer's
Kingdom. Therefore, as Masons, we feel
alike pride and pleasure in this building.
MAY a superstructure arise from this stone
which shall be an ornament to cur city--a
temple in which the name Of the Lord God
of Israel is written. May it long be preserv-
ed from the ravages of time, and may the
promise be realized to us all: peace be
within thy walls and prosperity within thy
palaces
REMARKS OF THE PASTOR.
At the conclusion Rev. Macduff Simp-
son made some remarks, He said
We all meet to-day under the most favor
able circumstances and I cannot let the
occasion pass without giving brief ex-