New-York tribune., 1880-04-08
THE CLAIMING CENTENARY.
INTERESTING MEMORIAL SERVICES


AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE BY THE REV. DR..
pYILOws-THE CORNERSTONE OF THE MEMO
RIAL CHURCH LAID.
Great interest was manifested in the Chan
ming Memorial services held at Newport r. l.,
vesteIday. In the morning the Rev. Dr. Bel
lows delivered an eloquent discourse on DR..
Charming. In the afternoon the cornerstone
of the Memorial Church was laid, and an ad-
dress was delivered by the Rev. William Henry
Charming, of London. The evening celebra-
tion was interesting. Several speeches were
made and letters from eminent persons were
read. Two memorial meetings were held in
Brooklyn, In which clergymen of all denOmina-
tions participated. In the Academy of Music
last night addresses were made by George Viii.
liam Curtis, Mr.. Beecher and others.
DETAILS OF THE CELEBRATION
DAY DEVOTED TO MEMORIAL sERvICEs-A POEM
BY THE REV. CHARLES T. BRoOKs-LErTERs
FROM EMINENT PEOPLE.
TFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT rHErRrBuNE'l
NEWPORT April 7.-Channing's centennial birth
day has been honOred in this the city of his birth
to-day in very appropriate manner. cold, bleak
wind was the only drawback. A large number of
prominent Unitarans were present. excursion trains
and boats being brought into use. The majority of
the visitors were from New-England. The days
o'clock There was large attendance. The OPEN
ing exercises were conducted by the Rev. Edward
Everett Hale and the Rev. DR.. HOsmer. both of Bos
ton after which the Rev. DR.. Bellows delivered his
eloquent enogy, taking as his text " He was burn
ing and shining light; and We were willing for q
season to remain in that light."-John W, 35) The
following summary gives the spirit of the discourse
Claiming a theoogan but not OF the old pattern
He studied God and reported his ways and his will
after manuer that had not been recoynzed In former
that no broke with the old theological methods and
@ m ,rs nd crssSs "uoatye oven the
mind and heart Of man, and not merely authoritative
Freely joyfulIy. hambly and with his whole soul he
sSs % q lis % p%T
them TO an iurnite extent In the great source
9 n oS ,p S aS a and men Is
mental postulate with him. >,
that became impossible for hun to think God pleased
fear in their wofshp and service Nobody ever lived
or W eepeT eneper % sorrow and still
perfect possession and cujoymeut of his own faith
nnts IDEAS Of c6TstaniSy IScy sesral and
natural For him Jesus was mythlc growth of mar
veSns nS NE was s no m his w
dom aud insight Channing full beileved him to De
Sesven1:rcm Gods i@medlate pf.sspSe. no ho
eyed him t. have been pre- IN he b. thOngat
but to his special ana personal relations to Cod
resSrS h Chiefly as an example for u bis
temptations and trials because we could not under
s not Ss lust to call h% an Aran wht
PLANTATION. for he did not think Christ nature different
from ours. but only the same IN higher stage OF devel
had S aPs 9p onp S C
Diyins aud tho human. He know but form Of spir
i.ual ratare-GO1s own. 1t was mind, and nind was
Chnulng loved Boston best OF all tie world. yet he
wa not IN The Gs @ i sn:e %
trained in academic lore ils 6atet breath or new men
with stiengh, il 1T were shaggy rugged its
xelloIs sod, Of social aIs sne
good family. scfccnsstency. decorum. modei a,i9n the
ars around mat nonGred hart FL Ter not vprsaS 9
apInes many things, and capacity for ldtera
no ,%Ie trs statrs natural history society tFa
lie wus capable wit, satire, humor. is evident enough
eutobiogtapby-by the hand OF his favorite nephew
The arrival of the Boston visitors about one hour
after the reverend gentleman began his discourse
created 10 little disturbance. The exercises at the
Opera House lasted over three hours and were fol-
lowed throughout with interest and DR.. Bellows
was frequently interrupted with applause. The
suging by select choir added much to the interest
of the occasion.
The beredction was pronounced by the Rev. DR..
Hosmer.
After the exercises at the Opera House the local
Unitarians rendered the visitors handsome COLA
ton at the Hotel Aquidneck. There were no for
maties or speeches at the hotel, there being no
time to carry out that part of the programme.
CORNERSTONE LAID.
After the collation. the cornerstone of the Chan
ming Memorial Church was laid with imposing and
impressive ceremonies. The cornerstone exercises
did not begin until after o'clock. Thousands of
persons were present to witness the ceremony, and
for an hour or more remained in the open air and
endured the binding dust and chilling wind. Touro
Park, where the old stone mill stands. was black
with people. The site of the church is directly OPP
posite the old mill. The cornerstone. before 1t was
placed in position was examined by all who wished.
On one side were cut tho words "We build in Faith.
Hope. Charity" aud on the opposite side was the
date of erection. The spectators were informed'by
the Rev. Mr. Schcrmcrhorn that, owing to the bIus-
tering weather, the corner stone sermon would be
delivered at the Opera House.
The exercises of the laying of the stone then pro-
ceeded. Prayer was offered by the Rev. D. G. KIM
ball. of Hartford, after which the Rev. Mr.. Scher-
merhorn announced that the entire sum required for
building the church had been subscribed a telegram
having just been received from the Rev. Dr. Putnam.
of Brooklyn, which stated that the amount ncces-
sary to make the total estimate. S50.000 had been
subscribed by member OF his congregation. This
welcome news was greeted with applause.
The list of articles deposited in the cornerstone
vas then read. When the box was placed in the
stone, Mr.. w. +. Charming, of Providence, son of
the great divine, lovingly laid bunch of roses on
the top.
The Rev. w. II. Claiming of London. nephew
Of DR.. Charming, with uplifted eyes and standing
upon the cornerstone. said: IL pronounce this
cornerstone. firmly and squarely laid. placed on
the rock Of ages Christ Jesus in the tnl fellowship
Of the Son and in the blessing of Cod" The bene-
diction was pronounced by tho Rev X r. Shippen,
secretary of tho American Unitarian Association.
THE EVENING EXERCISES