The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-09-16


lodges, headed by Rev. Thos. Guard, Grand
Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Mar, land, and
I. j.. shryock Il. w. Senior Grand Warden,
who came from Baltimore. for the purpose
marched TO the ground where the church is
located and where II large number of people
had already collected to lay the corner stone
OF the new Presbyterian church, now being RAPID
ly constructed. ALTERNATING formed in semi
circle, the stone was laid which bears the fol.
lowing inscription:
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF BEL AIR.
September 18th, 1881
Geo. Archer, Aren't. Smith Bros B'ldrs
Within the stone were placed copy of the
Bible and Revised Testament, some small coins
of this years date, copies OF the Christian Obse-
rer, The Bel Air AIgiS, Hartford Democrat, Hare
Republican, and Bel Air Times The names ofthe
members of the church and of the building com
mtttee, and copy of the Baltimore Gazette, hav.
ing in it an account of the Presidents removal
to Long Branch Prayer was offered by Rev.
B. r. Benson, Chaplain of Ararat Lodge, follow
ed by the singing of the hymn Nearer my God
to Thee" Acting Deputy G. NJ. Jos. NJ. Street,
then presented from silver urn the Corn of
Nourishmcnt, which was placed upon the stone
by the Senior Grand Warden. Senior Warden
Blackburn presented the Wine of Refreshment
which was poured upon the stone, and Junior
Warden Jos. NJ Herman presented the Oil of
Joy, which the Senior Warden poured upon the
stone also The stone was then tested with the
square by Acting Deputy Grand Master STREET.,
with the level by Senior Warden Blackburn, and
by the plumb by Junior Warden Herman, who
reported respectively that they had performed
their duty. The rapping three times thrice
upon the stone completed the laying. After
reading of the Masonic ritual by Senior Grand
Warden Shryock and the pronouncing of the
benediction by Rev. Jos Nelson, the assembly
repaired to the lawn ofDr f. II. Richardson, adj
joining the church grounds. PRAYER was first
offered by Rev. Geo. Morrison, and singing by
Prof Woodrow's choir, after which an address
was delivered by DR.. Thomas Guard, of Mt
Vernon NJ. f. Church, Baltimore
DIR. Guard first spoke of how appropriate it was
that the two great orders of Masonry and Christi
corner-stone laying. And In that connection he
| deemed 1t fit to say that in Masonry he found
nothing antagonistic to his religion, SO that he
son. 1t is true that Masonry is nothing but high
| order of morality, which alone will not save a
man. but it is such high order that its success
full practice. can only be carried out by the aid of
religion; The present was his first official act as
Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge OF Maryland,
and he was especially gratified that that act was
| IN connection with the church. 1t was well, too,
that It was the cornerstone of a Presbyterian
church, since he as Scotch rishman who had
been preaching in this country only years. could
most appreciate the Scotch, the founders of the
church. than whom more intelligent and well
educated people did not live on the face of the
earth; and this universal education was due to
| the free thought and free Use of the Bible, incul-
Gated by the great Scotchman John Knox The
girth of a ScOtchmans hat will always show the
development of the brain from its free and manly
| exercise This education was necessary to right
| ~ comprehend the doctrines of his religion for.
| while in six months one might grasp the faith of
John Wesley and be good Methodist it took
years to comprehend the doctrines of Calvanism,
so rs to be n consistent Presbyterian He pro-
| posed that his remarks should refer to the Bible
as the great corner stone of all Christian churches
| which was at the present day, receiving blows
against it from the strongholds of inhdeiity. He
did not, however, uphold it from fear, for he was
rather pleased at the attempts of certain peripa-
| tettc orators OF the present day since their phi
lipics only brought about investigation of the
Bible by the ignorant, and placed in their mouths
arguments to contradict these statements and
| taught them its beautiful truths.
| The enemies of the Bible say it is the cause of
bias and ignorance and YET in no order do we see
| study and practice its truths It has even been
accused If encouraging immortality. yet no peo-
moral elevation as those of its disciples.
| Religion did not, at times when hampered and
fettered, show its noble teachings as it has since
| Martin Luther freed it from its bonds but it NAV
| be compare IT, a lOrdly eagle that knows nothing
| but freedom. After having been Gagged, with foot
chained to It's prison It struggles in vain for free
dom ana fails back cNhallS cd but not conquered
At last Il noble han with blow after blow, breaks
| the iron bars nm ut last cuts loose the chain
which binds him and gives him to his native air
He at first sclrcsly knows how to use his free
dom. but after few failures, scars into his ether
cal home with untam W ing. The morast is
~ vtn IN tha,u f,t,.
without accepting the book itself. just as the
Irishman in the neighb !rhood of Cork on hot
day admired the beautiful scenery around him
but thought how much i would be improved If
he could only take away the sun The freshman,
however would not speak so after coming to this
country, for he does not know himself six months
! after he comes here and has passed through the
| hands of the three great reformers OF the land
the barber the tailor and the politician But to
| show the power of the Bible let us suppose its
destruction and see how much that means.
Let us watch the books as they pour in from
every corner of the earth and are gathered into
one great pile reaching heavenwarls and are
burnt; their sacred ashes will rise up and bring
destruction on the heads of the destroyers But
the Bible is not gone yet. We must go the gale
ries of art and not them of such works us Michael
Angeles "Crucitix;' next we must rob poetry of
its ,noblest anthems then go to the cemeteries
and in the dead Of night cut out of the marble
| slabs, blessed are the dead" &c; even to the
nursery we must 70 and steal away the mothers
We see our world would be so dark and drear
we could not live in 1t. No book has had so many
| attacks upon II, ranging through 50 many ages.
yet IT comes to lis to-day purified gold with its
truths Just us untarnished as the day it was writ
ten.
| The address of DR.. Guard was listened to
by several hundred persons with the most pro-
found attention for an hour and a.half and an
earnest request made that he should again lee.
turc in the town at an carly day, which he has
promised TO do. The church is being built ON
lot donated by DR. L. H. Richardson, of the
Gothic style of architecture, of granite from the
quarry of Daniel Lynch, Esq, with trimmings
of Port Deposit granite.
The foundation is 52x4S feet and the shape of
the buildings Maltese cross The tower which
Is In the northeast corner, together with the
spire will rise to height of nearly 100 feet. The
church will be heated by u furnace The win
dows will be of stained glass, and the pulpit,
pcws and trimmings of walnut. The seating