Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-02
The Tabernacle Cornerstone Laid.
PASTOR HICKS IDEA OF CHURCH THAT WI

ENDURE.
The cornerstone Of the new Methodist Taber-
nacle was laid yesterday afternoon in accord
ance with previous announcement nv the Wor-
shipfui Grand Lodge of the District of Column
bia, with Masonic ceremonies. The new church
IS located on the east side of 9th Street. between
b and streets southwest only few steps from
the new National Museum. The structure is to
DE OF brick. The foundations are already laid
and the work carried above the floor joists
Quite a large number Of people gathered at the
site before the arrival of the Grand Lodge and
stationed themselves upon the walls and places
overlooking the ceremonies. About 6 O'Clock
the members of the Grand Lodge arrived on the
ground, bringing the implements anti working
tools OF the craft and the corn wine and oil.
The lodge was preceded by the Marine band,
which during the exercises discoursed appro-
pirate music. az did also the Masonic choir. IN
der the leadership of Mr.. E. S. Holmes. On the
grounds were Architect Cluss, Rev. Mr. Hicks,
the pastor of the Tabernacle society. Commits
sioner Dent and others.
THE MASONIC CEREMONY.
The Grand Lodge took stations around the
northeast corner of the site. and was called to
order by Grand Master Larner who after sta
uonlng his wardenS and officers. addressed the
church authorities, thanking them for the invita-
ton TO lay the cornerstone. and then proceeded
TO the work before him. The articles to be
deposited were then placed In a copper box or
casket. and named by Grand Secretary w. r.
Singleton as follows: Articles of Incorporation
with the names of the trustees of the Tabernacle:
history of the church organization and names
OF the members; names of the architects. con-
tractors and builders of the Tabernacle
and of the building committee names of
the President. Vice President of the United
States and Cabinet officers and Commissioners
OF the District OF Columbia: copies of the dailv
and weekly newspapers Of Washington program
OF the exercises at the laying of the corner
stone: coins of the United States from one cent
70 one DOLLAR copy of the proceedings of the
Grand Lodge F.A.A.M.. 1880 and 81; copy OF
the constitution of the Grand Lodge. and a
copy of the seal of the Grand Lodge in
gold. AT the command of the grand master
the grand secretary deposited the casket
III its proper place. The cement was then
spread By the hands of the skilled operative
mason and the stone was lowered covering the
casket. Prayer was then offered by Grand
Chaplain, Rev. c. Smith, which the wardens
applied the plumb. level and square to the
work, each one announcing that the worklnen
had done their duty. The corn wine and oil
were then poured upon the cornerstone with
benedictions. The choir then rendered the
beautiful chant Make Joyful Noise Unto the
Lord all We Lands" The Marine band then
played Nearer My God to Thee" after which
Grand Master Larner addressed the president of
the tabernacle society, Rev. Mr.. Hicks. ANNOUNCE
ing that the Grand Lodge had performed the
duty OF laying the cornerstone; that the work
ton secure for the superstructure to rest upon
ADDRESS OF THE PASTOR
Rev. Mr. Hicks, in appropriate terms, thanked
the Grand Lodge for the duty it had performed.
and expressed his compliments to the Masonic
order for the good accomplished by it, and
wished them prosperity and an increase in num-
bers and in influence. In the course of his adj
dress Mr.. Hicks said that the church that shall
endure the wear and tear of time must not be
reared on dogmas which men outgrow. but on
the laws OF mans spiritual nature which are
the laws OF God. He then proceeded to elO-
quentiy describe the creed and doctrines of
church properly founded in principle and faith.
to love all men, and labor Increasingly to do
them good 1t must not be pious looking
sham. but truly pious reality. He said that
there were forty thousand souls in South Wash
lngton. OF which not more than three thousand
were habitual attendants of church services on
the Sabbath. The tabernacle is to be a friendly
crusade upon the thirty-seven thousand nom
church-goers in that locality. These thirty-seven
were doubtless religious upright. and
exemplary, and had probably good reasons for
not going to church, such as a desire for rest or
recreation after working hard for six days. or
possibly poverty and a lack of fine raiment was
the cause OF many pew being empty. Then,
perhaps. the churches themselves do not betray
any great anxiety, and only employ moderate
zeal to bring the people to the house Of the
Lord. In closing he said that more zeal. more
IL.
more preaching will be expended to bring into
the fold of divine fellowship in this tabernacle
one single soul of the thirty thousand than
upon the three thousand already churched.
Carrying Concealed Weapons.
To the Editor Of the Star:
l was very much surprised to see in your
paper recently the communication signed '1gno-
ramus,' advocating the carrying of concealed
weapons.
His argument. in brief, was that bad men
would violate the law by carrying arms. and
therefore, respectable citizens should do so in
self defence: 1t strikes me that it would be far
better fer the respectable citizens to unite in an
effort to have the law enforced, and thus pre-
vent bad men from carrying them and at the
same time, according to his own argument. do
away with the only reason for other peoples
carrying them.
Admit as he says. that there are places where
such men as Guiteau would be covered by
dozen revolvers upon firing his first shot. what
OF 1t! Even then he would have had his first
shot and taken the life of an innocent and I'M
suspectlng person. Suppose he was shot down
by the crowd, subsequently, that would not re-
store the innocent life. 1t ,cas the haiti and DOS
sbihy of carrying concealed sceapoas ntatre7sdered
Gutedus crime possible. Such crimes are an
every day occurrence in regions where men
habitually go armed; and ask 'Ignoramus' if
that be the condition of society that he would
.AAAS w
ion he is fit associate for Guiteau.
have lived in the "tar west" and in "Califor-
MIA" where as he says, the use of arms is $50
well understood" and from an experience of
some years there l must say 1 much prefer
Washington, bad as it is in that respect. have
not yet forgotten how near, in 1850 one of the
armed respectable citizens at Coloma, Cal. came
10 sending bullet from a Colts army pistol
through my head, he mistaking me for
another party with whom he had had
\ quarrel just previous / want no more
IF it in mine if you please; not any,
As he says, san armed bully'' may at any time
get 1.-The draw on crowd or an Individual. and
Why? Simply because of the existence of the
Infamous practice, SO universal there. of each
nan going armed. 1t is just that habit which
makes all the trouble. If it were not the prac-
ice for people to go armed there would be no
such scenes OF murder as those that now and
or years past have disgraced Kentucky. Texas
and our frontier regions generally, and which.
Is Bull Run Russell recently and hulu said. are
4 national disgrace.
A large proportion Of the rows and shootinrs
winch occur grow out of the foolish habit Of
boys and young men carrying concealed wean-
0ns. AT the slightest difficulty or dispute and
especially when excited by liquor ont comes
the pistol and some one is shot-just as likely to
be an innocent passer-by as any one. The Great
majority of such affairs in the cities take place