Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-28
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
LAYING A CORNERSTONE A NEW
CHURCH.

At $50 P. NJ. yesterday the cornerstone Of
Ebenezer Church was laid at the site, Tenth
street, between o and P. There was present
very large concourse of interested specta-
tors. Some account of the organization for
which the church is being erected is timely
The congregation ia of the Evangelical Asso-
citation of North America. 1t was founded
in 1898, in Pennsylvania, by Rev. William
Elbright, formerly German Lutheran min-
lister. He found at that date no church in
America where worship according to the
Protestant faith was conducted in the Ger
man language, and that those speaking the
tongue desired such church. Out of his
efforts, therefore, this organization arose. 1t
takes the Bible as the foundation for its be-
lief and the revealed word of God to man.
1t holds to the doctrine of the divinity of
Jesus Christ and that He is the
only Savior of man. 1t requires re.
pentance. confession of sin and cor
version-a new birth-and baptism. This
sacrament it administers by immersion or by
sprinkling. 1t has House of Bishops Its
general government IS in the hands of Cen
eral Conference that assemblies once in four
years. Its District Conferences assemble an
nually and bishop must preside over each
Il
or circuits, and ministers are over congrega-
tons. Conferences nominate ministers to the
churches after the itinerant system, and the
minimum Of the service OF pastor in one
place is one and the maximum five years. It
administers infant baptism, and has no pro-
baton for member. II has a membership of
$50, GOO in America, and about 100 600 in
Japan, Germany and Swiiz rlaud It's
churches in California ara ia San Francisco
u
was introduced into California twelve years
ago. Here the church works in the
German language, in Oregon in En-
glish, and at thu East in both
tongues. In Sacramento it began its work
in July last, and it has now twenty five mem
bers and so children in Sund4y-school. lis
services are now held in Firemans Hall. The
book concern is in Cleveland, Ohio, and there
too is its Board Of Home Missions, who is
supporting the church in Sacramento Rev.
w. ii. Axthelm is pastor ever the church here.
1t owns a fine lot on Tenth street, on which
is good parsonage. On the same lot is being
erected a new church. When it is completed
the entire property will be worth about
So 600. The church building is 50xS2 feet,
with study 12x16, and a vestibule 1910 feet.
The structure is to have foundation of
brick 81 feet high, on which will rise frame
finished in rustic Tae walls will be Is feet
high, and the apex of the ceiling "a feet, as
it is to be finished up in a half arch. The
seating capacity will be $50. The tower and
spire will rise between rs and so feet high,
with ornamental finish, while pinnacles will
mark the four corners of the building.
1t will be a very neat structure. A. A. Cook
is the architect, and D. & d. Falconer are
the builders.
At the laying of the cornerstone yesterday
Rev. w. II. Axthelm presided. He opened
the exercises by reading in German the second
chapter of 1st Peter. Rev. Carroll VI. Davis
then read the same in English. A hymn
in German was then sung, and Rev. n. Slater
offered up the invocation. Mr.. Axthelm
then explained the occasion Of the gathering,
and set ont briefly the methods and purposes
of the church. Rev. II. H. Rice followed,
with an address, az also did Rsv.s DIR.
Dwinell and Rev. j. G.. Hale. A hymn
was sung. aud Mr.. Axthelm then placed
the casket in the stone and closed
the cavity with marble slab
The metal casket contained Bible, hymn
book, the Book of Discipline, copies of the
magazines and papers of the church in EGG
lish and in German, history Of the church
in Sacramento, and list OF the names Of the
Church Trustees and the Building Commit
tee. The pastor ha,i, g placed the slab,
laid on the final cement. and declared the
stone laid In the naue of our Lord Jesus
Christ" The doXology was sung, and the
people were then dismissed with benedc
ton by Rev. Mr.. Axthelm. The new church
will be known as g Z )enezer Church"