Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-09
DAILY HERALD.
AsRURY II. z. CHURCH.
Interesting Ceremonies at the Laying
of the Corner Stone.

Methodist Episcopal Church, in East
Los Angeles.
The services were conducted by Rev.
E. S. Chase, pastor of the Fort Street
NJ. E. Church, in the following order:
The section of the Methodist discipline
relating to the laying of corner stones
was read, and the audience sang hymn
The Rev. Mr.. Smelling then opened the
exercises with prayer, after which the
choir sang an anthem.
Rev. M. M. Bovard, President Of the
University of Southern California, then
led the audience in the responsive
reading of the CXXII Psalm, followed
by some select reading from the New
Testament.
THE ADDRESS.
DIR. j. P. Widney then delivered the
following thoughtful address:
1t is an ancient thing which we do this
day-laying a foundation stone, = fol
man has ever been builder. When the
young earth was yet fresh before him he
commenced his work, and you may track
him around the world by the structures
which he has left behind him. 1t is {
curiously interesting thing to trace the
thought that lay back of much of mans
building; for only portion of it was fol
purpose of shelter. Ages ago, from the
cradle of our race upon the plains Of
Asia, man started out upon his long
journey. Before him lay the earth,
young, fresh, but mysterious and un-
known. He stood like a mariner upon
the borders of some vast, unsailed sea;
and there came upon him the dread lest
in its immensity he might be lost. Then
men said: 'Let US build city and q
tower, lest we be scattered abroad upon
the face of the earth" They built the
city and tower; and to-day we may &C
and stand amid their crumbling ruins
where the waters of the Euphrates pass
on to the sea, but the men who builded
them have long been scattered over the
earth, and sleep in unknown and for
gotten graves.
Then, as men grew to know the earth
and no longer were weighed upon by
this fear least they might become scat
tered and lost upon its surface, a new
dread began to grow in their hearts
What of death, the grave and the be
yond? This life they knew, and they
clung to it. Their cry was no longer,
"Lest we be scattered abroad upon the
earth, but, ''Lest we be forgotten upon
the EARTH" And so kings laid for them.
selves, while yet living, the foundation
stones of great monuments. huge Pyra-
mids, where in chambers hewn in the
solid stone their dead bodies, embalmed
and wrapped in fine linen, might lie
through the ages. And they said men
shall dwell near us, and shall walk about
us as We lie sleeping, and shall speak oui
names, and we shall not be forgotten.
Yet again the human heart was
doomed to disappointment. The Pyr-
amids still stand, hoary with age, by the
waters of the ancient Nile, but ruthless
hands long since robbed the the tombs
and the bodies of kings were dragged
out to be trampled under foot, and mingle
their dust with that of the despised
slaves who had toiled to uprear those
stately piles. Death leveled all; and OBJ
livion came alike to ruler and ruled.
Then the idea of God began to grow
in mems minds. They no longer feared
the earth. They no longer sought to es
cape the doom of death. But they said
''There are Gods above us. We canno
escape their will. They send to us lif
and death. We are as the bubbles O
the sea in their hands. Let us propitiat,
them"
And again they laid foundation stones
and raised temples where priests mad,
sacrifice, and the smoke of burning in
cense arose, while the people knelt il
awe afar off. But as the ages went by
men turned them in despair away from
their shrines crying, "Alas our God.
give no reply. The mystery is unbroken
We die, and we go we know no.
WHITTIER"
To-day men tumble over the topplet
stones of temple and shrine, but NJ
smoke of incense arises. Priest and peo
pie alike sleep their last long sleep
Again was the human heart disappoint
ed. Yet it was nearer to God.
And again the ages went by. Ant
again men toiled laying the foundation
of massive cathedrals wherein chants
and incense again were waited upwards
But not yet had man pierced the won
drous mystery. Its very simplicity con
founded them. For again between mar
and God stood priests and churches, ant
the heart of man cried out its pain
"Alas shall we ever find God?" Ye
they were all the while drawing nearel
to God.
To-day we lay again foundation stones
We no longer fear lest we be scattered
abroad upon the earth, for long since W,
have learned its utmost compass. w,
no longer seek to escape the oblivion Of
death; we know that it must come to all
Weno longer burn that incense and sac
rifice, and priests may not stand betwee,
man and his maker; but rich and poor
simple and wise, priest and people, W,
come to kneel side by side, while eacl
heart lifts itself toward God. Have W,
at last pierced the full depths of tn,
mystery? l do not know. This be
lieve: that yet again we are nearer t.
God; for now man can meet death ant
fear not.
We are laying the foundation stone O
a church we are laying also the founda
ton stone OF fortress. In turbulent
times men built fortresses and castles a,
strongholds of law and order. Ever,
church is also stronghold of law and
order, and though noarmored men, will
spear and sword sally out from its por
tails; though no cannon frown down from
Its walls, yet community will be NOR,
peaceable, more abiding for thi,
church which we build. The life of tn,
man who passes by and SCOTS at the reli
glon which 1T represents, is yet the safe
for it; his property is more secure from
depreciation, his home from harm.
The work which we do this dav is ,
work which shall live after us. We built
our dwellings, but in few years anothe
sits in our place at the fireside. w,
erect business blocks, and vet littl
while and strangers come and 90 within
their doors, and know us not. Our labo
h n H<... n IL