The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-09-13
THE NEW METHODIST CHURCH
Laying the Corner Stone.

Ia LIS tHO OOI HcI OtUIIcs
The corner stone of the new Meth
odiSt church, which is being erected
at the corner of BrazoS and Null
burg streets, was laid last evening
with imposing ceremonies according
to the Masonic ritual, Deputy Grand
Master Highsmith, of this district,
acting as grand master of the occasion,
assisted by a delegation of the order,
and in the presence of quite number
OF interested spectators, including
many ladies. Prayer was offered in
very appropriate terms by Rev. J. w.
Whipple, after which the pastor of the
church, Rev. a. L. Goodwin, re-
quested the acting grand master to
lay the corner stone, which was sus-
pended in readiness, with Masonic
honors. The stone is 1SX24 inches in
dimensions and bore these inscriptions:
Central Methodist Episcopal Church
South; erected a. ID. 1888; A. L.
Goodwin, pastor; A. NJ. &. Nixon.
architect; j. Mcdonald, contractor"
The Grand Master was assisted in
the ceremonies by Junior Deputy
Grand Marshal Carlton, Deputy Grand
| Warden Moore, Junior Deputy Grand
Warden Shackelford, Deputy Grand
Chaplain Sweeney, Deputy Grand
Marshal johnson, and the Deputy
Grand Treasurer.
The stone was adjusted by the
architect, Mr.. Mcdonald, and lowered
to its place, covering by means of a
receptacle cut in the bottom the box
containing the articles deposited,
which were deposited by the Deputy
Grand Treasurer. After the reading
of the usual ceremonial provisions as
presented in SickleS' Manual Of
Masonry, the emblems of the order
grain, oil and wine, were poured upon
it by the officiating officers, whose
actions were approved by the grand
master in the appropriate terms of the
ritual. The stone was then measured
with square, level and plumb, and
after being pronounced properly laid
the grand master delivered these
types Of operative masonry" as they
are designated, to the architect as an
expression Of approval of his work
The articles us deposited were as fol
lows:
/. Copy of the Bible.
2. Copy of the hymn book.
3. Copy of the discipline of the
church.
j 4. Minutes of the Texas Conference
5. Copy of the Texas Christian AID
Vocate.
6. Copy of the Nashville Christian
Advocate.
Z. Copy Of the New Orleans Chris
ton Advocate.
8. Copy of the Advocate of Mis-
sions.
8. Copy of the Woman's Missionary
Advocate.
10. AUSTIN DAILY STATESMAN.
II. Poem by Prof. Ainsworth.
IL. Poem by Mr.. Garrison.
ID. Roll of members of the church
in Austin.
II. Roll of the Sunday school.
Is. List of the subscribers 10 thu
fund for building the church.
16. List of the Coral Builders soci
ETY., headed by Mrs. Gov. Ireland.
II. Bond of $1,000 of the Confederate
States, from M. B. Sweeney.
IS. Life of John Howard, the phi
lanthropist, from Mr.. CANNED.
10. Ten shares of life insurance
stock and Il sea bean, from Mr.. Gam
mel.
20. Song by Prof. Anderson.
81. The Galveston Daily News
some coin and other articles not men
. toned.
DIR. Goodwin, as pastor of the
church, standing upon the stone
made a short address, in which he in
stanced the fact that the old church
had decayed until the roof had become
absolutely dangerous, making thu
new church an absolute necessity
The contract was for $4,000, anC
$500 had been the expense of remov
ing the parsonage and tearing dowI
the old church. The amount sub
scribed was SIS, 700, and there was t;
balance yet to be raised of 5000
which he doubted not, judging
from the spirit with which the sub
scIiption had heen.made so far, would
he readily obtained from, "the coun
ties yet to be heard FROM" as they ex
press it in political parlance.
Altogether the exercises were yer,
interesting. 1t is proper to state tina
DR.. Goodwin has been assisted in hi
enterprise by the efforts of his prede
cessors in the pulpit, RcverendS VIM
Shepherd and III. V. Philpott, in build
ing up the denomination and canvass
ing the necessity for new churcl
edilice.