Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-09-19

An Impressive OccasiOn.-On Mon.
day morning last the corner stone OF the
new ediice of Christs Prote slant Episcopal
Church was laid with imposing ceremonies
by Rev. Richard Iempieman Brown, tee
tor Of Prince Georges Parish, in which this
church is located officially. The new oh urch
will be built upon the site of church build
ing Of the same denomination and of the
same name, erected in about 1921, and which
was pulled down in May last. The laying
Of the cornerstone was at an earlier day
than had been anticipated, in consequence
of the advanced state of the new building,
and therefore it was not very generally
known to the public, still there were suffi-
Gent persons present to render the occasion
one of deep and tender interest.
The cornerstone was placed in the north
east corner and on the front or entrance
side of the building. In a square cavity,
cut in the cornerstone, was placed small
tin box which contained copy of the pro-
ceedings Of the Centennial Celebration OF
Montgomery county, in 1876, as prepared by
Thomas Anderson, Esq; the journal of the
one hundredth annual convention of the
Protestant Episcopal Diocese of Maryland,
Bible, Prayer and Hymn Books; short
sketch in manuscript of Christs church,
with an account of the laying of the pres.
ent cornerstone, with the following names
Of persons connected with the erection of
the new building Rector, Richard Temple
man Brown; Vestrymen, John Il. Vinson,
ii. W. Talbot, j. L. Dawson, John G. Eng.
land, J. j. Higgins, Thomas Anderson and
John Mcdonald; Church Wardens, Thos.
r. Suter and Jehn G. England; Treasurer,
II. W. Talbot; Architect, +. f. Davis, of
Baltimore; Builder, b. Edmonston, Rock
ville a copy of the Baltimore Sun and Bal
timore american, Montgomery county SEN
TfNEL, Montgomery Adoocate, Montgomeri.
an, and one piece of all the denominations
Of United States nickle and silver coins for
the year 1884.
The ceremonies opened with the reading
of the bend Psalm and was followed with
the iomula used upon similar occasions. A
portion Of the remarks Of the Reverend Rec
tor were lringed with sadness that the sur.
rounding circumstances seemed too plainly
10 force upon him. Standing in the midst
of the debris of the old building, with every
stone hooking and eloquent memory of
the hallowed long ago, he appeared the
only link between the past and the present
CHANGING over the countenances of those
who stood close by his side and participated
in the ceremonies, and as memory like
flower-gatherer wandered far and wide even
midst the sunny footprints of innocent
childhood, when We thought we would
never die, and when the yellow sunbeams
streamed in upon US through the old fash
toned windows and od-fashioned window.
panes, We realized top sadly that the history
OF the old church had been written down 10
the last sunset-one or two lights seemed,
however, to tremble faintIy along the hori-
zon rs though to guard its memory 10 the
closing hour. And as the voice Of the vener-
able Rector likewise trembled in the soft
sunlight of that September morning, it was
significant reminder that we have 10 live
as our fathers lived, be subject to disease
as they were, grow old as they grew old,
and die as they died /; that we must submit
to the law which has written the doom Of
decay upon ali things, which has made US
mortal, and when the inevitable hour comes
TO pass away as the countless millions who
preceded us.
The church, when completed, will be a
handsome and imposing structure Of modern
architectural design and will cost probably
ten thousand dollars Some Of the build
ing committee indulge the idea that the
church will be plastered before winter.
Samuel +. Stonestreet, Esq, who was
present at the laying Of the cornerstone
sixty-three years ago, was present on the
occasion of this last ceremony and related
many interesting little incidents Of the first
occasion.