The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-10-04
AND COMPARISONS.
LAYING THE CONVERSIONS


Tuesday last at 10 a. M, the ceremonies
OF laying the corner stone OF the new
Lutheran church on Lewis street took
place. The stone used was the same one
ner of the church building which until
lately stood at tie corner of Beverly ard
Water streets. This old building and lot
has been sold to the Y. NJ. G. A, which
is preparing TO erect handsome building
for The purposes of the Association. With
the proceeds of this sale the Council of the
Lutheran church purchased the lot on
Lewis street, upon which they will erect
a new and handsome church and Sunday
school room, all under the same roof.
The corner stone of this new building was
laid with beautiful. touching, and appropriate
ceremonies. goodly number of citizens
gathered on the church lot. and took quick but
quiet pc session of all available points where
they might see what was going on. Staunton
Lodge No. 10 of Masons, headed by the Stone
wall Band. marched to the church lot promptly
at the appointed hour. The congregation OF
the church, its officers and Council had assem-
bled in the basement of the Methodist church
and marched over to the church lot headed by
Rev. j. A. Snyder, President OF the Virginia
synod. who conducted the serv ices as laid
down in the Book of Worship. In company
with Rev. Mr.. Snyder were Rev. DR.. Mcfarland
of the First Presbyterian church, Rev. w. Q.
HulIihen OF Trinity Episcopal church. and Rev
DIR. H H Halves of the Second Presbyterian
church, Dr. Snyder passed inside the foun-
d ation walls of the church. He repeated the
l22nd Psalm, commencing ~ was glad when
they said unto me, Let us go unto the house of
the Lord" On the platform, the affairs had been
placed for Masonic ceremonies. A cabinet
organ was placed against the west wall, at
which Mrs. Y. Z. Hammond presided, and the
vocal music was beautifully rendered by the
choir of the Episcopal church, consisting of
Miss Fannie Tams, Mis- May B. berkeley. Ed.
Euritt, and G. X. Cooke DR., Snyder stood near
the stone, near him were the visiting clergy,
q, G. Berry, Henry Il. Brown. j j. Prufer, j A.
Wise, O. I, Hammond. NJ. p. Funkhouser, and
ID. Landes OF the church Council. Capt. David
Bucher, the oldest surviving member of the
church, and the congregation after the reading
of the servicds, the box for holding the deposits
for The corner stone was brought out. 1t is 6
copper box incAes deep, 10 inches wide. and IL
inches long. On the part of the church the
following articles were placed in the box by
q. q. Berry. viz: Book OF Worship, Lutheran
Missionary Journal, September, 1883: Lutheran
Home Io4g4iai, september, 1888; Augsburg Sun
day school Lessor leaflets. 1883; Lutheran Sun
day school Herald, September. 1855; Minutes of
the U. S. so, Session, held at Savannah, Ga,
November 24th 2Ath, 1887; Lutheran Observer,
September %, 1883; Our Church Paper, Septem-
Der 26, 1888; Lutheran visitor, September q,
1898. Y. M. &. A Waterman, September rs, 1888;
VALLEY VIRGINIAN. September q. Vindicator,
,f,ap Nav anr,-
tanning account of the death and funersl OF
Rev. S. L. Riser; ists of Officers, teachers, and
scholars Of the sunday school; statement as to
ssle of old church. &C; certificate Of member
ship of the Eqnity Life Insurance Company;
Stanton Life, and Inter-States Insurance Com
panies; Coin from old box; Photograph of Rev.
5. I. Riser % cents in paper money from Mrs.
.. T. Hammond old coins given by Jno. Lam
DIES and Matthew Schmidt, History OF the
church by David Landes.
Rev. Mr.. Snyder struck the corner stone
three times with his gavel, and gave the name
OF the building as ''Christ Evang eliaal Lutheran
Church" This closed the ceremonies on the
part of the church,
The platform was now cleared OF citizens and
clergy. and the Masonic Order. under J. How
ard Wayt, Esq, as Worthy Grand Master I'M.
der whose skillful hand the ceremonies of the
beauty to elicit the praise OF all present, took
possession OF 81, At the stands were W. B.
McChesney, D. G. NJ; W. II. H. Lynn. s. W.;
i. B. Eskridge,J. W.; A. Nj. simpson, Chap
lain JAS Ker, Marshall, A A. ESkridge, Sec.
The choir rendered the hymn beginning, ''To
Heavens High Architect All Praise A. A.
Eskridge. Sec, and P, II. Trout, Treas, de-
posted the following articles la ihe box:
Roll of the officers OF the Grand Lodge of Ma
sons OF Virginia, Same of The Grand Royal
Arch Chapter. and same of the Grand Com
mandery of Knights Templar, and also roll OF
the officers and members of Staun ton Lodge of
Masons. A copy of the address, CT ZION. X. Z.
W. Duke, Jr. of Charlottesville, before Staun-
ton Lodge at its Cantonnial, october 18th, 1886.
and the programme of exercises on that oeca-
sion. A roll OF the officers of the city Munich
pad government, the Protestant Pastors of the
city, and copy of the city directory contrib
uted through +. N. Gushing. A medal WI ought
from the fist Bessemer steel made in the South,
March sth, 1888. Birmingham Ala. Programme
| of the exercises on this OCCASION. The follow
| ing coins, silver dollar, half dollar. quarter
dollar, lQ-cent piece, a nickle, and cent piece.
all dated 1883, penny dated 1929 received
! from Mrs. z. s. Venable. an aged member of
| the church. Business card of Stonebprner d
| Ptufer printers for this occasion. Names of
| Tue lOt Uul.Nl4tS tH9 new CuurCu, db
| follows: S. N Raghy & Co., and J. NJ. Wilson,
| and David Bucher, superintendent on the part
| of the congregation and contractor who built
| the church in 1885,
| The box was then scaled by Alex. Grubert,
and Deposited in lbs resting place by A. A.
| Eskrdge, Sec. and p. H. Trout, Treas. The
| square, plumb and level were applied by the
/ proper officer, the "corn of nourishm ent," the
''wine of refreshment" and the "ui4 OF Joy and
gladness' were poured unon the stone. and the
| Worthy Grand Master declared the tone TO be
! square, plumb and level, and the work well
/ done" "lhe implements of operative ma
sonry'' were placed in the hands of Capt. David
Butcher. as superintendent OF construction
The benediction Waa prodounced by Rev. DIR.
Nelson, which completed the ceremonies OF
/ the notes.
/ NOTES
John H. Wehn was the oldest Sunday School
scholar pre&ent, his attendance dating before
! Tie war.
Capt. Butcher was the oldest member of the
| church present. and was the contractor and
bpilaes of The old church.
Geo. Peace, very active little fellow in the
sunday school was present with two old cents,
which he desired to place in The corner stone
box. but the little fellow was greatly dlsap-
pointed as he could not get through the crowd