The record-union., 1891-10-12
LAYING TIE CORNER STONE.
Ceremonies at the Site of the New
English Lutheran Church.
Words of Good Cheer from Divines of
Different Religious Beliefs-An
Went Or Smoothly.

C~h"ANii ~ 1ooh pldce yesterday afternoon on
the site OF the proposed house of worship
sixteenth street, between and K
Ihere was very large concourse of
people on foot and in vehicles present,
and much interest was taken in the i'm
pressive exercises. A temporary cane
ped platform had been erected over that
part of the foundations where the corner
stone was to be laid, and upon this were
gathered all the prominent divines of the
cty, the officers and trustees of the new
church, and invited guests.
The cornerstone, a huge block of red
sandstone, hung suspended by pulleys
over the receptacle which it was destined
to cover for years to come, and was the
opJect Of much interest.
THE CEREMONIES.
The exercises commenced promptly at
B O'Clock, Rev. DR.. Hoskinson, the Iuth-
eran pastor, officiating. The choir
chanted the Lords prayer, the pastor
read some appropriateS passages from
scripture and Rev. DIR. Tindall offered
prayer.
Several of the ministers present were
then called upon for a few words of cheer.
Rabbi j. Levi, OF the Jewish Syna-
gogue, was the first speader. He said 1t
afforded him much pleasure to be
present on this important OCCASION
he was among those who differed
widely from the pastor in the details of
religious belief, but the same principles
governed them all. While there were
many points upon which they could
not agree. yet his belief was as theirs
The time would come when all minor
dlf1erences would cease, and above every
thing would be one God, one brother
hood and good to all mankind None
We're more anxious than he to see the re-
plantation OF churches. Tear down your
churches, burn your hymn books and
your property will go to vandals, your
daughters to Hbertines. True religion
might be compared to the making of a
pudding. 1t would be absurd to attempt
to take the corn as it grows and make the
pudding OF 1t. 1t has to be pulverized
INTO flour, and other ingredients are
used. With religion there must be a re-
fining and
SPLITTING UP OF CREEDS
Al around. The very letters spelling
the word church suggest all that is
good and pure. 'C' stands for Chris
tanity, 'H' for honor, 'U' for upright
ness, 'R' for righteousness, 'C for
charity, and 81 for humanity. If these
qualifications be not within your church,
away with your church! But if l under
stand the teachings of the English Luth-
eran Church, they are all there. / hope
that the uses your new church will be
put to will be the noblest, and that the
blessings Of the Highest viii rest
upon it.''
Rev. DR.. Burton of the Christian
church was the next speaker. He said
that there was certain times in the his
tory OF the Church and State that were
especially significant in sentiment-when
tle people were given overtO expressions
OF thought and of JOY. Such was the
meaning OF the present meeting. Il re-
Joice with you, my friends" he said
''and with all humanity, in these cere-
monies to-day. This stone represents
the foundation upon which you and |
are building our hopes of Christianity.
We rejoice because the addition of this
church means that our city is advancing
IN culture, morality and righteousness.
1he building of new churches speaks
volumes for any city"
WAS NOT BIGoTED.
DR.. Burton said he was not of the Eng
HSh Lutheran way of thinking. vet he
old not upon this occasion feel like the
man who did not weep at a funeral, and
when asked why he was so unconcerned,
explained that he did not belong TO that
parish.
Continuing, the reverend gentleman
sald that he was proud of California
proud of her fruits, her minerals. her
soil, her climate, and her enterprising
citizens. But, ah, there was where he
would have TO stop; there was where he
would nave TO descend from the lofty pin
nacle he had reached, and take cogniz-
ance OF the fact that despite all of Cali
tornia's gIories, she still had more crimi-
nails, more insane people, more crime and
more saloons than any other State of her
population. Therefore the new church
should be welcomed, since it was the un-
Cercurrent OF religion that was to save
homes and souls.
LUTHER STILL LIVES.
ATf- (.aorr,o Of
J.. Church was next introduced. He said
that his remarks would simply be q re-
Iteration of what he had heard, and
prompted by the occasion. The occasion
meant great deal. First, il meant faith
in God. No church would be built i'm
Sacramento unless there was faith in
God. Second, 1t meant that Luther still
lives. The immortality of his influence
was manifest, as was also the famous
declaration, The just shall live by
ialth.. Third, 1t meant a protest to all
that is sinful Fourth, it meant the
preaching of the Word. Fifth, it meant
the lifting up of Christ.
Rev. W. Ward Willis of the First Bap-
tist Church said that he had learned TO
love the pastor of the English Lutheran
Church, and knew that he would preach
the doctrine of Christ and lead his flock
in the path of righteousness. He was
glad TO be present to show his sympathy
with the good work, and to say: MAY
the Lord bless thee and prosper thee.'
The choir, assisted by many of the in
vited guests and spectators, then sang the
following hymn, led by Rev. Charles
Oehler:
Behold the sure foundation stone
Which God in Zion lays
10 build our heavenly hopes upon,
And His eternal praise.
Chosen Of God. to sinners dear,
Let Saints adore the name;
lhey trust their whole salvation here,
Nor shall they suffer shame.
What, though the gates of hell withstood;
Yet must this building rise;
IT'S Thine own work, Almighty God
And wondrous in our eyes.
BENEFITS OF CHRISTIANITY.
After the singing Rev. NJ. w HANNA
of New York addressed the assemblage
on "'The Benefits of Christianity.n The
reverend gentleman said that his subject
was one of great scope-the benefits of
Christianity were so many that, owing 10
the limited time, he could only outline a
few of them. They did not need dissect-
ing nor lengthy argument Christianity
elucidates itself. 1t is self-authenticatin
and self-reyealing, 1t bears it's own fruit
Christianity had given 10 the world a
rev conception of what home was
That possibly, was its first representa-
ton among men--an orderly home.
Christianity had instilled into the minds
of men an original conception of home,
which the world would never have had
without il. 1t had given a new concep-
ton of national life; had given 10 ma
tions the highest ideas in their transac-
tions with each other; had settled dis
putes without bloodshed; and had gov
erned the adjustment of rights between
men and nations. This good will was
all the result Of Christianity. Christianity
had given the highest conception of the