Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-07-14
A NEW CHURCH.
Cornerstone Of the Unitarian Church
Laid nv the Masonic Order.

opposite st. Joseph's, where the uew
Unitarian church is being built. A
large number of people were present
under burning sun TO attest their
interest. Rev. Brown opened the
the services by reading the first SER
vice, the members of Unity church
responding. During this service the
two real masonsO. f. Taylor and AL
Olinger spread the mortar and lifted
the rock to its place. The impress
sive reading closed with the Lords
Prayer in chorus and the male
quartet sang with fine effect an
anthem "Worthy is the Lamb.u Col.
Leo Willis now read history of the
Liberal Christian church movement
in Salem. now united and organized
fnr rational religion. The first
meeting held in Salem was in 1888,
and on April 25, 1889, a regular
society consisting of 26 persons was
organized with the single advice for
its creed: "In the love of truth and
the spirit of Jesus Christ" 1t now
numbers over one hundred.
The trumphal arch erected by the
Ladies Society of the church stood
at the right, composed of Ivy en-
twined with garlands of gold and
white resting on basis of the same.
The officers of the grand lodge
and prominent masons were present
aud took part in the ceTmonies as.
sisted by a large body of master
inasons, Grand Master b. Van Dusen,
Deputy Grand Master f. A. Moore,
and Grand Tyler Wilson, Geo. b
Gray, as grand secretary; j. II
Albert, grand treasurer; Il. Nc. f.
Patton. grand senior warden; DR..
w. d. Jeffries, grand junior warden,
j. HI. Ross, grand marshal; VIM.
Miller, grand chaplain; r. A. Mil
Ter, grand senior deacon; f. G. Per-
riue, grand junior deacon; G. S. Nc
Nally and VIM. Brown, grand
stewards; g. Steiner, grand standard
bearer; and Lot Pearce, grandsword
bearer.
Rev. Brown now announced that
he turned the services over to this
most ancient and honorable order
of masons. The Grand Master
then stopped forward and with
solemn and appropriate speech and
demeanor accepted the honor and
proceeded with the ritual. A hymn |
by the choir and congregation was
then sung and Rev. Brown offered
prayer, The Grand Master then
called upon the Grand Treasurer to
place in the square cavity of the
stone articles to be preserved under
the corner and"that ages might pass
away ere it be seen again by man,
The other officials now examined
tbe stone and applied the various
tests to the stone to see that it it was
laid plumb, square and level, and
IL was found "Well formed, True
and Trusty." Following is list of
articles put under the stone:
History of the society, history and
records of the Sunday school, his
tory and records of the Ladies Aux
iliary society, sermon on Inspiration
by Rev. III. H. Brown, program of
the business mems carnival of
Thanksgiving, 1890, bond of union
of the society and conditions of
membership, Sunday Statesman of
July II, 1891; Saturday JOURNAL of
July IL, 1891.
The elements of corn, wine and
oil, Masonic emblems of nourish-
ment, retreshment and joy, were
now placed upon the corner by the :
grand master who pronounced the !
Masonic blessing.
After music by the band the choir
iang Nearer My God, TO Thee"
md the grand tyler delivered IA brief !
'ration in honor of masonry. The
aides society now presented their /
riumphai arch, emblematic of God !
md immortality. The band again !
played and the cornerstone was \
literally buried in floral offerings.
Prof. M. V. Rork, the first pastor of I
his society, now spoke briefly of the .
mall beginnings of this society and
eneral teachings of Unitarianism. u
Ion. s. q. Adams, formerly of the
'hristian church, now a Iiberalist,
poke ut some length, and Rev. II
'rown, pastor of Unity, in conclu
ion dismissed the assemblage in an
BILE address, the opening words OF y,
'hich were as follows: :,
ain loye of truth aud in the spirit :,
Jesus Christ we unite for the =,
'orship of God and The service of y
lan." This is the bond of our =.
nion, and the house to rise on this =,
now laid with sacred h
tual, shall stand for this and moth h
lg less than this, for this is uni !,
ersal principle. God aud man, r.
ruth and love include all there is. :,
Here no man can be a stranger, for :,
ais is the peoples church. Here !.
lall be spoken the living word. s
iere the emphasis shall be laid on
fe aud not belief, on character and X
OF creed. Here religion shall be
Irge enough 10 embrace the latest
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