Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-17
CORNER Stone Laid
OF THE NEW BgNWOOD Il. z. CHURCH YES
TERDAY AFTERNOON.
A Splendid Parade Of Lodges Of BenwOod ard Vi
CiDiy-0ersmony Attending the Laying
Of the Corner Stone.

of the new NJ. E. Church al Benwood
yesterday afternoon attracted the
largest crowd that has been congregated
in Benwood for many days past. Judg-
ing from the enthusiasm manifest In
the interest OF the people a stranger
wonld not have supposed that the event
was a denominational affair The pas
tor Of the church, Rev. D. A. Denton,
had given an invitation to the local
lodges TO join In the ceremonies, and
these in turn had invited their sister or
ganiZ&tiOns OF Wheeling, Bellaire and
Martins Ferry TO participate. As a re-
suit the procession was a splendid turn
out, over three hundred men being In
line. They marched through the
streets Of Benwood and as far north as
Forty-eighth street. The organizations
In line vera:
First division-Police force, l. o. o.
f. lodge of BenwoOd, Belaire, Wheel
ing and Martins Ferry, Lincoln lodge
No 40 Of Ben wood, BenwoOd uniformed
rank of knights of Pythias; second
division, under command of Henry
Riddle - American Mechanics, Nc
Mechen Band, B azing Arror Tribe Of
Red Men, Knights OF Mystic Chain,
Knights Of Golden Eagle. Heathering-
toms Band OF Bellaire were at the head
OF the procession and John W. Leach,
Samuel Morris and Henry Riddle did
duty as marShsls. Men, women and
children were out en- masse and thronged
the streets of the route Of the pro-
cession or stood in the doorways and
crowded the windows.
Heavy boards laid upon the beams
from the walls of the foundation OF the
new church served as temporary
flooring, and upon this those who had
taken part in the parade stood with the
members of the chorus and others. A
thousand people gathered here and
around the walls. Dozens were also
upon the housetOps OF the surrounding
locality to get good view of the pro-
ceedings. At 4O'clock Heatheringtou's
band played a low strain of opening
music. Printed copies Of hymns to be
sung were distributed among all the
audience, and they all Joined with the
chorus in the singing Of the Corona
ton" Rev. ID. A. Denton spoke the
words of the rituaistjC prayer
appropriate to such occasions, and
the Presiding Elder, Rev. a. Wick,
read the 132d Psalm. Rev w. Perry,
of Wesley NJ, (. church, Wheeling,
read a Scripture lesson The band
played softly America" and after
wards Rev. DR.. Riker, OF Fourth Street,
made an address Of fifteen minutes.
The gist Of Rev. Riker's remarks was
as follows: The greatest structures
that have ever been erected on this
earth have been built for religious pur-
poses Man is a religious being and
has built in line with the flight Of his
aspiration to God. Men, women and
children have made great sacrifices to
TO erect structures TO God. The inter
est manifested In the laying Of a church
corner stone speaks Of the progress and
welfare OF a community. The welfare
and happiness of a COmmunity's people
depend upon the churches. There has
never been but one building erected in
opposition to the Christian religion. In
it was preached infidelty but the com
mon sense of the people induced them
to repudiate il. II was not supported
and was sold some time ago under the
hammer OF a sheriff The denomina-
tions of our land are building in this
country an average Of three churches
day. Every time a church is
erected il is for track upward
! for the eXaltation, the coronation OF
mans spiritual being. The people OF
Benwood should not only give to this
structure their financial assistance, but
should help 10 its prosperity by crowd
| ing it 10 the doors. When the walls 60
up and the last single is laid on the
/ roof Of this structure Heaven will be
/ more blessed because CT its existence.
| The church IS coming. 1t is an evil
! dence of prosperity Of the community
in which it dwells. Every man who
puts a dollar in it will be fully repaid.
| I believe the erection Of this church
means happy future for Benwood. II
means happy homes and refined infu.
/ ences.
The choir and people all sang earnest
! ly the hymn "The Firm Foundation
after Rev. Riker's address. Before the
LAYING Of the stone Rev. A. Mick re d
! the ritual for such occasions from the
! book of discipline Of the NJ. Z. Church.
| A committee of ten members Of the loCa
| lodges assisted in the placing Of the
stone. A neat tin box was placed un
derneath and contained the following
| articles: A record OF the organization
OF the Benwood NJ. E. Church as sta
ton; names OF first trustees, of Presid
! ing Elders and pastors, date Of dedica'
ton Of old church; names OF the mem
| bers of the Ladies' Aid Society, date oil
organization names Of Building Com
mittee; names of architects and con
tractors; names of Pittsburg Chris
tan Advocate, New York AdUO
cate, EplCorth Herald, Wheeling
! REGISTER, TlteliigGRcCr, EUening NclCS,
| ZtOn'S Herald, The Corner Stone, record
( Of organization OF Blazing Arrow Tribe
| No 10, Imp. Order Mechanics, names OF
city officials and police, a copy Of the
| Holy Bible and copy of the Discipline
of the NJ. T. Church, constitution and
bylaws Of Epworth League, names Of
Lone Star Assembly No. l, Pythian
Sisterhood, Pride of the Mystic Chain
No. IA, Garfield Temple No. /, Ladies
of Golden Eagle. list Of names of Of
ficisls Of Benwood Sunday school,
date of organization and names
of officers Of Epworth League.
The exercises all passed of smoothly.
The new structure in process Of cree
ton will be a handsome addition "a
| Benwood. The cost will be not less
than 50, 900 and will probably be ready
for dedication by December.