Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-06
THE CORNER STONE LAID.
Interesting Ceremonies Yesterday at the
Site of St Thomas P. E Church.
A Large Attendance of the Clerg1
and Members of the Parish
Bishop Parets Address. nj

The corner stone Of the new ST. Thomaf
Church. at the corner OF 18th and Madison
streets. was laid yesterday afternoon by
Bishop Paret with impressive services.
Fully five hundred people, mostly parish
toner's Of the new church, witnessed the
ceremonies from the street and from an
improvised platform that had been laid
over the rafters Of the first floor. The
weather was perfect for such an outdoor
event At 4:30 the little chapel that has
been the home OF the parish for many
months. Immediately adjoining the site Of
the fine new church, on Madison street,
was well filled. The west side was occu-
pied by the children of the Sunday school
In the vestry were the rectors of all the
Episcopal churches in the city and three
bishops, Paret of Maryland, Leonard Of
Ohio and Cheshire OF North Carolina
Promptly on the hour the rector. Mr.. As
pinwall, gave out the announcements for
the march from the chancel and the line
was formed. First marched a lad with
the banner Of the school, attended by two
little girls In white. Following them came
the children OF the school, walking In the
order of their size. They presented a beau
tiful appearance as they trudged along the
asphalt, up Madison street to 18th. and
thence southwark to the main door OF the
new church. With the children walked
| their teachers and by the time the pupils
became about as tall as the teachers there
| succeeded the members of the vestry and
the building committee, accompanied by
| the members of the vestry OF ST. Johns
and st. Andrews parishes. from which the
| new St Thomas was carved.
The Interesting Services
Following the vestrymen were the clergy
men. walking two and two. They were
Bishop Paret of Maryland, Bishop Leonard
lof
lima, Rev. Charles H. Hall Of Trinity
Church. Brooklyn. at one time rector Of
the Church of the Epiphany In this city;
DIR. Buck, Mr.. Cole. Mr.. Barr. Mr.. Ames.
DR.. Addison, Mr.. Mott DIR. McKim, DR..
/ Stewart, Mr.. Tongue, NJ. Johns, Mr.. Buck,
Mr.. Mitchell, Mr.. Grifhths. DR.. Johnston,
Mr.. Clark, Mr. Dudley and Mr.. Perry.
| When the head of the procession reached
the doorway it separated into two lines.
and through these the bishops and clergy
walked TO the northeast corner OF the
building, where the corner stone lay pre-
pared for the final setting. The platform
had been covered with a canvas roof. The
white robes of the clergy made an i'm
pressive picture in the midst Of the rude,
unfinished walls OF the church. On one
side of the platform stood small group
| OF workmen, with mortar bucket and trow-
| els, ready for the word to place me stone.
| When the people had all taken their places
on the platform, with scores more In the
| street, opposite the corner stone, the rec
/ tor gave out the hymn, 276 which was
sung by all present TO the guidance OF the
organ in the chapel. played by Prof. Sher-
| man. The clear voices OF the children min
| gled with the deeper notes OF the vestry-
| men, and above ali were to be heard the
| trained notes Of a quartet composed OF MISS
| McCulloch, Mrs. Mauro, Mr.. Crosby and
Mr. Hoover.
Placed I'm the Corner Stone.
The singing over. the Apostles Greed
was said by the clergy ard people In unison.
and then the Lords Prayer, after which
| the bishop read a number of collects suit
| able TO the occasion. The rector OF the
church, Rev. J. r. Aspinwall, announced
the contents of the corner stone as follows;
A copy of the Bible; a copy OF the revised
Episcopal prayer book. and the hymnal;
the Church Almanac for 1894; copy OF q
| sermon delivered by Mr. Aspinwall on St
Thomas on the 10th Of December. 1888,
/ when the name Of the church was changed;
a list of the names OF the rector. assistant
rector and the vestry, and OF the ONO 5.
teachers and members OF the Sunday school;
| certificate of the laying OF the corner
stone. giving the names OF the architect
and builder of the church. and also the
names of the building committee; a pro-
gram OF the services, coins OF the current
year. and copies OF the Churchman. the
Maryland Churchman, The Star and the
At a word the workmen stepped forward
! and set the stone. When the mortar was
spread. the bishop took a trowel, prepared
| for the occasion, and with his own hands
| smoothed the surface after the manner
! prescribed by the ritual. The stone. with its
| copper box of interesting mementoes OF the
occasion, was then carefully laid in place,
| and. with a bright new mallet OF shining
| wood. hoped at each end by bands OF steel.
the bishop struck its upper surface three
| times, saying: I'm the name OF the Father.
and OF tie Son, and OF the Holy Ghost
Amen. We lay this corner stone OF st.
Thomas Church for the praise and glory OF
God. and for His work Of redemption among
| men. Amen"
The bishops Address.
The bishop then made a brief address, IN
which he called attention to the symbolism
| Of the occasion. He expressed his thanks
| for the church in general, for himself, for
| the rector and for the congregation that
| this new enterprise had been started so
auspiciously. The growth of the new parish.
| he said. has been a marvel. and is TO be
taken as an earnest OF the work to be done
In IL. He expressed the wish that corner
stone laying could be more real, instead, as
now, OF being merely emblematic. He spoks
OF the corner-stones of earlier times, which
| were massive and magnificent IN size and
| adornment and were let into two walls
thus binding the whole structure together
| and forming a part OF its strength and
4 solidity. But" he went on, this stone
will be visible, whereas. the stone of other
| days was apt 70 be hidden in the masonry.
4 1t will be a constant reminder TO all who
see 1t OF the symbolism embodied In its
| position"
| The bishop spoke OF the peculiar character
| Of the church building. which is devoted
| wholly to God and not to man, and which
| should show its character in every particle
| of material put into il. None but the best
| should be permitted to go into the building
| thus symbolizing the perfection OF all God 8
| work. Every stroke upon the finished
| building should indicate fits character. not
only as church, but as a particular kind
\ Of church.
| After the address there was another HYMN
| sung, No. 2U2, and then the congregation
| was dismissed with the benediction OF thS
| bishop.