Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-11-15
THE CORNER STONE LAID
Gov. Rich and Washington
Gardner Here.
Interesting Exercises in the opera
House.


: House.
The storm last Saturday did not abat,
the ardor Of our Methodist friends. anC
they We're astir early in the morning
making flna preparations for laying tn,
corner stone of the new church. Some
disappointment was expressed when
telegram was received from Col. 4. Il
Bliss expressing his regret that ne coul(
not be here. Then little mpatienc,
when II was known that the Ann Arbol
train, which would bring Gov. Rich anG
Hon. Washington Gardner, was an hom
and half late.
The train came at last, however. and
the two distinguished guests Were met
by DR.. j. II. Lancashire and DR. +. :.
PettyJohn, and driven TO the Wright
House, where GOV. Rich, Mr. Gardner,
DR.. and Mrs f. 5. Pettyjohn and Rev.
and Mrs. McAllister had dinner.
Ihe storm made il impossible TO have
any exercises at the church, but the
guests and number OF our citizens went
| there, and Rcv. j. w. McAlhster placed
the copper box, Cthe contents OF which
were gwen IN our issue Of Fmday,) in
the corner stone, which was placed in
! position and adjournment taken to the
| opera house. Rev. McAllistcr called the
meeting TO order, and read the ritualistic
! service provided for such an OCCASION
| after which DR.. Kendall Brooks offered
! prayer Scripture lessons were read by
kcVS. w. +. Jones Of this place. and
George hllleen of Ithaca, when an
anthem was sung by the college double
quartet, Miss Gertrude Whiting accom-
paniSt
Rev McAllistcr then introduced GOV.
ken, who was greeted with enthusiastic
applause. The governor concentrated
the members Of the church upon the
success which has attended the new
enterprise thus far, and predicted the
early completion of the church. He said
that whatever had been started in Alma
had been pushed TO completion. Some
tlheN, sad the governor, business comes
to town, which is not beneficial to the
citizens thereof: other industries are
started, which add TO the material pros
ptnty o1 the place; but church not only
adus 10 the intrinsic value of property.
but more than all, is of incstimablc value
Ill It's moral influence a. Il preventive OF
crime. The money invested in church
- Il wise ana permanent investment,
aild the governor said that the state
cOud better afford to donate money tOI
church building than 90 discourage the
erection of churches by heavy taxation
ON church property The state is direct
ly ana intensely interested in the success
OF church, and III order that a church
be successful, it must have Il staple
government behind it. The governor
then spoke Of the work the state has
done Tor its dependent children. and
aalu lhat lt Is wiser to care for them
IN TINS way than to maintain criminals
a few years later.
Attcr an anthem by the church choir.
Hon. Washington Gardner was intro
duced. Mr.. Gardner began his remarks
by saying that while, 50 far as he knew.
GOV. Rich was not identified with any
christian denomination, he was identi- |
he'd with, and interested in every agency
that works for the good Of the common
wealth. He then said that while some
OF the objects for which the church has
been organized are not stated in its dis
clplne, the great body Of its membership
has taken the Master Teacher as Il |
preceptor, and Is trying to advance the
work which He started The church
building Is only the material by which
the work of the Church is carried ON.
Inc membership is only the visible form, |
behind which is the spirit of the Living |
God. As men consider finance. the
Church Is a failure, as il has never de- !
clared Il dividend, but on the contrary.
invariably has to levy tax on the stock |
holders. Notwithstanding this, men
have always been glad TO give TO the
Church for the good it does as Il moral |
educator, believing, as they do. that
IS not only the foundation but
the cap stone of manhood and woman |
hood. The Church is the only organized
agency with that object in view. The |
pubic school Is TO develop ana educate |
the mental powers. Pc ople do not sup
port schools TO teach aOrality. but TO |
develop mind. 1t is tIT lie that every fiber |
81 the life of a commu nifty is strength |
'ned by the influence Jf an educational !
institutions IN It's mid ST, but these insti- |
tutloh OF learning would not have been |
had not the Church previously existed |
All the institutions OF earning owe their |
existence TO the Christ AN Church. the |
'orncr stone of Whic In is the Master |
Teacher of man. Thu strength of our !
people lies IN the cXt( nsion and growth |
VI the ChWch ana M Vt i'm the Vastncss !
II material resources The real strength |
li the Nation rests I OF in its material !
esourscs, as prime factors, but in the |
manhood Of its citi; ems and unless there |
le u strong charact ~ Us foundation |
he supcrstructWp VIII fall Mr. Gard |
Ter then spoke uf the Chur IN as the |
'ustodidn OF the " ord of God. and the |
parent OF all thg missionary agencies I
which have done such mighty work i'm !
avmg the world for Christ, and closed |
MS address by spe aking of the Sunday !
chool ana ITS nlf 'hty influence for good |
After "A cOllcctb IN had been taken. the |
xcrcises closed with the singing OF |
smcrica hy th, college AID church |
hoirs and the so ngrcgati9r. with His
Whiting ~ the ianc.