The herald., 1895-11-29
LAYING THE CORNERSTONE
Thanksgiving Celebration at the Union
Avenue Methodist Church
Addresses by the Rev. J. A. B. Wilson and
Others-1usic and Scripture Readings
Concluded the Ceremony

The members of the Union avenue
Methodist Episcopal church celebrated
THANKSGIVING cay by laying the corner
stone of their new building, at the corner
of Court street and Union avenue. J. A.
Mcmillan, pastor of the church, opened
the pro gram with few appropriate re-
marks, after which the choir sang a
hymn. The opening prayer was offered
by Or. c. r. Pattee. Miss Alice IL.
Eaton sang solo, The Holy City. in a
beautiful ma inner, which was followed
by responsive reading, led by the Rev. j.
b. Green. Selections from the scripture
were then read by the Rev. p. III. Bod
kin. Anothe, hymn by the choir, and
the Rev. J. A. b. Wilson was introduced
and delivered the address OF tho day.
Mr.. Wilson reviewed the history OF Meth
odism IN America down to the present
time, showing how the church had grown
to Its present Importance. Tho pioneers
would have thought such progress i'm pos
who dare to revel in thoughts of the i'm
possible. Great thoughts emanate from
God; He puts them into the nina OF
some human whom the world calls a
crank. Very few, even among the great,
live very far ahead OF their time. George
gton lived only twenty-five years
in advance of his age, ana he mapped
out the policy or this country according
", and we have been sailing aorund that
little teacup ever since. May the time
soon come when some man or some party
Will arise and broaden out to meet the
requirements of these later days"
The speaker then went on to outline
the history OF the Methodist church as it
exists today. 1t has been said of US that
although our members are numerous We
have not so many great names as other
denominations, whether that be true or
not there are thousands of the com m o n
people within our church whom other de-
nominations would not have reached.
Although the proud southerner stood
aloof from the humble doctrines OF
Methodism, there came time when he
too was won over to Christ by the agency
OF his own slaves. When the church could
not reach the white master it went to
black slaves in his cabin. Such has
been our history everywhere, and may it
continue TO be so as long as there are
lowly people to be raised from their deg
radiation. The LORD mas to keep some of
US living in sight of the poor house to
get Us to better country
Referring then to the WORK of the pio'
neers on this coast and especially in this
city. Mr.. Wilson spoke in glowing terms
of the self-sacriicing devotion of these
men. Continuing he said "In praising
these heroes let US not lose sight OF the
fact that it was Gods work and that they
were assisted by the Master. They bad
a hard struggle. and there is vet plenty
for us to struggle for. Any church that
makes an easy place for itself writes its
own epitaph. While we do not nave to
face the same problems that they had to
solve we have Just as important work to
do. We must look at the future and
meet it and adapt our methods TO the
contingencies that are before us.
Rev. A. NJ. Hough, pastor Of the first
Methodist church built in this city, spoke
briefly of the experience Of those early
days. lie was followed by J. b. Green,
who made few appropriate remarks.
The congregation then gathered about
the cornerstone in which were deposited
the following articles: Historical sketch
of the church; roll OF members of the
church and Sunday school, with the
names of the various officers and church
organizations; copies of the New York
Christian. Advocate; California Oh ristian
Adv ocate; Epworth Herald; Church Bull
letin New York Voice California Voice
publications. OF the University OF South
ern California; minutes OF the last South
ern California Conferences; the Herald,
Times and Express.
The ceremony was closed by an invo-
cation by the rector, j. b. Green, followed
by the doxology.