The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-27


day. At no time during the service of
three-quarters of an hour was there an
absence of memory of the late Lemuel
Amerman, after whom the chapel is
named and who was the superintend-
ent of the present mission at 1920 Null
berry street Mrs. Amerman was pres
ent yesterday
The new chapel site is on the east
side of Prescott avenue, north of Null
berry street. Ground was broken Mon
day morning, oct. Is, by Isaac Post
and Mrs Amcrman i'm the presence of
a large number of the mother congre-
cation and of members of the mission
Sabbath school The foundation has
been completed and within ten days
the structure will be enclosed 1t will
be ready for occupancy the latter part
of this month. AS the building is to
be only a temporary structure it will
be plainly and ineXpensively built and
in future wears will give way to a
/, substantial and permanent building.
About 200 persons witnessed yester-
days cornerstone laying, the attend
ant services being conducted by Rev.
DIR. Joseph X. Dixon and opened by
him with a brief invocation of divine
blessing upon the work. The doXology
was sung by the gathering and Psalm
81 was read by DR.. Dixon.
HISTORICAL MISSION POEM.
Attorney j. w. Browning, the assist
ant superintendent of the mission, read
an original poem, which was a history
of the mission in verse. He prefaced
the poem by remarks in feeling remem-
brance of Mr.. Amerman. Nearer My
God to Thee" the hymn that was sung
at the breaking of the mission ground
on the 18th, was repeated.
EX-Lieutenant Governor Watres, who
was the business associate of Mr..
Amerman, but who is not a member
of the Penn Avenue church, was in
troduced by DIR. Dixon as one of an
other faith, but a Christian man and,
through his long and close association
with Mr.. Amerman, well fitted to speak
on such an occasion.
Governor Watres remarked he would
not mar the ceremony with a formal
address, for if any duty should be free
of pomp and vanity it was the present
one. There was an import in the SER
vice and a lesson in the stone; the one
told of strength and the other of eter-
nifty; the whole was a united firmness,
cemented and in unity. 1t was an illus
tratiOn of unity and true brotherhood,
united hearts and hands. This sug-
gested a thought often expressed by
Mr.. Amerman that each hand had a
work to do. He often illustrated the
thought by telling the familiar story of
how the Holland boy saved the dikes
by thrusting his hand into the hole
made by the waters.
Governor Watres said he would be
untrue to what was uppermost in his
heart and the hearts of his hearers if
he did not speak particularly of the
deceased superintendent. He related
that when he returned to Scranton
with his friends body, a loved one
asked: Did he send any message to
me before he died?" A thought flashed
through the speakers mind at the time
and he answered: Yes; his life was
his message" 1t was valuable mes
sage not only to those near to him, but
to others who knew and respected him.
His great belief was that one should
love and obey the Truth.
poem by Whittier relating to the
example and precept of a good life was
read by Governor Watres at the con-
clusion of his address.
LAYING THE STONE.
tin box was then produced, IT
contained the newspapers giving the
news of Mr.. Amerman's death and
burial, a bible. issues of the Church
Messenger the Penn avenue church
publication, and a photograph of the
deceased superintendent These, DR..
Dixon remarked, We're in lieu of the
customary articles of future historical
interest and were simple tokens of the
faith of those assembled and memen-
toes of him after whom the structure
was named.
The box was placed in a space pre-
pared for 1t beneath the cornerstone
The latter was small in size and was
easily put in place after cement had
been laid on the wall beneath il, after
which Dr. Dixon pronounced the cere-
mony performed in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
The hymn How Firm a Foundation"
was sung and the service was con-
cluded with prayer by the pastor,
The singing was led by C. f. White
more
At recent meeting of the officers of
the church il was decided to recon-
mend Mr.. Browning for superintend-
ent Of the mission. He will probably
be elected at the next meeting of the
congregation. The mission teachers
are Isaac l.. Post, Mrs George r
Weed, Miss Florence Colvin, John ]
Van Mort, Mrs. Evans and Mrs. James
Drew. The last two are teachers of the
primary department.
The poem read by Mr.. Browning
was as follows:
THE STORY OF THE MISSION.
In granite walls within the mart of trade,
When Violets and roses were in bloom,
There sat young and silent man ana
o, Master now thy will to me make
known.
The answer came-the stiII small voice
above
My son go found a school on yonder hills
Where all the lost may feel the savior's
love,
Where Truth, is taught for such the
Master Wills.
Twas Gods command and loyal hearts
obeyed the call,
In sainted home the school was born
and grew,
Another man, a leader rare came in. and
all
The coming days were bright with
roseate hue.
Through all the summer time tin au
tumn came,
Glad hands took up the work the Mas
ter gave to do,
IlNhe days were brighter stlll, when 10;
there came
The lightning fash, our leader died. alas
twas true.