The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-11

Description of the New Bui1ding-The In
teresting Services Held Yesterday-ser-
mon by Presiding Elder Thayer.
| To the members ofsElm streetMethodist
church of Pleasantdale over which the
Rev. J. H. Roberts is pastor, and the cit
liens of that community yesterday was an
important day, as it marked an event Of
religious interest, it being the day for the
services and ceremonies connected with
the laying of the corner stone of the new
church which the people of that parish
are about to build. The old church has
become inadequate for the needs of the
parish and the ground has been broken
now on the adjoining lot at the corner of
Elm and Chapel streets for the erection of
the new house of worship.
The services were held In the church
and upon the platform were seated with
the pastor, the Revs. E. o. Thayer the
presiding elder, Walter Canham of Old
Orchard and L. II. Bean of Knightville.
The services began with the singing of
the hymn: "In the cross of Christ 1
Glory" The congregation were led in
the singing by the organist Mr.. Frank
Evans and a chorus choir of mixed voices.
The pastor Rev. J...H.E Roberts then led
in responsive reading froms the Psalms
1872, after which an earnest prayer for
Gods blessing upon the work of the local
church was invoked by Rev. l.. Il. Bean
An appropriate anthem was then sung,
followed by the reading of the scripture
lesson by Rev. Walter Canhamsswho read
the Sd chapter of 1st Corinthians.
The reading of the scripture was fol-
lowed by the singing of the familiar
hymn Crock of Ages" by the choir and
congregation. The pastor then announced
that the sermon of the occasion would be
preached by the presiding elder Rev. E.
o. Thayer of Deering.
Rev. Mr.. Thayer took his text from l
Peter, End chapter, 4th and 9Th verses.
symbolic of laying the corn er stone of
living church. The church of God is
founded upon living stone. Christ is
represented as the chief corner stone of
the church Of God. Though rejected of
men He was elected of God and chosen as
the chief corner stone of the true and liv-
ing church. Men of this day are trying
to build church on philosophy, science
or other material, but none will sta nd
except they are built on the true corner
stone which is Christ the Son of God.
Christ is the pattern for our lives and we
with plumb lines and level are to test our
lives and characters by His and see
whether or not we are true. Every man
knows that unless he builds with the cor
ner stone as guide his building will.no
be true and able to stand the test. So in
life If we try to live by the opinions and
criticisms of men our lives will be fall
ures
While the church of the Jews was built
on dead stones, the church of Christ is
built on human souls, and is a living
thing and therefore grows on to perfec-
ton. There are doubtless spiritually
dead persons received into the church, but
none can live therein unless alive and in
earnest IN the cause of Christ. The corner
stone which you lay today should not be
made merely of granite, but you should
lay corner stone made up of human
souls dedicated to the service of God.
Men cannot be born into the living
| church of Christ until they have been
born again, and fashioned like unto
| Christ There must be no rubbish built
into the church, but all must be of pol
ished material, consecrated souls. The
glory of the church today is that it goes
out into the world and takes wicked sin
ners and sets them on the right road.
Upon this living corner stone of human
souls then, the church you are about to
build should be built. The material
church will not be the church of God
unless the individuals that make up the
physical church have faith and work in
spirit for the Son of God. The true unity
of the church is faith in the Lord Jesus
Christ. In the living temple, the church,
there are none set aside as priests, but all
the members are priests and sons and
daughters of God. AS priests and sons
and daughters of God you should there
fore live lives of praise, sacrifice and
thanksgiving to God.
Theschurch of wood or stone will only
be valued by God in so far as it represents
sacrifice and true devotion to God This
church is building, but not completed,
but may Heaven grant that as it is built
Gods name shall be engraved in
every stick and timber and that when
completed his spirit may come and fill
the temple.
The benediction was then pronounced
by the Rev. Walter Canham, and the con-
gregation adjourned to the building
site where the corner stone and tablet
were to be laid. The services attending
| the laying Of the stone were the ritual
forms provided by the church discipline
and were conducted by the presiding elder
and people in response. At the given
signal the stone was placed in position by
Messrs. A. 81. Small, W. J. Baker, Mat
thew Woods and George Strout.
The service was then concluded with
the benediction by Rev. F. W. Smith of
Pleasantdale.