Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-01
ANNEX TO CENTENARY CHURCH.
Cornerstone Laid Yesterday After
noon with Impressive Ceremonies.

Cornerstone Laid Yesterday After
noon With Impressive Ceremonies.
The cornerstone of an annex TO Cen
tenary Methodist church was laid yester-
day afternoon at 5 o'clock, with fitting
and imposing ceremony.
The exercises were held in the lecture
room of the church, and were impress
sve and interesting from the opening
song by the church quartette TO the bene-
Gtction of Rev. DR.. Thomas n. Potts.
The music by the quartette was beautiful,
and Jailed forth warm commentator
frorI DR.. Tudor from the stand DIR.
Tutors dedication prayer was eloquent
AID fervid.
DR.. Tudor read the account OF the dei-
cation. which is to be enclosed beneath
the cornerstone. DR.. Paul Whitehead,
the presiding elder, was introduced and
read appropriate selections from the
Scripture.
ADDRESS OF DIR. POTTS.
DR.. Tudor presented DR.. Potts. who de-
livered the dedication address. The elo-
duent pastor of Park-Place church did
not talk long. but was eloquent and deep
IN i'm earnest. He spoke Of Centenary
church as the Cathedral of Southern
Methodism," and declared that what Cen
tcnary church did was looked upon and
made its impression upon all the Metho-
dist churches of the State and South. Cen
tenary would not be unduly proud of this,
but would realize its great responsibility
for IL. He congratulated the church on
its spirit Of progress. and wished it every
amount of success DIR. Potts said fur
Their that from his reading of the Bible,
he had learned that God wished his
houses to be beautiful. The tabernacle
in the wilderness had cost, according to
our reckoning, S1,500.O00, and Solomons
temple $500 coo, 900. God loved the beauti-
ful, and made beautiful everything He
had to live in. He made the world beau
tiful, and though sin entered. he took
none of the beauty out.
After the address, which was greatly
enjoyed, those present sang, "All Hail the
Power of Jesus Name" and the benedic-
ton was pronounced.
MR.. BRANCH THE DONOR.
The church is indebted to Mr.. John D
Branch. steward and trustee for this
handsome addition to the stately edifice.
The stone itself was the gift OF Mr.. John
h. Williams. Nicely fitted In a hollow
of the granite block lies copper box,
locked and sealed. This box contained
the account which is given below, and
besides the souvenirs named In 1t. was a
photograph OF DR.. Tudor, one OF Mr..
Branch. a number of personal cards, a
copy Of the Woman's Home Missionary
Journal, and some silver coins. This ac-
count given here is an exact copy Of the
original. sealed in the box. 1t is interest
ing to peruse now, it will be more interest
ing, perhaps, TO any. as DR.. Tudor sug-
gests, who may read it five hundred
years hence.
THE ACCOUNT.
The account is as follows
In the year of our Lord, 1898, and on
the 3lst day OF the Month OF May, this
is laid Of an annex, de-
signed to be an Improvement 10 this Cen
tenary church building OF the Methodist
Church, South, in Richmond,
Va, United States of America, which
building Is called Centenary because
founded i'm the year 1853 A, D., the CEN
tennial OF the origin OF Methodism in Lon
don, in 1888 A. ID. The entire work OF the
including the removal or the
organ to the chamber provided for II in
the rear of the pulpit, Is done through |
John y. Branch, member or Centenary |
church and chairman of the Board or |
Trustees of the church. At the same time |
the work OF other and extensive renova- |
ton of the church edifice. and at cost |
fully as much as that OF the addition, |
has been undertaken by the congrega- |
tion, the great object OF all being the |
glory OF God and the promotion OF the |
efficiency and enjoyment of the church |
services. IL is trusted by the munificent |
donor that the music and song which APP |
propriately belong to divine worship may |
be more abundantly with the spirit and |
with the understanding, ard also that |
additional room in the annex may be for /
the increased facility and success OF |
church work; while all the contributors |
10 the renovation fund are animated by |
the becoming sentiment contained in the /
Book Of Haggai. l., 4. as follows-yiz.: |
us IL time for you, o ye. 10 dwell In your |
nAilsd houses. and this house lie wasteg' !