The herald., 1898-04-25
LAID THE CORNERSTONE
A NOTABLE CHURCH EVENT IN
SAN BERNARDINo
st. Johns Episcopal Church and Its
Very Interesting History-The
Ceremonies

ing of the cornerstone of the New st. Johns
Episcopal church, with Masonic honors
this afternoon was an event of uncommon
occurrence, and not only drew out large
attendance of the citizens, but brought
in from the surrounding cities delegations
that materially added to the crowds that
witnessed the interesting ceremonies.
The new edifice is to replace the one de-
stroyed few months ago by the largest
fire ever experienced in San Bernardino'
and 1t seemed doubly appropriate that the
laying of the corner stone of the church
building that was to rise from the ashes
Of the old one should be allotted to 'Phoe-
nix lodge us, F. and A. M. Tine members
of the order have taken hold of the object
with great zeal, procured a special dispen-
sation from the grand lodge for the occa-
sion, and as far as possible secured the
official aid of that lodge, which sent its
rich Jewels and regala for those who were
temporary officers Of the grand lodge.
were all past masters of the order, selected
for the several stations by Grand Junior
Warden James A. Foshay of Southern CAL
iforna lodge 27S of Los Angeles, who filled
the station of the grand master in the east
today, supported by the following officers:
Deputy Grand Master Andrew Park Of
Phoenix 17S, Grand Senior Warden James
+. Drake of Redlands 300, Grand Junior
Warden Francis c. Woodbury. of Southern
California 27S, Grand Treasurer George d..
Cunningham of Evergreen 212. Riverside;
Grand Secretary Walter Hubbard of Phoe-
nix IT'S, Grand Chaplain Rev. ]. G. Rollins
of Benevolent Z, Milford, N. H.; Grand Lee
turer, William F. Sloan of Elsinore 2S9;
Grand Orator Rev. J. d. H. Browne of
Phoenix 17S, Grand Marshal Charles FL.
Long of Southern California 27S. Grand
Standard Bearer John B. Hanna of Ashlar
3O6, Cotton; Grand Sword Bearer Henry a.
Kellar of Phoenix 49, Grand Bible Bearer
Wilson Hayes of San Jose 10, Grand Senior
Deacon Byron w. Longfellow of Evergreen
PIP, Grand Junior Warden Edwin T. Paint
er of Redlands 300. Grand Senior Steward
Sidney Nee of Phoenix ITS, Grand Junior
Steward J. S. Bright jr., of Phoenix us,
Grand Pursuivant Robert Gray of Ontario
SO1, Grand Organist F. H. Magoffin of
Phoenix ITS, and Grand Tyler Edwin a.
Smith, past deputy grand master of Kan
sas.
st. Bernard commandery %, knights
Templar, served as escort for the grand
lodge, and soon after the hour of p. m.
the line of march was taken from the
Masonic hall for the scene of the impress
sive ceremonies, and amid one of the larg-
est gatherings of the kind ever assembled
in this city, the corner stone was laid in
due form, with all the rites and ceremonies
provided for such an occasion
During the services the grand orator,
Rev. ]. d. H. Browne, who is also the rec
tor of the church, gave short address on
the past history of the society and the
present struggles to build a church edifce
that, when completed, should be entirely
paid for and out of debt. At the close of
the ceremonies the line of march was taken
back to the lodge room, and an informal
social gathering was held for short time,
when the lights were put out the great
and glorious affair was over, and the Ma
sonic bodies had not only laid the corner
stone of church. but an additional corner
stone in the affections of the world outside
of the lodge room.
The history of the St Johns society dates
back quarter of century, when few
members faithful to that creed gathered,
and, with an occasional service from a
clergyman from the outside, principally
Rev. c. F. Loop and Rev. Peter S. Ruth of
Pomona, kept up form of society for a
number of years, hearing of which the
OlSuOp VI AdIllOTIlld. tnt TT. rev. w. L.
Kip, visited San Bernardino, and, seeing
their struggles, sent a missionary here to
assist in the work. This was Rev. S. Greg
ory Lines, who struggled with the situa-
tion, dividing his time between this city and
Riverside for number of years, until he
was called to one of the most wealthy
churches in New York city. During his alb
sence in England in 1884 Rev. ]. d. H.
.f L:
six months. In 1856 the Rev. Charles A.
Fitchett assumed charge of the mission,
and during his ministrations the parish
was formed and Mr.. Fitchett was the first
rector. In 1890 the church edifice was erect
ed, during the ministrations of Rev. ]. NJ.
Merlin-Jones, who soon after left to take
charge of a parish at Santa Monica.
Among the rectors to follow We're Rev. f..
b. Cossit, now at Coronado; Rev. w. j.
O'Brien. of Ontario, Covina and Chino the
Rev. Hobart Chetwood, now of Bakersfield:
the Rev. John H. McCracken of Sierra
Madre; the Rev. W. NJ. Ben Oliel, a con-
verted Jewish rabbi and notable scholar,
now of London, England and the Rev. II.
A. Brown, now of Phoenix, Ariz. The pres
ent rector, Rev. J. d. H. Browne, was
elected rector in January, 1897, and has been
in charge of the parish for the past fifteen
months, and is very popular with both old
and young of the society.
The present vestry consists of Rev J. d.
II. Browne and Messrs. c. w. Mettler, s. B.
Parrish, F. M. Towne, j. X. Schermerhorn,
j. A. Lamb and w. c. Mushet; the wardens
are ]. X. Schermerhorn and g. b. Parish;
the clerk is j. A Lamb, and Mrs. w. r.
Porter is treasurer.
The officers of the Ladies' guild are: Mrs
J. D. H. Browne, president; Mrs. f. K. Nor
ton. vice president; Mrs. w. G. Burbeck,
secretary; Mrs. ]. H. Boyd, treasurer
The officers of the Women's auxiliary
are: Mrs. w. H. Lloyd, president; Mrs. $.
B. Parish, treasurer; Mrs. j. D. H. Browne,
secretary.
Th officers of st. Agnes guild are: Mrs
s. b. Parrish. directress; Miss Ina Rolfe,
treasurer; Miss Christine Suhr, secretary.
The Altar guild consists of Mines. ]. d. II.
Browne, ]. X. Schermerhorn, w. H. LLOYD
and f. M. Towne.
The officers of the Sunday-school are.
Rev. ]. D. H. Browne, rector; s. p. Par
rish, superintendent; w. C. Mushet. secre-
tary; Mines. j. D. II. Browne S. b. Parrish.
W. c. Mushet and +. c. Drew and Misses
Harriet Mytton and Hida Mytton, teach
ers, with 131 pupils.
The great fire of December o. 1897. de-
stroyed the church edifice erected seven
years before at an expense of $4,000, and en-
abled the society to pay off the debt of $1,000
with the insurance of $4,000, and leave Sll0O
1t