Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-08
CORNER STONE LAID.
INTERESTING CEREMONY AT THE
NEW ALL-sAINTy CHURCH.
The GRAND LODGE OFFICIAIES.
Bishop Gibson Delivers the Address
and Other Clergy Take Part I'm the
Impressive Exercises-To De
Handsome House.
Handsome House.

terday afternoon at $3.50 O'Clock. The
building is TO stand on the lot on Frank
lin street between Madison and Monroe.
which was donated by Mr.. Peter II. Mayo
and the foundation was completed with
the placing in position of the corner
stone.
Grand Master-of- Masons r. T. w. Duke
Jr.. presided over the Grand Lodge, ana
supervised the placing Of the stone ana
the clergy OF the Episcopal Church Of this
city conducted the religious 2 service
Bishop Robert A. Gibson delivering the
address.
The cornerstone was laid. according 10
custom. in the southeast corner OF the
building. and around the spot was erect
ed a platform, which was crowded during
the ceremonies. A portion Of the plat
form was set apart for the Clergy ana
members of the Grand lodge, and the re-
mainder was thrown open 10 the puDllc'
This portion was filed long before INC
ceremonies commenced, and the sidewalk
and grounds adjoining were packed with
interested spectators.
MARCHED TO THE SITE.
The Grand Lodge assembled at the Ma
sonic Ternple, several hundred strong, ana
marched 10 the site Of the new church
without escort, and occupied the reserved
space set apart for them. After they hau
been seated a few moments the clergy
entered in their full robes, Bishop N'bsoh
bringing up the rear. The hoir Of ALI
Saints which had been augmented for the
occr sion. sang Come Thou Almighty
King" being accompanied on the organ
bv Mr.. H. NJ. Phillips and on the cornet
bv Mr.. Thilow a specially prepared SER
vice was conducted by the clergymen
nresent ard after the rendition of the
HYMN. christ Is Made the Sure Founda-
ton" Bishop Gibson made the address OF
the occasion.
BISHOP GIBSON'S ADDRESS.
members of An-saints' Church and
Friends:
1--WE bishops and clergy OF the Episco-
pal Church have gathered here TO lay the
cornerstone Of this new church building,
TO be dedicated TO the glory Of God and
for the edihca lion Of men. We have with
Us the Grand Lodge Of Maso1s OF Nlr-
ginia. distinguished members Of world
wide order who will presently, according
10 their ritual, see that this cornerstone
.
own name. we extend TO these, cur bre-
thren. a cordial and heartfelt welcome,
and thank them for their pres with
us. This is q moment Of great interest; l
might almost say Of thrilling interest, TO
the members Of this congregation, for II
marks the change of Christian ccrgre-
CATION from one church building to an
other"
Bishop Gibson then entered into a dis
cussiOn Of the greatness Of God, ana al
luded interestingly 20 the effect OF the
church upon the home. "The family life,'
he said, sis bound Up In our church The
children i'm their infancy are brought TO
the baptismal front and consccrated TO
God; later they come for the rite OF con-
frmation." The Bishop related how many
Of those present had seen their friends
stand before the chancel Of the old church
to be married. and how many had seen
the body Of some loved one borne through
the doors TO their last resting-place. "All
of these associations" he continued,
come TO us as we think Of leaving the
old place of worship, and feeling Of sad
ness comes over US. Yet, on the other
! hand we are led to rejoice, for a new
/ church means larger church, and a
! larger church means that the old church
is too full. and this is. indeed, a happy
state Of affairs"
CONGREGATION AND PASTOR.
Tho speaker told how essential to a
| church's welfare was the attendance
upon its services of a congregation, and
laid down the proposition that as much
! depended upon the congregation as on
the preacher, saying: MANY good minis
| ters attract more people TO their church
| IS than their congregations will let stay.
Bishop Gibson sketcLed briefly the his
| tory Of the congregation, and in cOnclu-
sion, said. I'VE wish you good luck IN
| the name of the Lord. May your good
! work go on. ana rows rd Incl
dent arise to check your progress CT mar
your pleasure; may this church prove a
! blessing TO the race. and nay ''s iuhu-
| ence strengthen the ties that ind man
! kind 10 God. Your church shall be the
| temple Of the living God, and Christ shall
! be It's cornerstone"
! Jerusalem, the Golden" was sung
when Bishop Gibson concluded. and as the
! last notes died away on the chilly ali
| Worshipful Mann Page, Grand Marsha
| Of the Grand Lodge, commanded silence
! and issued a proclamation. after which
! Grandchildren Duke took charge Of the
| ceremonies, and the cornerstone was duly
] la. corn, oil, and wine being poured
upon it, after it had been squared and
! !eveled according TO the ritual prescribed
by the Grand Lodge.
DIR. RAYS PRAYER.
The prayer was delivered by the grand
/ chaplain Rev. George II. Ray. who in.
voked divine blessing as follows:
| supreme Architect of the Universe
| most gracious LORD God. givcr OF all gooC
| gifts and graces, we seek Thy protection
| blessing, and guidance, as We Undertak,
| 10 lay the cornerstone of this building
after the manner Of our fathers.
| May the foundation on which this struc
! ture is 10 be erected be true, tried. anC
| trusty. May this church be successfully
| completed. after the plans laid down by
ne architect, and stand through comns
/ centuries as a pledge Of Thy favor 10 the
people of this city. May those who serv,
! AT these affairs be pure men and good anC
! true. and through the coming generation,
| be burning lights in this community. anC
! always be skilled in the knowledge of tina
sacred Word, which is a Tight 10 oul
| pathway and a lamp 10 our feet"
| May the priests who lead the people III
| worship here be clothed with salvation
| as with a garment, and be ever ready 4
! administer consolation TO the distressed
| and dying. May they always be commits
stoned TO bind up broken hearts and hea
| the wounded spirit. Within these SACRED
courts may Thy pleasure dwell and al
I'm the, olden days when the light of tn,
/ descending She Kinah. flashed over dom,
and pillar. on arch and architrave. MAJ
these walls and garniture be bathed II
the sea of Thy glory, and the ineffabl
peace dwell within these palaces OF God
May Thy divine watch-care be over tn
| workmen engaged in the erection OF thi
| house of God. May no accident befal
! them. and may the whole be brought t
| completion under Thy divine blessing.
May Thy gracious favor be on III
| Grand Lodge OF Virginia to-day assemble