The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-23
LAID SQUARE AND TRUE
Corner Stone for the Mountain
View Methodist Church.
WITH IMPRESSIVE SERVICE
Two Men Who Took Part in the Cere-
mony 81 Years Ago Were Pres
ent-Eloquent Addresses
by Able Speakers.

On the 21st of August, 1873, the corner
stone of the first Protestant church
built in Butte, the Mountain View NJ
E., was laid. A few weeks ago this
stone was removed, in accordance with
the instructions of the board of trus-
tees of the church. 1t was not dis
turbed, however, before the old church
building was razed'to the ground, this
also in accordance with plans and
specifications under which the con-
tractor who is building the new house
of worship is working. Yesterday after
noon the new corner stone was laid.
The ceremony was marked by brilliant
oratory and fervent prayer. Rev. f.
| A. Riggin, who officiated at the laying
| of the old corner stone, could not be
| present, and he sent a letter, which
| was read by the pastor, Rev. }. l.. AL
britton. When the first Mountain View
| was built Rev. Mr.. Riggin was the resi-
| dent pastor Rev. w. w. Van Orsdal
also attended the first corner stone
| ceremonies. w. A. Clark was another
| who participated in that event. OF all
who participated in the ceremony p
years ago, only two took part in yes
| terday's ceremonies. Senator w. A.
| Clark and Rev. w. w. Van Ordel, pre-
siding elder of the Montana confer
ence.
The speakers platform rested on the
| ground which in a few weeks will be
| covered by the floor of the vestibule of
| the uditorium-directly behind the
| foundation upon which rests the corner
| stone. The stone was quarried from
| Walsh's quarry in Beef Straight gulch
and cut by Contractor Whiteway. 1t
| is 30x30X1S and weighs 1.499 pounds.
| The receptacle is 14X1SX4 On the east
| and south sides of the stone are CHS
| eled Erected 1892 The stone depend
ed from a temporary scaffold, which
| was decorated with profuSiOn of ever
| green's. Around the railing of the plat
| form were small fir trees and branches,
| affording the shade which, in anticipa-
| ton, was required but which, in real
| ity. excluded the sunlight which. on
yesterday at p. m, was welcome IN
| deed, for the air was chilled by the
| blasts from the cold Rockies. 1t looked
| like. rain or snow, but neither marred
| the occasion. There was a large gath
| ering of spectators. The American flag
l. waE thrown across the speakers stand.
4.fisS.IssN W.. Van Orsdel sat on the CEN
Eter right Of the platform and for the
moment Was apparently meditating,
| probably surveying the retrospect
| thinking of the many little log houses
in WfHeh he preached in Montana more
| than asquarter of a century ago, before
| corner Stones entered into the construc-
| ton of frontier houses of worship.
| Chairman Richards of the official
| board of trustees inspected the big rock
| and agreed with his brethren that it
was all right, square and true. He did.
not attempt to lift it, but since he HEARD
that his son, who has been fighting
Filipinos, had reached San Francisco he
thinks
lift ton weight.
The Services.
The Mountain View choir opened
the services by singing hymn No. go,
How Firm a Foundation" Then Rev.
W. w. Shipper. a pioneer Methodist
preacher read that part Of the ritual
pertaining to the laying of corner
stones, after which Rev. George F.
Feese read hymn No. $50. Rev. John
Hosking read the ritualistiC prayer
and Rev. j. f. Noftsinger of the First
Baptist church read Psalm No. 1913. At
the conclusion of the ritual First Cor
inthians, third chapter, 9-23, was read
by Rev. F. Tongue of the South Butte
Presbyterian church. AS Rev. Mr..
Riggin was on the programme for an
address and not being able to be pres
ent. his letter to Rev. Mr. Albritton
was read by the latter. 1t was as fol
lows
Great Falls. July 10, 1S99-Dear
Brother Albritton: l see by to-day's
Standard the programme for the lay
ing of the corner stone next Saturday
and that l am down for an address.
/ have missed your invitation and have
just seen, that | am expected to be
there. | am sorry. | would like to
have arranged for so pleasant a serV-
ice. l am to be at Neihart next Sun
day and cannot arrange for the ap-
pOintment now, as | leave on this
mornings train.
Il have read with much interest the
revelation of the former corner stone.
and am proud to have had so impor-
tant relation to the reorganizing of
our church work in Butte. Convey my
regrets that I cannot be present as
announced and my best wishes for the
good work there. I hope you will live
as many decades after this event as
I have done and see your successors
push the battle even more successfully
than has been done in the past prog
ress of the Mountain View. l do not
believe you can rejoice in your mar
Velous success more than | do. | have.
a fathers interest in our church work
wherever I have inaugurated it all
over this great state. and l rejoice that
/ am still spared to be permitted to
keep it up. We have seven new enter
prises in the mission this year and are
planning for greater conquests for the
future. A church or parsonage
erected in this country means great
things for the future and a site OBJ
tanned and foundations laid for the
future to enlarge upon affords the high
est possible enjoyment.
Il share in the Increased power of
augmented forces in the progress of
the work and quietly enjoy the news
of victory where we planted with mis-
givngs. God bless you and the loyal
ones who so grandly succeed. Regards
to all. Come down to the mission.
Fraternally. F. A RIGGIN."
After reading the letter Rev. Mr.. AL
britton said that J. F. Forbis, who de-
livered an address at the former cere-
mony' and who was programmed to
speak on this occasion, had sent his
regrets and while he would not be
present. his proxy would be there in
the form of best wishes.
Rev. Mr.. Albritton then introduced
Senator w. A. Clark, who received ap-
plause. In substance Senator Clark