The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-08-02
THE CORNER STONE LAID
BIG TIBLET OFPLTMOUTH CHURCH
PLACED IN POSITION.

Ceremony Attended by Simple but I'm
| pressivo scrvices-Address Delivered
| Blessing Pronounced by the Pastor,
| Rev. DR.. McLane-List of Articles
| Placed In Box Encascd In the Corner
| stone.
| At o'clock last evening before large
numbers of the congregation the cere-
mony of laying the cornerstone Of the
new Plymouth church was performed in
| fitting manner. While the blessing
was pronounced by the pastor, DR.. Will
liam w. McLane, the big tablet, weigh
| ing three tons, was slowly lowered into
place and cemented to the wall, while
from the assembled multitude went
forth the strains of "Iiow firm a foun-
dation.
Prayer was offered by the Rev. Dun
can J. Mcmillan of the New York Pres
byterian church, and the final benedic-
ton pronounced by DIR. McLane At
the close Of the services the stone and
the church in its present state was in
spected by many.
DR.. McLane's address which followed
the singing of the opening hymn was in
part as follows: I'm all ages religion has
had its symbols. To Nomadic Israel
rock was the symbol of Jehovah, be-
cause Of it's durability, Interchangeable
ness and it's service of refuge from dan
ger. 1t offered shelter from the storm
and shadow from the heat to the soldier
and the shepherd. When Israel became
a settled people rock was the founda-
ton for their synagogue or temple. 1t
was to them the symbol OF God, who
supports and underlies all spiritual life.
Their prophets saw in the stone the
symbol of their savior of Messiah and
after Christ had come the apostles point
ed to him as the fulfllment of their
prophecy and the corner stone of the
Christian church.
1.-THE laying of the cornerstone of
church is significant because the corner
stone represents the entire foundation.
The stone which we lay tonight so
large, SO solid, so beautiful, and which
represents so fittingly the entire sub
stantial foundation Of this church, Is a
symbol CT Christ, who is the foundation
of the Christian church. It is also the
symbol of the foundation of a Congte-
gational church, which rests upon sim
plicity Of doctrine and seeks to prouuce
substantial hristian life We lay this
stone, therefore, as a symbol of Chest
who is the foundation of the Christian
church, ard g symbol of the substantial
Christian character which we hope will,
Lr formed in this church,
The boz as then placed in position,
while DR.. Mc1.ane spread mortar upon
the base. 1T was then lowered, ana T'r.
McLane striking ii three times with
hammer, said 1--WE lay this stone to the
glory OF God, the service Of Christ and
the salvation o. men. In the name of
the Father, and of the Son and OF the
Holy Ghost amen"
In the box incased in the corner stone
were laid the following articles of inter-
est, which will doubtless will be of
greater interest to a succeeding genera
tica: 'Bble, Congregational Year Book,
manual @ First Church Of Christ Gen. |
ter church,, Congregational Handbook, |
constitution of associated pastors of |
New Haven, twenty-second annual 1e- |
port New Haven Branch Womans |
Foald of Missions, catalogue Of Ply
mouth Sunday school library, pledge of |
Y. Z. $. c. E., historical sermon by Dr..
McLane, Sunday school Quarterlies.
Ihuto of past and present officers If
school, portrait of Rev. Edward |
Strong, p. D., pastor 1S42-1S62 names of
church committee, societv's committee,
committee, ways and means
names of officers and teach
ers of Sunday school and amount of col
lections, picture of Plymouth house,
commencement number, 1899, of Yale
Alumni Weekly, Journal and Courier of
July 81, Register of July 20, and Even
ing Leaders of July 20 and August l
1.-THE International Messenger of June,
1S99,' Congregational Work of June,
1899, Sunday school Missionary of May,
1899, Masonic Token. Franklin chapter,