The times., 1899-07-02
THE CORNERSTONE LAID
Ceremonies at the Gay Street Bap.
tist Church.
Exercises Conducted by the Masonic
order--address ny the Rev. Samuel
H. Greenc-Romanesqne i'm Design
-Wiii He Handsome Structure
Those Who Have Been Its Pastors.

The cornerstone of Gay Street Baptist
Church. corner Thirty first and n Streets
northwest, was laid yesterday afternoon
at 4;s0 O'Clock by Grand Master Small. of
the Grand Lodge of Mascns o. The District
OF Columbia. The interesting ceremonies
were witnessed by large gathering. in
cluding many members of the G and Lodge
and the congregation of the old church.
upon the site of which the new structure
will be erected. 4 partly covered p atform
for those invited TO witness the ceremony
was decorated with potted ans, while
the rough boards we're covered with the
American colors with beautiful eject.
Members OF the Grand Lodge who par
ticipated in the exercises arrived p. ompt-
ly al 4-5O. There were on the platform
Most Norshipful Grand Master John Henry
Small. Deputy Grand Master w. p. Hen
derson, Senior Grand Warden Harry Stand
iford. Junior Grand Warden MalcoIm Sea-
ton, W. r. Singleton, Grand Secretary, and
Charles c. Duncanson; DT. W. c. Alexan-
der, pastor OF West Street Presbyterian
Church: Rev. Samuel II. GTeene. pastor Of
Calvary Baptist Church: Rev J. J. Muir
o. Thomas, pastor OF Gay Street Baptist
Church Rev. George L. Truett, chair
man OF the building committee, presided.
The ceremonies opened with prayer,
followed by short song service, after
which the ceremonies proper in the laying
of the cornerstone were begun The ser
vice was simple and very impressive. The
articles which were to be enclosed within
the cornerstone were announced by the
\ 1
gleion, and placed by him in copper box
eight by four inches in size. Tine box was
then sealed by Charles C. Duncanson. The
conteuts OF the box included New Testa-
ment, the Church Covenant, a number of
coins, copy OF The Washington Morning
Times Of July /, 1899. copy OF the Re
lgious Herald" a calendar, and a photo
graph of Grace ArtZ, who gave the first
dollar contributed toward the building of
the new church. When the box had been
placed in position on the base, the stone
was lowered into its place. The corner
stone is OF gras Ohio rough stone, bearing
the simple Inscription, Organized 1865;
Rebuilt 1898"
Grand Master John Henry Small then
performed the ceremony of the Masonic or
der attending the laying of cornerstones.
Deputy Grand Master w. p. Henderson ap
piled the square and pronounced the sur
face of the block of marble level. Senior
Grand Warden Standiford, with the level,
found the stone perfect, while Junior Grand
Warden Seaton, with the plumb, the en-
blem of his office, tested the sides of the
cornerstone Grand Master Small then
struck the top of the stone three times
with the historic gavel used by George
Washington in laying the cornerstone of
the Capital. and since used in the same
ceremony which has attended the erec-
tion of many interesting and important
structures. Grand Master Small then said:
q have found that the craftsmen have
done the work faithfully and well,'' which
completed the laying Of the stone. The
ceremony was continued. With the candles
lighted, the corn of nourishment, the wine
OF rsfreshment, and oil OF JOY were placed
upon the surface OF the rock, which brought
the exercises TO a close.
Rev. Dr. Greene was next introduced and
said: i come to congratulate the mem
bers Of Gay Street Baptist Church on the
great work they have begun in the name
and cause of Jesus Christ. / come to re-
ioice with them for ii is vastly more than
eongratulation when We come for the erec-
tion of q building to be dedicated to the
work Of God. This edifice is TO stand for
the existence of a living and personal God.
II We do not accept this existence then we
are peEsimistic, but If there is a personal
can paint the world TOO bright for US. But
it takes more than an abstract idea to save
men. We cannot live on theories. And
so this church shall witness of a God real
lied through Christ, and Of his endless
endeavors 10 save men. And more than
this l congratulate you upon God revealed
not only through Christ, but for this
church which will stand to testify TO his
power and say that the same love which
g. axfaT hos IN gtu in ie
still and can save the sinner now II the
church is faithful it shall stand through
ell years. There can be no greater bless
ing TO the community than the organiZa-
tion Of New Testament church in its
midst. This church will stand to invite
you to the sweet invitation of the gospel,
and its ministry shall 90 out into the
neighborhood and carry blessings and com
fort"
At the close of the remarks OF DR..
Greene, Rev. J. J. Muir spoke for few
minutes. He thought that the fire which
destroyed the old church was not the worst
thing which could have happened TO the
congregation, but that 1t was rather a
blessing in disguise. II kept alive the sense
that there was something TO be done, and
made the members active in the work
which must be constantly carried on to
meet with the best results. He encouraged
the congregation 10 labor increasingly in
the work they had undertaken, and asked
Tor contributions from those present to-
ward the support and completion of the
pew structure. On the first call when
gifts OF S100 were asked. one of the Oldest
church members subscribed twice that
amount, and the example was followed by
many in the promising of smaller sums
During the service the choir rendered sew
eral appropriate hymns The choir was
composed Of Henry Bowers. leader; Mrs
W S o. Thomas, Mrs. George Truett, Miss
Emma Truett, Edward Ackers, Robert
Hayeock Mrs G. c. Connell Mrs. w D.
Howell, Miss Julia Haycock, Miss Susie
Haycock. Miss Mamie Beckham Miss
Mamie Jeffries, Mrs. William Haycock
Mrs. Aline Beck Miss Flossie Hall, Mrs
ii. NJ. Clark. and Mrs. Fannie King.
An interesting part OF the ceremony was
the short address by ]. H. Small Grand
Master Of the Grand Lodge The forms
which had been used in the laying of the
cornerstone. he said, had come down