The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-25

The corner stone of the new st.
Marks Evangelical Lutheran church,
at the corner Of Washburn and Four
teenth streets was laid with appropri-
ate exercises yesterday afternoon at
2.30 o'clock. Special music was rem
dered and short addresses were deliv-
cred by the pastor, Rev A. l.. Ramer,
Ph. D., Rev. w. G.. L. Lauer Rev. G.
c. Spieker and Rev. John Randolph.
The services were attended by MEM
bers of the church and congregation
and were very impressive throughout.
The weather was all that could be de-
sired for an open air service ana the
programme was carried out with one
exception.
st. Marks church was established
in 1891. The initiatory steps were TAX
Ell by Rev. +. l.. Miller, who was then
pastor of Holy Trinity Luthern church.
The congregation was organized on
September of that year, and the cor
ner stone of the present chapel on
Fourteenth street was laid on Novem-
Der IS, 1898. This building has been
in service continuously ever since, but
owing to the increase i'm membership
and inadequate facilities, the Congre
cation took steps to erect n new edtice.
In the summer of 1898 it was decided
to commence the work, but owing to
adverse circumstances the plans were
postponed until this year. The work OF
securing contracts and material for
the building was also hampered on ac-
count of the labor difficulties, but when
the contract for the masonry work was
let, the work was pushed rapidly, and
everything is now in readiness for the
superstruCture.
LAYING THE STONE.
When the hour for beginning the ex-
ercises had arrived, the clergymen and
members formed a semi-circle in front
of the corner stone. where a platform
had been erected for the speakrs. The
ceremony was opened with the singing
of a hymn by the assemblage, followed
by the reading of the following psalm
by Rev. Lauer:
Our help is in the name of the Lord;
Who made heaven and earth.
How amiable are Thy tabernacles, o Lord
of hosts!
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth
For the courts of the Lord
His foundation is in the holy mountain.
The Lord loveth the gates OF Zion
| More than all the dwellings of Jacob.
| was glad when they said unto me
Let us go into the house OF the LORD.
| Our feet shall stand within thy gates. o
Jerusalem.
| Except the Lord build the house,
They labor in vain that build II.
| Except the Lord keep the city,
| The watchman waketh but in vain.
After the singing of Gloria Patri,"
Rev. Spieker read Scripture selections,
followed with prayer by Rev. Rance.
Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer, of
| Philadelphia, superintendent of mis-
| sions, who was to have delivered the
principal address, was unable to be
| present and sent a letter of regret,
| which was read by Rev. Ramer. The
| hammer which was used in the Cere-
mCny was forwarded by d. Scha arfsr
| The corner stone was then laid ac-
cordipg to the ritual of the church, the
clergymen present assisting the pastor
in the ceremony. The following arti-
| cles were deposited in a tin box, whi ii
was placed in the stone:
ARTICLES IN THE STONE.
English Bible, Miss Mary Kauchcr
| Swedish Bible, Andrew Larson.
Church book, Herman Trager.
Catechism, Adam Stocked.
History OF Wilkes Barre conference
memorial volume), d. w. Moser.
Lutheran almanac, Rev. A. L. Ramer
Minutes of the one hundred and fifty
second annual convention of the
Evangelical Lutheran ministerium 0:
Pennsylvania, 1899.
The Teacher, of the Lutheran series
of Sunday School Quarterlies.
Papers, Bible stories, The Sunbeams
The Young Lutheran, the Foreign Mis-
sionary, Luther League Review, Luthe!
League Topics.
Programme for Reformation Festi.
val and Home Missions, 1899.
Programme of the ceremony of cor
ner stone laying.
List of members of church counql
and building committee, officers of LII
ther league. officers of Women's guild
names Of POI members of congrega
tion.
Coins, deposited by P. G. Whitstona
Herman Johnson and others.
List of Mission band, names Of archi
tects and contractors.
Following the disposal of the box AM
contents the choir sang the ''Te Deum.'
Rev. Ramer read the congratulator!
letter from DR.. Schaeffer and hynll
was sung by the congregation. Rev
C. C. Spieker, Of Holy Trinity Luther
an church, this city, was next intro
duced and delivered a short address
He congratulated the pastor and mem
bers of the church upon their nobl
sacrifice and spoke in feeling terms o
his close association with Rev, Kramer
Rev John Randolph, pastor of 81
Peters Lutheran church, Petersburg
followed with an address in German
which was along similar lines. TIL
choir sang an anthem entitled "An
After These Things" and a collection
was taken up by the deacons for tn
building fund.
Rev. w. c. l.. Lauer, of ST. Paul'
Lutheran church, Green Ridge was tn
last speaker and his remarks We're c
II congratulatory nature. The eXer
cises were closed with the singing {
"a Mighty Fortress Is Our God" b
the choir, and pronouncing of benedc
tion by the pastor, Rev. A. l.. Rame
The inscription on the stone is a
follows: est. Marks Evangelics
Lutheran Church. 1S92-lS99" and tn
sentence, "A Mighty Fortress Is Ou
God"
The word on the building will /
commenced at once, the contract hay
ing been awarded, A description {
the structure has already been printe
in The Tribune
Rev. A, l.. Ramer, the energetic pas
: tor Of the church, deserves much cred
it for his untiring work and is to |
. congratulated upon the success of h
Y | labors in West Scranton where he