The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-17
memorial CHURCH
CORNERSTONE LAID
Impressive Ceremonies at Leicester End
When Copper Box Containing Records
is Placed in Resting Place
PASTOR OUTLINES CHURCH HISTORY

to the word and worshipped God, No
idea of any social functions entered in
to the conception of their minds.
This church needed some improve
ments from time to time and in 1743
it was renovated by the addition of an
ell u feet to the west part of the struc-
ture For So years this was the meet
ing house of Christian people Of Lei
! cester.
THE second church was built in 1884,
at the close of the American Revolu-
ton, after the recognition of the Amer
lean independence by Great Britain.
The building was very much like the
old house. 1t had no belfry or steeple.
These were added five years later. This
/ building underwent many improve
ments.
In 1926 it was moved from the Com
mon to what was then the old bury
/ ing ground, on the site occupied by the
present church, but facing west-as
understand.
! In 1929 the construction of this build
/ ing was completely changed. In 1865
lit was moved to the rear of the Acad
! envy, becoming part Of the dormtories,
/ and the recent church was erected. You
all know the character of that beauti-
full building. In February, 1900, 1t was
struck by lightning and burned to the
ground-which event was followed by
! the forming of building committee on
i the part of the parish and steps were
taken to build the church which cor
nerstone we are laying today.
I Before we proceed to the laying Of
the cornerstone, a few important truths
impress themselves upon our mem
cries, Churches have not always been an
unmixed blessing to the wor thy are
to the communities in which they exist.
God designed the church to minister
to the highest and most important sue
cess of mantle moral-sound and
religious. The aim of our early edu-
cation as ministered in our public
schools is to lead mans intellectual and
executive or creative powers, It teaches
man to think himself that he may
call no man mis- master. It teaches him
to penetrate into natures forces and
to utilize them for himself.
But man must be given a higher
training than the merely intellectual
and mechanical Man must be taught
honesty and integrity. Men must be
made to observe each other and work
together for each others happiness
The great elements of their affections
must be developed until man to men
shall as brothers be-"
| Prayer was then offered by Rev. A. r
Nichols of Cherry Valley, and then the
!, audience and the quartet united II
, singing How Firm a Foundation"
Charles c. Denny announced that q
copper box would be placed under tbs
stone containing copy of the consitn
tion of the church and membership roll
up to the present time, pictures and
: descriptions of the first churches ant
a newspaper. the name of which the
building committee refuse to divulge.
When all was made ready, the follow
ing officials assisted in the laying of
the cornerstone: Parkman T. Denny,
for the building committee; pastor
Rev. d. C. Reed; Sunday school, Mr..
! Conant; primary Sunday school, Edwin
1 Watson; Christian Endeavor Society,
Alice Guilds; Junior Endeavor Society
Florence Watson; Ladies' Foreign Mis-
sionary Society, Mrs. D. C. Reid.