The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-07
BAPTlSTS AND MEfHODISTS
UNITED IN IEOBsERTANCE oFLAY-
 ING oFA CORNER STONE.
Simple Yet Impressive Exercise. Held by cOiored Residents Yesterday After noon-zion M. E. Church Crowded Cornerstone Laid for a New Baptt.t chnrch-Addrsss by Dr. Smith Of Hart ford.

ford.
 Zion African Methodist Eniscona1 church on Foote street was thronged to
 the doors yesterday afternoon when ex- ercises were held in observance of the laying of the corner stone of the Im- manuel Baptist church, which is now in course of construction. The congre- gation was composed almost entirely of coiered residents of New Haven and other cities of the state. Rev, A, Claw ton Powell, pastor of the Baptist T1n- manuel church, and Rev. J. W. Davis. pastor of Zion church, occupied the pull pit together with Rev. pr. s. W. Smith of Hartford. The audience also included large delegation of colored Masons from New Haven, Bridgeport. Meriden, Ansonia, and Waterbury. Grand Master c. A. Beaman Of the state of Connecticut. accompanied by ms cabinet, commanded the Masonic delegation.
 The exercises at the church began With very impressive praise service. the singing being especially good. The Scripture reading was by Rev. J. ". Davis, pastor of Zion church. Prayer was offered by Rev. A. c. Powell. pas- tor of the Baptist Immanuel church. A finely rendered selection by the choir of the Immanuel Baptist church followed the invocation. After the collection the entire congregation joined in the singing Of another hymn. The speak CT of the afternoon, Rev. Dr. s. W. smith ccc Hartford was then then intro duced. pr. Smith began his remarks by congratulating the members of the Im- manuel church upon their success and prosperity. He then praised the mem bers of the Methodist and Baptist churches for their hearty support of one another, calling it "a display of Christ's Christianity" Dr. Smith then spoke at some length upon the history Of the colored people in this country and of the religious development of the race. The conditions which have made possible the Christianizing and educat- ing of the colored people have for the most existed only since the abolition of slavery in the United States. The pro- gress of the negro since that time was forcibly alluded to and the esteem and prominence accorded such men as Fred erick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and many other well known colored cit izens of the United States was spoken of as an incentive to all others to edu- cate themselves, thereby elevating the race and improving their social, mental and moral conditions The speaker re- ferred to the new church as a monu- ment erected in memory of the work of the present pastor, and of those who have labored with him, yet the edifice should be used not as monument, but as place in which to truly and rightly worship God and carry on His work, by training the minds of its members to correctly use those privileges which the Lord had given them. Dr. Smith closed his address with the very best of wish es for the success and continued growth of the church, believing that the mem would continue to work hand in hand for themselves by doing Gods work while here on earth.
 After the singing of another hymn and the pronouncing of the benediction the congregation marched to the Inn manuel church building where the cor ner stone service and exercises were held. Prayer was offered by Rev. MT. Davis of Zion M. E. church. he choir from the Immanuel church sang two ser lections. Rev. MT. Powell spoke briefly and the exercises concluded with the second selection by the choir.
 The weather yesterday was all that could have been desired, and the exer- cises were carried out in a very appro- priate and impressive manner.