Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-09-13
CORNER STONE laying.
at the Bates Memorial
M. p. Church.

The corner stone of the new Nj. p.
Chnrch of this town, to be known as
Bates Memorial" in honor of the late
DR.. Laurence Bates, former pastor of
the Snow Hill Nj. p Church and who
for many years was one of the most
prominent figures in the Maryland
General Conference of the Methodist
Protestant Church. was laid with appro-
pirate ceremonies last Sunday after
noon. The ceremonies were conducted
by the President of the conference DIR. /.
f. L. Little. DIR. S. B. Switzerland, and
Rev. Avery Donovan. the pastor. Rev.
Little was at one time pastor of Snow
Hill church and has many friends here.
He preached two very eloquent sermons
here during the day. DIR. Switzerland
is the oldest living member of the con-
ference and was contemporary of Rev.
Mr.. Bates in whose memory the hand-',
some new structure has been erected.
AT the laying of tn '"rner stone he
read fitting tribute TO the life and
character of DIR. Bates, and . copy of the
address was placed in the corner stone
together with copy of the Methodist
Protestant. DEMOCRATIC MESSENGER.
idrocate, list of the Church officials,
clergymen. a copy of the Church Dl =
cipline and Ritual aud Bible. X
DIR. Southerland's address follows:
H. mi hnc
'The humblest church spire pointing
heavenward reflects mans nature and
dignity more eloquently than all the
columns and arches of Greece and
Rome, the mausoleums of Asia, or the
pyramids of Egypt"
This Is true, and being true it magni-
fies our work of to dav.
Bates Memorial Church. 1Nhy-Bates
Memorial? Lawrence Webster Bates
Doctor of Divinity. by the lawful au-
thority of Pennsylvania College, was for
a number of years one of the most COM
manding figures in the Maryland An
nual Conference of the Methodist Pro-
testant Church. He was well known
and highly respected throughout tn
entire bounds of the denomination.
Had been repeatedly a member of its
highest councils and thrice the presiding
officer in them. Sixty-o years a menu
Der of the Maryland Conference, filling
Its most prominent pulpits, and two.
years the president of the Conference,
declining to serve longer in that capaci.
ty; preferring to take his place again in
the common itinerant ranks.
But church memcJal of him in
Snow Hill? A new Methodist Protest
ant church building is needed in Snow
Hill, and Snow Hill and its vicinage is
no inconsiderable history of Doctor
Bates In these regions he began his
distinguished ministry. In these i'm
mediate bounds he found his "Queen,"
as he admiringly called her. the splen.~
did, unsurpassed woman, his wife. And
within easy reach of Snow Hill is Mas
sawango church yard, there are en-i
tombed the mortal remains of DIR. Bates
entire household. First there was digget--
the grave of the son, next that of the
wife and last his own grave. In a word,
hereabouts, from social scenes. from the
tomb, are echoes of the man whom the
Snow Hill Methodist Protestant Church
proposes to honor and honor herself a
the same time by erecting here ON thi
eligible spot Bates Memorial Church
and thus continue, feebly at least, tt
lifelong loved employ of DIR. Bat
by Gospel architecture.
Now personal word. Brother 81
AVIAN the pastor. seemed to think tn
proprieties IN this corner stone ceremo'
ny required my participation. He said.
"Please come. or I shall feel that the
corner stone is not laid by the prors
person." Perhaps he was right.
Conference age was next to
Bates. He entered the Conference
year before did. Not one of the
ent large body was there when hesNe
l were received; and for sixty longy
he and were intimate, loving comM
ions. l question whether he is
sorrowfully missed by any one so m
as by myself. BY earnest request,
came out of my sick room to take charl
of his funerat obsequies. and by sim
lar request am here from my home in
Baltimore, at my advanced age and &c
sequent infirmities TO honor fhemeT
of one 1 walked with so long.
Should l live 1 would esteem il
privilege to be present when the dot