The Washington times., 1902-07-02
Impressive Exercises at
Grace Memorial
Church.
IMPOSING EDIFICE STARTED
Beautiful Place of Worship of Congre-
CATION of Dutch Reformed Church in
the National Capital-Records of the
Day Sealed in the Stone.

The cornerstone for. the new Grace
Memorial Reformed Church was placed
in position with simple and appropriate
exercises yesterday afternoon.
President Roosevelt attended the ex-
ercises and put on with trowel the
first layer Of mortar for holding the
stone in position.
The exercises were not attended by
a large crowd, although the whole space
on which the structure is to be erected
and the sidewalk in front were filled
with people. There was a wholesome
absence of ostentation about the entire
service that served rather to accentuate
than. detract from its significance, and
gave to it an added touch of dignity.
President Roosevelt, accompanied by
Secretary Cortelyou, arrived at the site
Of the new church, at Fifteenth and o
streets northwest, at $3.50 o'clock. He
did not remain throughout the SER
vices, as the press of official busi-
ness was so great that he could not
spare the time.
Participated in Exercises.
A small platform of rough boards had
been built at the southwest corner of
the lot, and this was occupied by the
President. Secretary Cortelyou, the
choir, and a number of clergymen OF
the Reformed Church from Washington
and abroad, several of whom partici-
pated in the exercises. Besides the
President, Secretary Cortelyou, and Rev.
DR.. Schick, the pastcr of the church,
those on the platform were Rev. ]. A.
Hoffheins, D. D., of Martinsburg. W.
Va; Rev. S. c. Slagle. of Westminster.
Nd; Rev. Gustav Facius. of the German
Congregation of this city; Rev. J. j.
Butler, pastor of Luther Memorial
Church; Rev. S. NJ Roeder. of Manches-
ter. Pa, and Revs. Paul Wienand, A. s.
Weber. D. D., Joel T. Rosseter, D. D..
Robert ]. Pilbram. C. E. W. Levan. E.
r. Dietrich, and George NJ Zacharias,
of Baltimore.
The service began promptly at $3.50
with the singing of the anthem. "The
Lord is Mindful of His Own" by the
choir of Grace Reformed Church. after
which Rev. Mr.. Roeder offered the in
vocation.
Rev Mr.. Rosseter announced that the
Presidents favorite hymn, How Firm
a Foundation, Ye Saints of the Lord, -
would be sung. The President and the
entire congregation Joined in this song,
and when it was completed Rev. E. K.
Dietrich led in prayer.
Box in Receptacle.
Psalm xcvi was then read by Rev. A.
s. Weber, the President and the rest Of
the congregation joining in the re-
sporses. At the conclusion Of the psalm
DR.. schick, the pastor Of the church, took
up the copper box containing the ar
ticles which were to be placed in the
granite block and announced that II con-
tained the Holy Bible. the Heidelberg
CatechisIn, which is the denominational
staniard of the Reformed Church, the
Directory of Worship, the hymnal. the
minutes of the general. Potomac dis
t,-ict, and Maryland classes synods, a
CODY OF each of the Reformed Church
papers. the Messenger" the Christian
world" and the Herald" copy OF
each OF the Washington dailies. the his
to-y of the congregation, history of
the new church movement, list Of
membership OF Grace Reformed Church,
a list Of the officers of the congregation,
the Sunday school, and the church socie-
ties, the cards of the architects, Messrs.
Paul J. Pelz. of Washington. and \. a.
RftcEcr, of Lebanon, Pa; the cards Of
Bessrs. Richardson and Burgess, the
contractors. Of this city, and program
OF the services.
Placed Stone in Position.
After the pastor had deposited the
box in the hole left in the stone for
that purpose. the President stepped
down from the platform and took his
place by the stone, reading the words
OF the ritual:
..our help is in the name of the Lord
The congregation responded: Who
made heaven and earth.
The President: Except the Lord build
the house"
The congregation: They labor in vain
who build it"
Mr. Paul J. Pelz, OF this city, the ar-
chitect. then handed the President a
small wooden msllet with which MIR.
Roosevelt gave the granite block a
smart rap. after repeating the words:
I'VE here lay tie corner stone of a
house to be erected under the name OF
lEe trace MtIlDTi'Ai tAtltILltu AluftAi
and to be devoted to the worship of al
mighty God In the name OF the Father,
and OF the Son, ard OF the Holy Ghost.
Amen"
The President stepped back upon the
platform and with the entire congrega-
tion repeated the Apostles Creed df-
ter which Rev. Mr.. Slagle led in prayer.
Rev. MIR. Pilgram announced that the
next hymn would be Christ Is Our Cor
nerstone." and after this was sung. Mr.
Roosevelt and Secretary Cortelyou took
their departure. Before the President
left he was introduced TO the clergynen
from other towns, and shook hands with
the architects and the workmen who
had placed the stones in position.
Mr.. Hofhein's Sermon.
Rev J. a. Hoffheins, D. D.. OF Mar
tinsburg. w. Va, then preached the
sermon Of the occasion.
He said that he. aud no doubt the
congregation. also recognized this as a
most inspiring and auspicious hour. He
called attention TO the rapid growth Of
the Reformed denomination for the past
ten years. ccngratulsting the congrega-
tion ON the fact that they would now
have increased facilities for the doing
of good. since a fitting odifice was to be
established in the National Capital. He
reviewed the history of the growth OF
the denomination in numerical strength,
home and foreign missionary Influence,