The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-13
.FREEMASONS LAID
 THE CORNER STONE
Impressive Ceremonies at First
 Baptist Church
FELICITOUS ADDRES SEES
Rabbi Newfleld Gives Hearty Greeting In Behalf of Temple Emanuel. List of Articles Deposited
 In the Stone.

The corner stone of the new First Bap- tlst church building at Twenty-second terday with Masonic ceremonies.
 About three hundred people witnessed the exercises and listened to the ad dresses of Acting Grand Master John G. Smith, the Rev. Dr. A. J. Dickinson, pastor of the church; Rabbi Newfield, representing Temple Emanuel; the Rev. Dr. J. w. Stagg. representing Protestant denominations, and the Rev. Dr. A. c. Davidson, representing the Baptists of the city.
 The stone was filled with many arti- cles including daily papers and coins. The acting grand master was assisted by number of other prominent Masons.
 The Ceremonies.
 After the stone had been tried and found to fill the various Masonic require- ments, the grand master offered prayer and then poured on the stone the corn, symbol of plenty, the wine, symbol of nourishment, and the oil, symbol of joy and of gladness. The three little girls who held the vessels containing the corn, wine and oil were Marie Tanner, Gladys Enslen and Mary Ratcliff.
 Following this Acting Grand Master Smith addressed the audience at length He spoke of the great work, the corner stone of which had just been found to fill the requirements, and of the great things which it was expected would oc- cur under the roof of the church. He then took up the subject of Masonry and explained what 1t was and the influence it had on society.
 Rabbi Newfield was introduced by pr. Dickinson as representing the Temple Emanuel congregation, which had so kind ly loaned its building to the First church congregation. He spoke in part as fol- lows:
 pr. Newfield's Greeting.
 Friends, l am here to bring you greet- Ing on behalf of Temple Emanuel. ex- tend cordial congratulations to the First Baptist church. It's learned pastor, it's jealous officers and members, and all who with money, good will and loving jdDOT nave COnlTlDuleu lO lnS LIOSNifil of this church. This building will repre- sent when finished a vast amoun- of sele denial; every stone will speak of sacrl- fees. But that which is not worth sacrifice cannot prosper or endure. his structure when completed will stand here not only as Q monument ot structural beauty, but 1t will be an enduring mem orial of devotion and sacrifice.
 You people of the Baptls. church have reason this day to feel just pride in your achievement. But there is rel )icing far beyond your own lines. Wherever religion and the culture of idealsm has adherents they rejoice with you I am here to Lrlng you more than individual greetings The Old Mother of Religion salutes you. Flesh of her flesh, spirit of her spirit, thought, l, one of the hum5lest of the though not altogether tn ought of her representatives of the Old Mother Reli zion. bring tidlngs Sof peace. joy and goodwill"
 Rabbi Newfield then said that the new church was the latest link In the chain of churches, and it proved the influence of religion. The crowd there gathered prov ed, he said. the universality of man, all a brotherhood in the larger church of humanity.
 pr. Stagg.
 pr. J. w. Stagg spoke in behalf of the other Christian churches of the city. He said that this structure was being erected to minister to man, to teach him about God and goodness. He spoke of the churches being the most important build ings in the city-the church of the Living God, whose silent influence prevented many a crime and yielded a greater infiu- ence for good than any one knew He compared a city of churches to one with out the houses of God, and asked If any one present could imagine city without a place to worship and the evil that would reign there.
 Dr. A. c. Davidson, pastor of the South side Baptist church, spoke in behalf of that church and the Baptists of the city. He thanked God that the mother church of all the Baptists in the city was erect in- a fitting home, and said he brough. with him the good will and prayers of the Baptists of the city. Prayer was of- fered by the Rev. W. s. Brown pastor of the Fountain Heights Baptist church.
 In the Corner Stone.
 Following is a list of the articles placed in the stone
 Book containing names secured by Ladies' Aid society of the church.
 Copy of the Alabama Baptist containing picture of church.
 List of contributors to the fundation fund of the church.
 Copy of the church covenant.
 Copy of the address of the acting grand Master, J. G. Smith, in charge of the ceremonies.
 Names of the only surviving member of those who organized the church, Chris tian F. Enslen.
 Copy of the Stone Cutters Journal"
 Copy of the Birmingham News of this date.
 Copy of the Birmingham Az Herald of this date
 Copy of the Birmingham Ledger of this date.
 Copy of the rules of the senate of Ala bama for 1903
 Two fans.
 Roll of the Sunday school of the church. Copy of the Masonic directory of the city of Birmingham.
 A doll.
 A silver quarter coined in 1901, the year