The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-08-27
THE CORNERSTONE LAID
OF the VIM. Z. George NJ. f. Chapel at
Swanton Last Saturday.

L lie lay ing Vi JIle COrIeTsIOue VI
the VIM. E. George NJ. E. chapel on
last Saturday was, as we believe, the
beginning of new era for Methodism
and for christianity in this communi-
ty. The morning dawned bright and
clear. 1t was an ideal day for an old
fashioned outdoor service. 1t being
also fine day for harvesting hay and
oats many of the farmers in the sur
rounding community were detained
at home; yet we feel that many who
were present will agree with us when
we say that those who stayed away
tied at home with few hay and oat
straws, lost a great deal more than
they gained.
The program was carried out IN full
as announced. Every one who had
any part in the exercises was present.
Thank God for people upon whom
you can depend!
\ platform for the speakers and
seats for the audience had been ar
ranged in the corner of Mr.. G. NJ. Mil
ler's woods IA fine shady nook-a
grove provided by natures God near
the site for the new church.
The morning service began with
song led by Mr.. Claude E. Goodwin,
of McMechen, West Va. Miss Pearl
George presided at the organ, After
prayer led by Rev. w. B. King, Mr..
Goodwin sang Nearer, Still Nearer
The morning sermon was then preach
ed by the Rev. E. P. Idleman, pastor
of the Rowlesburg NJ. E. church, from
the text, And he saw them toiliug in
rowing, for the wind was contrary
with them; and about the fourth
watch of the night he cometh unto
them, walking upon the sea. MARK
GAS. Mr.. Idleman stayed close to his
subject and his sermon was a spirit
ual uplift to all earnest christians
! One of his most beautiful thoughts
was that Christ often takes the trials
and difficulties and barriers that
stand in the way of his followers and
makes out of these very difficulties q
path over which he walks TO the res
cue of troubled souls.
At the close of this service the ba
kets were given an opportunity tt
carry out their part of the exer c ~eS
and after they had placed before u:
their inviting contents the chickens
pies, cakes and numerous other tempt
ing viands begun to disappear at &
very rapid rate. Every one, we think
did his best, but like the bashful boy
we had to give up that we could not
eat it all.
At o'clock the afternoon song ser
vice began when Rev. Mr.. holland of
fered prayer and Mr.. Goodwin sang
MY Mothers Prayer" Rev. VIM. b
King, pastor of the Moundsvile NJ. +
church, then preached the sermon
from the text, But Satan hindered
us | Thess. 2:1S. His discourse was
a bundle of truths bor1d together
with beautiful sentences and stamped
with the Holy Ghost. Among hi
many beautiful utterances he declared
that every christian soldier is stand
ing at the pass of Thermopylae, that
his enemies can come but one at {
time and that an earnest SOL anC
Jesus Christ are strong enough to de
feat any single devil in the universe
At the close of the sermon Mr.. Good
win sang THE Name of Jesus" Mr.
Idleman then took charge of the ser
vice and the people were given an OPP
portunity to contribute toward tn
erection of the church. Considerin!
the large number present who hat
already contributed, the contribution
was very liberal. Mr.. Goodwin SAN
Sweet Peace, the Gift of Gods Love
and the audience adjourned to tn
site of the church where a copy O
each of the three county papers
copies of the program of the day an,
list of the names of the contributor
having been placed in the vault, tn
marble cornerstone which had beel
donated by J. B. Williams & Co., O
Frostburg, was laid according to tn,
discipline of the Methodist Episcopa
church, Mr.. King leading in the ser
vice. The benodiction was pronoun
ced and the people went to their sev
eral homes feeling that they hat
spent the day pleasantly and profita
bly,.
The services were success through
out. Expressions of gratitude t.
those who made this success possibl
are being heard from many.
The sermons were highly appreci
ated and everyone was delighted witt
our excellent soloist. Mr.. Goodwin
sings the gospel with power tina
touches human hearts. When hi
magnificent voice rang out upon tn,
air we could not but feel that tn
very music of heaven was.being watt
ed down through the soul of godl,
man.
When the service was concluded tn
e L u o..