The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-10-21
CORNER STONE LAID.
Impressive ceremonie at M.
K. church Monday

K. church Monday
$4,000 Raised by subscription IN
Thirty Hours-Speeches by Promi-
nent Members of Chureh-Centents
of Boxing Crowd Participates in
Exercises.
In the presence OF crowd Of fiji
teen hundred people, Eitl cercmo7
mics deyout AMI impressive, under
skies that smiled a benedictiop. the
corner stone OF the new Methodist
Episcopal church was laid Monday
afternoon. 1t was just twenty min
utes past five o'clock when the stone
was lowered into place, and Hon.
John j. Brown, using the impressive
words Of the Masonic formula, de-
clared it square, plumb and level.
All the exercises, with the exeep-
tion of the actual laying Of the stone,
were conducted inside OF the en-
closure made by the rising walls.
A temporary platform had been
erected at the pulpit end Of the
church, from which the speakers
made their addresses. The unfin-
ished walls were black nth specta.
tors, and the temporary floor was
crowded with people standing.
High and Wiley streets we're tenn
porarily blocked by the crowd when
the stone was laid.
At the opening OF the exercises,
DR.. F. M. Compton, pastor, who
presided, announced that he was
Just 5000 short of having raised
$4,000 by subscription in thirty
hours. He called for contributions
to make it $4,000. The response
came quickly. John W. Krepps
gave 500; j. w. Wiles, 1926; DIR.
Purinton, $25; Mrs. Geo. Parfitt,
s25; l. N. Weaver, $25; "A friend
from Chicago" $40 and Alfrey
Carrieo, SIS. An opportunity was
then given for all who desired, to
pay 81 and have their names put in
the corner stone.
Following these important pre-
liminaries, the great crowd, led by
Dir. Eugene Warren, to the accom-
painment of some selected pieces
from the University band, Joined in
singing Stand up for Jesus. For
the first time the walls of the church
whose history will extend into the
future perhaps for hundreds of
years, echoed the sound of voices
mingled in praise to God, and that
this thought came to many, was evil
dent from the feryor with which
they sang. Those who had labored
faithfully and long, giving their
time, energies and means that the
church might be built, thought of
the thousands upon thousands who
would sing these same inspiring
words, and were amply rewarded
for all effort and self.denial it had
cost them.
Rev. S. J. Robinson, presiding ell
der, Rev. w. b. King, of Mounds
vile, and Rev. John Beddow rartic-
ipated in the services, giving respec-
lively the declaration from the ritu
al prayer, responsive reading and
the lesson from First Corinthians
third chapter, verses nine to twenty
three. The words of the hymns and
the responsive readings had been
printed on handsome programs,
which were distributed among the
crowd so that all might participate.
| Prof. W. P. Wiley superintendent
of the NJ. E. Sunday School deliver
ed brief, but interesting and for
chile address. 81 am Methodist"
he said. "Most of you are Methodist.
But is is by no means a Methodist
occBsion. This church belongs to
Morgantown, to the community, and
|, stands for ali tuat is best and no
blest among our people. 1t is an
, emblem to the stranger of our civil
ization, our morality and religion.
1t is a symbol of what the people of
Morgantown are, of how and tor
what purposes they live"
Hon. Geo. G. Sturgiss followed
Professor Wiley. with a remarkably
fine address reviewing the history OF
the work OF building the church and
giving some very interesting figures.
He showed how the complete cost Of
the church, ready for the first SER
vice, inside and out, would be $780,
600. He then stated the assets,
, $4,000 by subscription $4,000 in
real estate and other smaller funds,
leaving shortage of about $50, 600.
} THIS he hoped to see raised before
the dedication of the church, 1904.
In addition to these things, Mr..
Sturgiss spoke most teelingly of the
( brave hearts that rebuilt it after it
was burned in 1852. To many mem
! bers OF the congregation. it was hal
| lowed by thousand sweetly solemn
memories, and they would leave it
with a sigh of regret. Again he re-
, ferred to the money yet to be raised.
! He would not call the $4,000 a
, shortage he said, for in enumera-
ting the assets, he had neglected to
, mention the most important-nam-
ely the hundreds of willing hands
and devoted hearts that would work
to raise it.
Dr. Compton stated the contents
of the large tin box, which was to
, be placed in the corner stone. Among
, other things there were 362 cards,
! containing the names of those who
had given a dollar, coins, books,
catalogues, copies of the daily papers
church papers, and similar records.
While Nearer Ny God to Thee
: was sung, the audience, gathered on
the outside, around the southeast
corner of the building. The tin box
was sealed by Mr.. c. r. Huston who
was given it in sight eof the crowd
The corner stone was hoisted and
the box inserted in the receptacle
cut to fit it. Mortar was sprea
on the stone beneath and the corner
stone was lowered to its place.
Hon. John J. Brown then read an
, impressive declaration, following
closely the Masonic ritual and after
! benediction the exercises ended
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