The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-13
The CORNER STONE
LAID BY MASONS
Impressive Exercises at the
Methodist 0rphanage.
ADDRESS BY DR.. lVtY
Judge Francis D. Winston Responds for The
Grand Lodge Grand Master Clark lays
The Stone With the impressive
pslu,I
ADDRESS BY DR.. IVtY


four and half-past five o'clock the corner
stone of the main building at the Meth
odist Orphanage was laid.
Beautiful exercises preceded the cere-
mony, which was conducted by the Grand
Lodge of Masons Of North Carolina with
all the impressive ritual and symbolism
of the Masonic order, always so majestic
and so full of meaning.
The scene was lovely one Right in
the midst of a grove of green trees, just
leaved for the summer, indescribably in
viting to people who have been housed in
a city all the winter, stood the great un-
finished brick building In front of it
stood the little group of Masons and
prominent people from different parts OF
the State, all alike interested in the well
fare of the little orphans, who were
grouped just within the doorway of their
new home in charge of the matron Mrs
John w. Jenkins.
First Rev. George f. Smith, pastor of
the Edenton Street Methodist church, read
a passage of scripture, Deuteronomy "a,
1921. Then Rev. j. N. Cole, of Whining
ton, offered prayer. Next came one of
the most beautiful and touching features
of the whole afternoon. The orphan chIl-
eren sang the Shout of Victory" from
their hymn-book
Rev. T. N Ivey, editor of the Raleigh
Christian Advocate, made the address
Bishop Coke Smith, who was to have been
present and filed this part of the pro-
gram, was unavoidably prevented. as was
the State Auditor, DR.. B. F. Dixon.
DR.. Ivey made humorous allusion to
the fact of his attempting at exceedingly
short notice to fill t's. Bishops place, and
went on to speak in part as follows:
Il feel sure that this is an occasion on
which we, one and ali, may justly and
appropriately congratulate ourselves. The
heavens smile above us. Nature, robed in
her green and her flowers redoent
with their perfume, riots in her spring
time glee. Appreciative and earnest
friends have lent us their presence. We
have placed the programme in the hands
of the representatives of an order which
reaches far back into the centuries and
which has ever proved a foster mother
to the orphan. They are men who have
been taught to become responsive to
every cry of grief and who know every
note in that sad song which is ceaselessly
sung from the cradle to that sad spot
where the sprig of evergreen is flung into
the new-made grave. We stand in the
shadow of the central building which
marks almost the fruition of our hopes
which were born few years ago when
the present superintendent to my left
touched the hearts of our Methodist peo-
pie by his appeal for the orphan. 1t is
a glad day for us.
''This building stands as the expression
of Christ's love for the weak and de-
fenceless. As / look at these children
here I cannot but think of the time when
Christ stood in the midst Of the busy
throngs, caught little children to His arms
and pronounced that blessing which has
forever fixed them as special bene-
fcares of heaven. If Christ so loves the
little ones happy in the love OF father
and mother, what must His feelings be
toward those whose little hands have slip
ped from the grasp of the stronger hands
which have been rendered nerveless by
death?
This building stands as the represen-
vltive or product of mans love 4or |
Christ and humanity. This love does not |
exist as mere sentiment. 1t finds no final
expression in form and dogma. It's true
product is a practical outgoing into the I
wants and sufferings G. humanity. So |
Christ on that memorable occasion by the |
Syrian roadside gave final and eternal
emphasis to the truth that love is the
greatest emotion of the human soul, that |
love is the condition and creator of SER
vice and that this service is the only |
gl eatness recognized in the august court
of the Son of God. Whoever would be
great among you let him be your SER
want When in the name OF Christ we
build a hospital or an orphanage or IN
any other way materialize among and
for men and women that love which lives
in the heart of God the Father and was
so tragicaly revealed in the life and
death of the Son of God, we present
'cup of cold water in the name of a dis
ciple: that cup not only quenches thirst
but is lifted high above the hands of the
one who drinks-above earth and sun and
moon and stars-until it presses the Inns
of the eternal Son sitting at the right
hand of His Father.
This building is the symbol of what
constitutes the real essence OF religion.
Religion of whatever kind it may be is
the simple consciousness OF a real tie
between Cod and the individual possess
ing this consciousness. But this conscious
ness. while towering in song and prayer
and event in the spiritual of ritual, must
find its fruitage. in that which touches
with tender hand the quivering cords OF
SUFFERING heart. So we have these
words in the Word Pure religion and
undefled before God and the Father is
this, to visit the fatherless and widows |