Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
NEW CHURCH. BEG UN
LAYING OF CORNER STONE SAT-
URDAY AFTERNOON.
Ceremonies in Charge of Officers of the
Grand Lodge of
Masons.

The erection of the new Second Presby-
terian Church, Southern Assembly, on ed
street between P and Massachusetts, ave-
nue., was begun Saturday afternoon, when
the corner stone was laid with impressive
ceremonies, the Masonic Grand Lodge off,
GERS officiating. The contract calls for the
completion of the structure by January 1,
and 1t is believed the work will be finished
by that date. weather permitting.
The ceremonies began with the singing OF
the doxoogy. This was followed by an in
vocation, pronounced by Rev. DIR. S. s.
Laws. Rev. H. Waddell Pratt, pastor of
the congregation of the new church, then
delivered an address, In which he spoke OF
the great need of church in the section of
the city mentioned as one of the causes
that led to the organization of his eongTe-
cation January 25. 1903 He said there was
only one other church of the same denomi-
nation and assembly in Washington, which
Is at Sd and streets northwest.
The corner stone was placed in position
by Grand Master James A. Wetmore of the
District Grand Lodge, +. A. A. NJ, after ne
had called upon Chaplain d. w. Skellenger
to offer prayer The list of articles placed
in the stone included: ~
Holy Bible Westminster shorter cate
chism, young children's catechism sketch
and origin and subsequent history of the
church. signatures of those members VINO
attended the first meeting and of the pas
tor, copy of petition for organization pre-
sented to presbytery of Virginia, news
paper account of organization, January 20,
1903: leafiet, ''The Church and It's sup
port" announcement card of the church
report Of board of deacons of Second Pres
byterian Church, 1904; photographs of house
first used for divine worship; interior, snow
ing pulpit with pastor, piano ana pianist
the pastor breaking ground on lot for new
church; group OF members attending the
breaking of ground. an account OF breaking
Of first ground, October "a, 1904 constitu-
ton of Grand Lodge; Masonic calendar.
1904: Declaration of Independence, coin OF
United States money and copies of local
newspapers.
Masonic Ceremonies.
When the stone was pronounced to be
perfectly square by the various officers who
tested it, a vessel of corn. one of wine and
one of oil were emptied by the grand mas
ter. the Masonic choir rendering vocal Sc
lections.
Grand Master Wetmore then delivered an
address in which he spoke of rites that
had Just been performed. saying they were
truly religious ones and not pagan. He ex-
planned how Masonry makes the befef IN
God requisite to membership, and that the
order strives to better mems condition py
uplifting them and improving their moral
standard The benedction pronounced by
the chaplain concluded the ceremonies.
The members of the Second Presbyterian
Church have been meeting on the first floor
of the house at 2154 p street northwest and
will continue to do so until the new build
ing is ready for occupation.
The officers of the church are: Elders,
w. L. Nenable. E. H. Cumpston and DR..
Ohio M. MuncaSter; deacons. DR.. George
p DuBose, ]. ]. Register, w. S. Feland and
John L. Beattie; the board of trustees con-
sists of the deacons and Mr.. T. d. Waters.