The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-07-01
LAY
 CORNER STONE Impressive Ceremonies at
 the New, Church. THREE FINE ADDRESSES Many Interesting Relics Placed in Copper Box, Dr. Wharton. Mir. Messing and Mir. Van- diver Were the Speakers, and the
 Pastor, pr. stnI<eiy.
 Presided.

In the presence of probably zoo mem bers of the congregation and members of the ministry, representing every of tie First Baptist Ghurct., Montg om- : ery's newest and handsomest house of warship in course of erection at the laid with appropriate ceremonies al 3:30 o'clock yesterday morning..
 The services were notable inasmuch as the First Baptist Church congrega- cry. the present church at the corner of North Court and Bibb Streets having been erected Tn 1852, and 1t Is the lars- est and wealthiest congregation in tns
 Rev. Charles A. stakely. D. D.. the pastor of the First Baptist Church. who has labored faithfully since he came to MolA somery, five years ago, to see his congregation supplied with suitable house of worship. presided over the that marked the erection of the han:. some edifice. A rostrum WAS providci l near the main entrance of the building of the church board were seated.
 The great crowd of interested pnr- sons who had gathered to witness the laying of the corners stone ltood about the rostrum and heard with evident in- terest the words of those whos spoke during the services.
 The cornerstone was inscribed on it's face. The First Baptist Church. 1905" "Organized, 1929"
 The services began with brief of the First Baptist Church congrega- tion. He expressed great gratiiication that the hopes of the ccngregatio were of the new church. The entire assem- blaze then sang the hymn. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing" The sing, Scripture from the first chapter or the First Epistle tc the Corinthians.
 Rev. J: w. 0'Harfa, pastor of the voked God to bless the new church. its congregation and It's work.
 Dr. Wharton Speaks.
 Rev. M. B. Wharton. D. D., of Flu faula. formerly a pastor of the First Stakely in brief complimentary pr. wharton said, in part:
 T am glad to be here to take part in the laying of the ccorner-stone of this grand new church editice,. When ! was here years ago l earnestly, desired and prayed for a new church. but God saw ] fit to leave the building of IL to the wiser Solomon. pr. Stakely, who Is a master builder. In the National Capital one of its stateliest temples Is due to his genius and zeal. and when this church is completed and admiring | throngs shall shout grace. grace upon | will be given to the modest man, who, | like the man described by Robert Hall, may be called the QuiescenCe of turbu- fence. unmoved himself, but moving | everything around him: not forgetting the noble men and peerless women who have helped him on.
 l Today we lay the cornerstone. What the keystone Is to the arch, that the cornerstone is to the building. the source of It's strength and beauty. The custom of laying them publicly has times 1t Is done with great pomp and magnificence. But after all the corner stone of a church Is but symbolic. and represents the foundation of the spirit ual editice. The prophet said ages ago
 Behond, I lay in Zion for a found dation
 stone ehief t,o eqrnerstone, pdnds o eieG' heI, religion are built on the foundations of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.
 But there must be. a place for wor- ship. for the edifcat;on of the people for the collection of revenues, and roi the nations. There was first the taber' nacle then the gorgeous temple, ther the church edifice.
 The building of grand new churct Is one of the greatest works that car be done for a community. We speak o the opening of rivers and harbors, thu streets, the establishment of hospital, and libraries and the like but thu greatest thing that can be done for any community is the building of churcnes
 Without them people would leave a! rats desert a sinking ship
 The church is the complement of th, penitentiaries diminish Philip Schof says Gods church. Gods book and God!
 day are the three pillars of Ameri ,ar society. Without them 1t must go th'
 way of all flesh. and God will raise ul
 some other nation or continent to carr
 on His designs, and the same author says. a beautiful church Is sermon
 in stone and it's spire d finger pointing , to heaven"
 Rev. John A. Rice pastor of tn
 Court Street Methodist Church, who wa
 to have spoken, was detained on ac
 count of sickness in his home. and w F. Vandiver. a prominent member O
 the Court Street Methodist Church re
 sponded to the request to take pr
 Rices place on the program.
 MT Vandiver delivered a fitting trib