Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-09-06
CHURCH CORNERSTONE LAID
First Congregational Church Gets
New Edifice Under Way.
MASONIC RITUAL IS USED
Dr. o. o. smith, Pastor Of Church,
Prepares Lines for Use At Cere-
mOnial--severai Addresses
Made.
MIC RITUAL IS USED

fitted, the cornerstone OF the new $50 900
edifice Of the First Congregational church
Of Council Bluffs was laid yesterday after
noon. The services were more beautiful
and impressive than those commonly OBJ
served at the laying Of church corner
stones. for the ritual OF the Congresat ional
church does not contain any special serv-
ices for such events, giving the members
the wide latitude, even In this. that so
fully justifies the broad name Of "congre-
gationahsm."
The pastor Of the church. DIT. o. o. Smith.
who has advanced to the higher degrees
Of Free Masonry, naturally turned to the
expressive ritual Of the order and adapted
from It a special service that complied with
. all Of the traditions OF the church, and
made the service one long 10 be remem-
= bered by the crowd Of people who filled
ell OF the seats and occupied all vantage
points about the building. All OF the Of
ncers OF the church took leading parts and
every member Of the congregation had some
thing 70 do with the services. In addition
70 the members there were many from
other denominations and stu many others
Who affiliated with no church organiza-
zion who Witnessed or Joined in the serv-
hoes. Lengthy addresses we're made by
Congressman Walter /. Smith and City
Collector elem f. Klmball.
Through kindly fortune Father G. G..
Rice, o. years old and the first pastor and
Norganizer of the First Congregational
Vchurch founded In Council Bluffs nearly
sixty years ago. was present and delivered
the invocation. He organized the first
church when there were but eight members
and built the first church building when
Council Bluffs had just emerged from It's
Kanesville day, and has been permitted TO
live and labor In the community all OF the
intervening years, honored by all and loved
by all regardless of denomination.
-Four BuiIdIngs Erected.
In his opening remarks DR.. Smith stated
S3at the congregation Of the first church
had built four church buildings since the
little log structure was erected in which
the first services were held In addition
to the parent organization there are now
two other Congregational organizations, one
in the western and the other in the south
ern part Of the city Following DR.. Smiths
remarks and his reading of the first part
OF the special ritual, Rev. c. s. Hanley.
pastor OF the Second, or Peoples Congre-
satonal church. read from the scriptures
Zecbariah's vision OF success followed
by the choir's rendition Of the hymn, 20
Thou Whose own Vast Temple Stands"
Then followed the Masonic ritualistio inter-
probation of the meaning of the Cornerstone
and the reasons for placing in 1t the articles
TO be preserved Then the clerk Of the
congregation stepped forward, read the list
of articles contained In the treasure box,
as follows:
History OF tho First Congregational
church, written by Rev. q. q, Rlce first
pelshy contributed toward the new church
byprne Davis, young daughter OF Mr.. and
list of churoh officers and members; list
Of Sunday school officers, teachers and pu-
PHI coins bearing the dates of 1905, 1907,
l9QS 1909 and 1910; annual reports of the
chySvch for the years, 1908 and 1907 hnvo-
cation and benedlcton OF the ceremony Of
Ladies Missionary society and list OF mem-
bers; constitution and list Of officers OF
nlembsrs OF the Baby Ernest Hart Flower
nhksiOp minutes Of the seventy-nrst an
nt@l heetng of the state Assoeiation Of
Congregational Churches and Ministers OF
Iowa; prayer meeting tOPiv folder for 1900
10; special number OF CONGREGATIONAL Iowa,
containing a picture Of the Peoples church
and sketch OF the church, also picture of
Dr., William Salter OF Burlington, Ia who
a n NSty four years; COPY of the Daily Non
paren OF June a. 1870 describing the break
a ing OF the ground for the new church; list
OF Young Mems Christian association Off
GERS and names Of secretaries and direc-
tors; daily newspapers of this date and
the eeremoniesc printed sermon OF the pas
tor; plumb and level used in laying the
cornerstone.
Description OF Edtlce.
The remainder OF the ceremonial varied
but little from the regular Masonic ritual
including the significant depositing OF corn
sApd- the pouring OF the wine and oil on the
, Sns AS the stone was lowered into its
n Of mortar which had been spread by
n fSe regular workmen engaged in the con-
IN , Suction OF the building, the congregation
"a Shed In singing America" The final act
bC( depositlng the stone followed as II. w
81 t,Iazeiton finished the ceremony OF pour
{Fhg the oil with the words. Il pour this oil
MS an emblem Of peace. May its blessing
abide with US continually, and may the
fFather In Heaven shelter and protect us
N elnd all His people and give us peace"
EwhAs a dozen little white clad girls
Anatt.hed up, each bearing a garland OF
blowers, and dropped them on the stone.
II T. fSroughout the service music was furn-
ishtes Nv the choir and a quartet OF young
I'm q scholarly address In which he re-
= viewed the growth and development OF the
moral sentiment OF the world, which gave
rise 60 Congrega tionalism, Glen +. Kim
ball represented the members OF the con-
n tsregation In the ceremonies. He showed
4 q profound knowledge OF ecclesiastical his
tory in its relation to all churches and
claimed for Christianity, responsibility for
l
IN modern time.
n Congressman Smiths speech was equally
a eloquent and finished representing on the
~ program, The Church and the Commun-
N tty." He said the Congregational church
\ was distinctive I'm It's Independence, and
I represented the broadcast spirit OF tolerant
AL Christianity. He declared, however, that
liberalism in church affairs was not with
out its dangers, for II often meant an
abatement OF zeal,
stone Put In Place.
The new church is located on First ave-
nue. between Sixth and Seventh streets II
is 5OxlOO feet. and will seat 800 people when
the main auditorium and the Sunday school
snd class rooms are thrown together. II
Is modern In every feature. The Architec-
j. turf is modified doric, The walls will be
FL OF edarl-eolored, Wtrfied- chased brick with
Light stone trimmings
"
y FEAR FOR ART TREASURES
DeetSIon of italian Court Gives Holy