The Republican journal., 1910-05-12
The Mason's Mills Chapel.
Ground Broken Saturday, May z. 1910.

1
slight chill in the brisk breeze from the north
west there were suggestions OF spring on every
/ hand The site of the new edlhce is in pas
ture nearly opposite the White schoolhouse,
and some of the young growth OF white birch
had been cut away to clear space for the
building. The site is an elevated one, COM
mandng views of the bay, the city opposite
and of Goose river; which, as it flows from
Swan lake, should have its name changed to
Swan river From the staff on the White
schoohouse the Stars and Stripes feated in
the breeze, and on the grounds Old Glory was
suspended between two graceful birches. A
large truck wagon, its wheels tr1mn ed with
evergreen and little flags, served as plat
form and on it was an organ to furnish an
compartment for the singing. A handsome
pair of gray horses, their harnesses decorated
with evergreen and flags, were attached to a
new plow, similarly decorated, and were ready
at the signal to break ground along line in
dica ed by stakes from which small flags fut-
tered in the breeze. Rev. William Vaughan
the leader in this as in other good work on the
East Side, was the master of ceremonies
Those present included many of the moving
spirits in the enterprise, the children of the
Sunday school, their teachers and parents; old
and young alike interested and enthusiastic;
and three of the city clergymen. The order of
service was as follows:
Singing, A Glorious Church.
The 132nd Psalm read by the pastor.
Recitation, Workers Together for Jesus,
Miss Nettie Nickerson
Prayer by the Rev. ]. W. Vaughan.
Singing by little girls, ''Out in the Vineyard
Ground"
Recitation, "The Church.
Miss Agnes Nickerson
Recitation, "The Pilgrims,
Miss Myrtle Larrabee
Singing, Building Day by Day"
During the exercises Mr.. Vaughan called in
turn upon the clergymen present,-Rev
Adolph Rossbach of the Unitarian church.
Rev. David L. Wilson of the North church, So
called, but officially the First Congregational
church, and Rev. Arthur G. Roberts of the Bap
tist church-and all had words of en- courage
ment and were the bearers of the good wishes
of their respective churches. Mr.. Wilson spoke
of the liberalizing tendency of the times. In
stead of preparing people to die the churches
preparing them to live. He hoped
the new edfice would be something more than
sanctuary; that it would be devoted as we'll
to the moral up-lift of the community. He be-
lieved that the first move in this undertaking
was made at the district Sunday school con-
vention held last summer in Trinity Reform
ed church, when lady came to him and ask
ed if something could not be done to ensure
the holding of religious services at Mason's
Mills He told her that if anything was done
in that direction he thought it should be done
by the Rev. William Vaughan, but that if he
did not care to undertake it he thought his
people would. On comforting with his people
he found they agreed with him and the matter
was presented to Mr.. Vaughan, who decided
to undertake it. Mr.. Vaughan in addressing
the assembly later said that it was with the
approval of other ministers that he had at
tempted the work. At first there was much
in the way. While the people wanted Sun
day school for their children they saw no
possibility of place of meeting. A meeting
was called to talk the matter over and only
seven came; but when one woman said tive
want our children in Sunday school and my
husband says if you will only build house. /
will give a thousand feet of lumber and five
dollars or its equivalent in lumber there was
at once ground for hope. The next meeting
there was room full and faith and interest
began to climb vacant house offered
us and there we began, with sixty present, a
preaching service and Sunday school which has
been continued. When the house where we
met was rented, barn was made comfortable
for u.s. and when the weather got too cold for
our meetings there, the store, where we now
are, was opened to US. Standing lumber has
been given and men have given their services
to cut and haul it. Several have given lumber
which they will deliver, and several have given
money. We have such confidence in the will
ing spirit of the people that if the material
for the building is Forthcoming it will be put
up by voluntary hands
1t will surprise some of our readers to learn
of the size of the. congregation at Masons
Mills and of the fiourishing Sunday school The
meetings were first held in the White school,
house, but after time outgrew that and met
in another building to the number of sixty.
When that building was rented for other pur-
poses they met for time in barn and had a
congregation of 100. But, said Mr.. Vaughan,
they did not wish to become cattle and as win
ter approached they began to realize the truth
of the saying, "cold a barn" Then they
were offered the use of Mason's store, where
meetings were held in comfort during the
winter.
The last speaker was Rev. J. W. Vaughan of
Citypoint, who said he did not represent any
church but he did represent the Chassis, one Of
the official bodies of the Reformed Church OF
America, and without the consent and knowl-
| edge of the Chassis no church of the denomina.
tion could be erected anywhere in this country
He bore the good wishes of the Chassis on this
occasion.
At the close of the exercises Rev. William
Vaughan took a new spade, that looked as
though it was intended for digging rather thar
kept in a case, and said, eve are now to break
ground in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Ghost as the first step in
the erection OF church in which to worship
Almighty God" Mrs. Eugene Achorn drove
the horses while Mrs. 7. S. Thompson held the
plow in turning the first sod and all the people
gave three rousing cheers. All followed Mr.
William Vaughan in turning a spade full of
earth. Everyone agreed that the service was
| helpful instructive and inspiring.