The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-22
START ERECTION
OF VEST MINISTER
Cornerstone of Presbyterian
Church Laid at Davis and
Park Avenues.
ADDRESS is BY GOVERNOR
Executive Says That Without
the Church the State Could
Not Exist.
ADDRESS is BY GOVERNOR

Despite the threatening weather and
an occasional downpour of rain. a
large number of members and friends
attended the ceremonies incident to
the laying OF the corner stone OF
Westmins ter Presbyterian Church. at
the corner of Park and Davis Ave
nues. yesterday afternoon. The cor
house of worship was put in place
with the rites and ceremonial of the
Masonic order, making the second time
In as many days that the Masons of
the city have been called upon to Of
ficiate at an occasion of this kind. The
Masonic part of the ceremonies was
carried out by Richmond Lodge. No.
10, "A, f. and A. NJ.
The exercises began at 1870 with
the singing of the Doxology and with
an invocation by DR.. r. T. McFaden,
OF the First Presbyterian Church. Fol-
lowing the singing of the hymn. How
Firm q Foundation" DR.. ]. Calvin
Stewart. OF the Church of the Cove
nant read from the Bible. DR.. Rus
sell Cecil, OF the Second Presbyterian
Church. offered the prayer.
Governor Mnnn Speaks.
Rev. James Y. Fair. pastor of West
minister Church, who presided over the
exercises, introduced Governor VIII
principal address Referring to Dr..
Fairs statement in introducing him
that the government Of this country
has wisely provided for the separation
OF church and state, the Governor be-
gan his remarks by Offering a modi-
ffcation of the pastors statement. 1T
is true" he said. that in the eyes OF
the law the church and the state are
two separate and distinct bodies, but
1t is equally true that without the
church the state could not exist. The
existence of the church IS essential to
the continuation OF government"
The speaker expressed his pleasure
in being called upon TO take part in
this occa sion, especially since the
church about to be built was OF his
own denomination. He traced It's
origin from the institution of the ell
dershp under Moses and the continu-
ance of the practice by Paul and Bar
nabas on their missionary Journeys.
| THE Presbyterian faith does NOT need
to fall back upon history for Its JUS
tifcation.' he said. The Bible itself
stands sponsor for it's truth"
while claiming re-eminence for
| the Presbyterian Church." he contin-
| ued, Il do not lose sight OF the fact
that we have no monopoly OF the sos-
pei. Creeds, after all. represent only
| minor differences. Ine lmportant
thing is that they are all OF the same
! famIly-the Christian famny-and
that they have a common foundation
| in Christ" He ended by paying \
warm tribute to the Masonic order and
the good work which 1t has done dur
ing the 1000 years Of its existence.
The laying of the stone with Masonic
ritual followed the Governors ad-
dress. Children from the Sunday
| school Of the church sang a hymn i'm
mediately before the Masonic service.
| Building Committee.
The committee which has the church
| building in charge is as follows:
/ w. /. Walters, chairman; John w
Williams. secretary: George s. Kemp
| treasurer: w. L. Bell, y. II. Cobbs. a
II. Ewing, James Y. Fair. George r
| Tairlamb. John Fraser, "a. r. Holderby
Jr., w p. Knowles. +. II. Lea. w. r
| Lecky. w. B. Lorraine, a. W. McClay
! F. L. Mandlove. o. o. Mitchell. r. w
Miles. r. e. Monsell Andrew Robert
son. w. H. Sands. c. T. Walters. S F.
Walters. G. a Warthen.