The Washington herald., 1913-02-14
PRESIDENT LAYS
CORNERSTONE
Continued from First Page.

Continued from FfEst
TO Law the corner stone Of a church 10
be erected in Washington, the capital ot
the country, in which the doctrines OF
liberal Christianity will be preached anu
the love of God and the brotherhooo Q,
man inculcated, and a broad spirit OIL
charity and tolerance in the reisious
liefs of mankind manifested. .
.In this center of political inhuence-lh
this home of the sovereignty OF american
people-it is well that the ilIarinti ian
Church should have a strong congresa
tion. representative Of church iouhueu
in the deep spirit OF religious conV,cuoii @
and of confidence in the justice ana ioVe
- - .u-yvise and all-merciful God, and
dedicated to the teaching and spread Oh
the principles Of broad ana ra'ioiia'
Christianity.
The site which has been selected ana
the edifice which has been designed anu
projected-aII insure an opportunity ior
greatly increasing the influence Oh Chl-
tarianism in this capital and in the couh-
try. We may properly hope that from
the new All Souls Church and the parish
house bearing the name of Edward Ev-
erett Hale, which are to be united under
a common roof at this place, snail
radiats an influence, making much 1or
righteousness and the highest ideals OF
true religion.
Henry NJ Williams, of Boston. treas
urer of the American Unitarian Associa-
+ion. representing the president OF the
association, Samuel A. Eliot, D. D., VINO
was prevented from attending the cere-
monies because OF illness, expressed 10
the congregation the Fluctuations and
concentrations of the Unitarians
throughout the United States. He spoke
Of the interest that has been prevalent
throughout the United states for the
past few years in the development and
realization of the plans for an adequate
national church in the Capital of the
country.
"It is my pleasure, as 1t Is my priVi-
lege," said Mr.. Williams, 'to be present
upon this occasion to express to you the
fluctuations and congratulations of the
fellowship at large upon the inception
of this beautiful new edifice. in which
you mot alone, but the members of our
fellowship throughout the United States
as WELL may take just pride-pride not
only in the edifce itself, but in the in
creased good for practical religion that
it will give ycu, and pride in the fact
that our fellowship is to be represented
in the National Capital by a structure
at least the equal of that housing any
denomination
Following Mr.. Thomas address the
congregation sang the Corner Stone
Hymn." written by Rev. Clay MacCauley,
ID. D., and sung at the laying of the
same corner stone in 1877, at the building
of the All Souls Church at Fourteenth
and L Streets Northwest.
The cold, still air of the afternoon
carried for squares the words OF the
dignified hymn:
o Thou, all Holy One!
Our temples corner stone
To Thee lay.
Infinite Holiness!
DO Thou offering bless;
Seal it with righteousness,
We humhiy Irsy.
Take Thou the houss we raise,
Make 1t Thy dwelling place
Lord our Godl
That Thee all souls may kro-:
That all Thy life may show:
That Chris in all may grov;
Be this abode
Come then Thou Holy One!
Though heaven be Thy throDe
Here dwell and reign.
Make By Thy pure decree,
This temple worthy Thee,
Thine shall the glory be,
Ever. amen!
The invocation and benediction were
pronounced by the Rev. DIR. u. G. B.
Pierce, pastor of the church. Senator
Duncan L. Fletcher of Florida, chair
man OF the board of trustees. presented
behalf of the congregation he also ex-
tended thanks to the grand lodge for
conducting the ceremonies attendant to
LAYING the corner stone.
Following the ceremonies a reception
was held at the pastorate. 1915 Riggs
Place. Rev. Mr.. Pierce and those in
charge of the new church received the
members of the congregation and friends.
The new church edifice is to be erected
on the east side of Sixteenth Street ad-
Joining the new million dollar Scottish
Rite Cathedral at the corner of Sixteenth
and S Streets Northwest. It is to be of
stone and will be one of the most beauti-
full edif1es in the city. 1t will at the same
time be one of the most modern churches
in the country. Its design resembles
that of an old English monastery, with n
huge tower of a modified Gothic and
Roman style, making a structure which
will prove an adornment to the city.
1t will contain, besides the auditorium
and the memorial, lecture and class
rooms, large dining-rooms, kitchen, gym
nasium and cloak rooms. There will also
be numberless other convenlences not
usually found in churches. The building.
when completed, will cost approximately
100000. This sum does not include the
cost of the site.
Another notable feature about the new
edifice is that it was planned and de-
signed by local firm OF architects, Dom
and Deming. Their plans were selected
without a change from among those sub
mitted by many of the leading archi-
tectuaI firms in the country. The award
was made after an open competition of
more than a year.
Actual work on the new edirce will
not be commenced Immediately The
laying Of the corner stone was hurried in
order that President Taft might partfcI-
pate in the ceremonies before his retire
ment from Office on March 4.
The committee in charge Of the corner
stone laying was composed of James A.
Sample Henry e. Blount Mrs Whitman
Cross, Daniel z. Douty, Mrs. Thomas NJ.
Gale, James F. Hood, and Myron NJ
Parker.