The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1915-07-06
LAYING Of
CORNERSTONE
Of The Vine Street Church
of Christ
Sunday Afternoon Witness
ed BY Many People
And Attended With Very
Interesting Ceremonies
Scholarly And Masterful
Address by Rev. Walker
Following Which Stone Was
Placed In Position
And Attended With Very
Interesting Ceremonies
Scholarly And Masterful
Address by Rev. Walker
Following Which Stone Was
Placed In Position

A cornerstone laying, attracted a
large attendance, despite the threaten
ing weather, to the site of the new
Vine Street Church of Christ Sunday
afternoon.
A number of chairs were placed in
front of the foundation of the church,
but these were soon occupied and the
later arrivals either remained stand
ing or disposed themselves on the
large piles of tile nearby, while any
number occupied the vantage posi-
tion of automobiles in the street.
On the foundation appeared simple
decoration-a pedestal appropriately
draped with an American flag. There
were seated the pastor of the church,
Rev. James A. Long, Rev. l.. G. Walk
er of Centerburg, Rev. w. R. Walker
of Canton, DR.. Joseph A. Wenger,
chairman of the building committee,
and Messrs. George B. Kelly, William
Cover, Morgan Turner and George
Mitchell, members of the male quartet.
Following the singing of Lead Kind
ly Light" by the quartet, Rev. l.. G.
Walker read several passages of Scrip
ture dealing with corner-stones and
then invoked divine blessing on the
assemblage and the church.
Do tD, G
rendered by the quartet and the speak
er of the day introduced by Rev. J.sA.
Long, Rev. w. R. Walker of Canton, a
brother of Messrs. H. X. Walker and
Jasper Walker of this community and
son of Rev. l.. G. Walker of Center
burg, is well-known to Knox county
ans and residents of this city, having
preached in Brink Haven for a number
of years. He later went to Canton and
there became connected with the
Welshymer Bible Institute in the ca
pacity Of a professor. In this latter
position, he has made an enviable
name and reputation for himself, re-
bounding to the credit of his native
county
Rapid-fre in utterance and brilliant
in thought, Rev. Walker delivered a
scholarly and masterful address. He
took occasion at the outset to remind
the audience of the fitness of laying
the cornerstone of the church on In
dependence Day, bringing home the
fact that both nation and church are
united in fighting lawlessness in an
endeavor to stamp it out.
An ancient legend of the rejection
of a cornerstone as unfit for use, its
lying in the rubbish of temple in Je'
rusalem until discovered and put in
place, was narrated by Rev. Walker
who stated it as his belief that the leg
end was supported by fact, affirming
the same by scriptural quotations.
The value of the church to the com
munity in enhancing real estate values
and in attracting strangers to this city
were dwelled upon by Rev. Walker
who then recited the multitude of uses
to which the edifice would be put out
side of routine services occurring with
in it's walls-uses many of which would
prove highly beneficial to the commun
ity at large and not merely the individ
ual members of the church.
Commenting the energy of the mem
bers of the church who had undertak
en- the work of housing themselves il
an eminently satisfactory structure
Rev. Walker made the point that thi
energy, together with it's financial cor
ollary, was but a slight repayment t.
God of that which rightfuly belonged
to Him and for which there would b.
no accounting until the Day of Judg
ment
With an admonition to the audienc
to reflect in their lives their duty to
wards God, Rev. Walker brought to
conclusion an address which Delights
all, judging from expressions hear
after the assembly had dispersed.
In a hole left under the spot wher
the stone was to rest, the historic bo
was then deposited by Chairman j.
Wenger of the building committee.
the box were contained the followin
articles:
A copy of the Daily Banner of Eel
ruary 20, 1915, containing archite,
tural details of the new church, t.
gether with history of the old churcl
A copy of the Republican News &
February. 20 1915, containing arch