Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-08-07
HANDSOME ED|F|CE
IS Being ERECTED
IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES MARK
LAYING OF CORNER STONE
OF NEW BUILDING.
n. II. HYDE LAYS THE STONE
Judge Geo. w. Dunham and Hon. w.
II. Norris Give Able and Inspir.
ing Addresses.

Impressive ceremonies marked the
laying of the corner stone for the
handsome new edifice which the First
Congregational Society of Manchester
is erecting. The impressive services
were held last Thursday afternoon and
were attended by a large number OF
those interested in the work Of the
church
The services opened with the devo-
tional exercises conducted by the pas
tor, Rev. W. J. Suckow. Mrs. NJ. j.
Yoran and Mr. Cal Martin followed this
part of the service with duet. Fol-
lowing this number Judge Geo. W.
Dunham gave very inspiring and able
address. Judge Dunham spoke from
the standpoint of a member of the
church, and in the course of his ad-
dress referred to the great sacrifices
made by the founders of the church,
and the work which the society has
been privileged to do in this cOmmunl-
ty in the past sixty years We are
very glad to be able to give Judge
Dunham's able address in full, in con-
nection with our account Of the exer-
cises.
Hon. w. H. Norris, who spoke from
the standpoint of the non-member,
gave very able address and stated
in clear and concise way the views
held by many non members. Mr.. Nor
ris stated that while this may not be
favorable time to undertake the task
of building church edifice, yet he
believed that nine out Of every ten per-
sons would agree that a church build
ing was of sufficient Importance to
any community to warrant the under
taking. He said that man looking
for a city or town in which to locate
would select the city or town that
had good schools and churches, and
that every man and woman is under OBJ
legations to the churches of the COM
munity in which he or she resides. Mr..
Norris stated that many non-church
members do not affiliate with any
church for the reason that they do not
wish to subscribe to fnan-made creeds
and rituals He said that he had
known of the work of the First Con-
gregatiOnal church for thirty odd
years and that that church did not
waste very much time in arguing and
discussing creeds. We regret very
much that Mr. Norris had not prepared
manuscript of his address so that we
might have been permitted to give it
to our readers in full.
Miss Emma Jaycox rendered solo
number in very pleasing manner,
and Rev. and Mrs. W. ]. Suckow gave
duet number. Mr.. Suckow also gave
list of papers and documents which
had been placed in the copper box now
rests inside of the corner stone. Fol-
lowing is the list:
In 1868 the following articles were
placed in the box-Copy Of the Du-
buque Daily Times Journal of August
10th. 1868; Letter by Arabella ]. Cot
fin Bailey; Roster of first Officers of
Manchester Lodge, A. F. & a. NJ; His
tory of organization of church and
building Of first edifice; Iowa Relig-
ious Newsletter; History of church
from 1855 to 1868; Copy of Ulster (Ire-
land) Gazette of 1900, containing an
account of the funeral Of George
Washington; and a copy of the Della
ware County Journal of January 7th,
1868.
In 1900 there was added to the con-
tents of the box the following: Coins
of money; Copy of the Manchester
Democrat of May 30th, 1900; Copy of
Delaware County News, February 18th,
1900; Weekly Herald, May End, 1900;
Register of officers and members of
1.-THE church in 1900; Sketch Of the
church from June 1874 to May, 1900;
Manuel of Con gational Church; Ad-
vance Almanac of 1900; sermon by Rev
Henry w. Tuttle.
To the above lists were added on
August 1st, 1918, the fOllOwing-List
of members of the church; List of Of
ficers since 1900; Sketch of Church
history; President Wilson's War Mes
sage of April End, 1917; Program Of
5Oth anniversary Of church; Photo
graphs of the members Of the first
choir of the church; Copy of the Man
chester Press of July 25th, 1918; Copy
of the Manchester Democrat of July
31st, 1918. After these items were all
deposited in the box the cover was
sealed on tightly and the box de-
lnOsitpd in the corner stone to reveal
the contents to future generations af-
ter time and the elements have laid
waste the building now being erected.
Deacon n. II. Hyde, on behalf of the
officers of the church, performed the
ritual of laying the stone. Mr.. Hyde
! first placed the mortar on the wall and
then the worklnen with their tools low
cred the stone to its place.
Significant in connection with the
ceremonies of the laying of the corner
stone is the fact that number of the
older people who witnessed the laying
of the first corner stone in 1861, were
were AIRS. Mary Bradford, Mrs. Julia
Bailey. Mr. and Mrs. r. w. Thrill.
and Mrs. E. A. Tush.
Another feautre of interest was the
reading of the names Of the first choir
of the church, their pictures being
among the documents deposited in the
Continued on page 81