Evening star., 1929-12-11
CORNER STONE SET
FOR NEW CHURCH
Christian Denomination Holds
Ceremony at Site of
$500, 600 Edifice.

Before a crowd of several hundred
persons who hraved a cold, damp vino
to attend the exercises the corner stone
of the National City Christian Church
being erected by the Disciples of Christ
of America on Massachusetts, avenue
northwest of Thomas Circle, was laid al
an impressive ceremony there today
The stone was formally placed into posi-.
ton by r. A. Long of Kansas City
president of the International Conven-
ton of Disciples of Christ and chairman
of the building committee for the new
edifice.
Prior to the laying of the stone Mr.
Long delivered an address, telling of the
significance of the building of the
church in the National Capital.
Senator Capper's Address.
Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas
chairman of the Senate District COM
mittee, the next speaker, described the
Christian Church as the "bulwark OF
the Nation" and declared he was glad
to see Washington growing along
higher lines as well as material" Sen
ator Capper declared he had long been
interested in seeing this city become
DR.. Earl Wilf1ey, pastor of the Ver-
mont Avenue Christian Church, pre-
sided at the opening of the exercises
heralded by trumpeterS promptly at 10
o'clock. He later introduced DR.. Long
who presided. DR.. Wiley gave an ad-
dress describing the history of the Dis
ciples of Christ congregation in this
city. He told how 1t began here in a
home near the Navy Yard IS years ago
The other speaker was Rev. DR.
George A. Miller of Omaha. Nebr.. for
tian Church for Is years, who described
the corner stone as a visible witness
of the growth Of the Disciples Of Christ
which he declared numbers more mem
bers than any religious denomination
having its origin in America.
Concluding Exercises.
Invocation was delivered by c. N
Williams of the Disciples of Christ
Union in washington and was followed
by a hymn by the quartet of the Yer
mont Avenue Christian Church, whose
congregation will occupy the new edlflce
The congregation joined in the singing
Of several hymns and responsive reading
led by DR.. Whitley. The closing prayer
was delivered by B. A. Abbott, editor
of the Christian Evangelist, st. Louis
Mo.
A list of 20 articles which were
placed in the stone by Orean E. Scott
member of the building committee, in
cluded church documents, list OF
donors, 10000 in all; photographs OF
President A. Garfield, Alexander Camp
bell, DR.. Frederick D. Power, DR.. Earl
Wiley, r. A. Long and President
Hoover; a copy of The Evening Star,
containing an article about the church;
a. Bible carried through the Holy Land
by DR.. and Mrs Wiley, midget Bible
given by Maury Simmons of Shreve-
port, La; olive leaves brought from
the Garden of Gethesemane by DR.. and
Mrs. Wiley, stones brought from
Corinth the Dead Sea and Mars Hill
by DR.. and Mrs. Wiley; half dollar
l-cent piece, 100 years old, given by
Mrs. D. F. Pile, and letters from the
oldest members of the Vermona Avenue
Christian Church.
Church Cost Estimated.
The church building proper being
erected at a cost of approximately
5000 900, is expected to be completed by
next September. 1t will have a seating
capacity for approximately 1900 per-
sons. Bedford limestone is being used
for building material.
A prayer chapel ana educational sec
tion are to be added to the main struc-
ture at some future date, on land al
ready acquired as church property sur
rounding the main building. The land,
the church proper, the additional build
inRs and furnishings are expected to
cost total of about 81 TOO, 900. nearly
a million and a half of which has been
raised.
The church structure will stand or
the slope of the hill overlooking MaSsa-
chusetts avenue and Thomas Circle
northwest of the latter.
REPRESENTATIVE John M. Summers oi
Washington and B. T. Scott of Balti-
more will be the chief speakers at q
banquet to be given this evening al
$50 O'Clock at the Lee House for those
in attendance at the corner stone laying
services. Between 400 and 500 members
of the Disciples of Christ. including
many visitors from other cities are ex-
pected to be present at the banquet.
DIR. H. H. Harmon of Indianapolis
director of promotion of the National
City Christian Church enterprise. will
preside.
Rv making students type in time m