Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-04-04
corner Stone Laid.

The corner stone of the church the
Rockville Presbyterians are erecting on the
recently acquired lot on the north side Of
West Montgomery Avenue. in the western
section of Rockville. was laid last Sunday
afternoon before large assemblage.
The exercises. conducted by the pastor
Rev. Henry X. Pasma, included responsive
reading. led by DR.. Pasma prayer by Rev,
Bertram M. 0sgood. of the Rockville Baptist
Church. the laying Of the stone and singing
Of hymn, after which the assembly re-
paired to the Methodist Church nearby,
where the sermon was delivered by Rev.
James H. Taylor, pastor Of the Central
Presbyterian Church, Of Washington. The
sermon was preceded by singing. reading
Of the Scriptures by DR.. Pasma and a vocal
duet by Mrs. Frank H. Higgins. Of Rock
vile. and Mrs. Stanley +. Everhart. Of Be-
thesda. A hymn and benediction followed.
Before the corner stone was laid copper
box was placed therein. Dr.. Pasma ex-
planned it contained names of members Of
the church and of friends of the congrega-
ton two copies Of the deed of the church
property; copy of the articles Of incor-
poration and copy Of the agreement be-
tween the county commissioners and the
church trustees. touching the sale of the
old church property. The box also con-
tanned copy of the Christian Observer
and the Presbyterian of the South: copy
of the program of the last services in the
old church building clipping from the
Montgomery County Sentinel Of August %
1873. telling of preparations for building
the now RACED Presbyterian church: sew
eral newspaper clippings; copy of the
Potomac Presbytery; historical notes Of
the origin and names of members of the
Rockville Circle of the Kings Daughters
The front page of The Washington Evening
Star and copies of the Montgomery Inde-
pendent. Maryland News and Montgomery
County Sentinel were included.
The new church building. which will cost
$4,000. exclusive of equipment and site.
will be of Montgomery County varieeated
stone and modern in every respect. The
old church property was sold to the county
commissioners to make room for the new
court house and Jail to be erected here.
The new edifice is expected to be ready
for use by the middle of the summer. In
The meantime the congregation will worship
in the club house of the Montgomery Coun-
try Club. on the extreme western end of
Rockville.
The building committee is composed OF
Harold C. Smith. chairman; Judge Robert
B. Peter. }. Garrett Ward, John G. McDon-
aid. Mrs. Edwin Smith. Mrs. Theodore S.
Mason and Rev. Henry X. Pasma.
Howard W. Cutler. of Silver Spring, is
the architect and A. C. Warthen Sons. of
Kensington. the builders.
The Presbyterian Church of which the
Rockville congregation is the continuation
grew up with the county from it's earliest
beginnings. A Presbyterian congregation
first worshiped near Potomac. this county.
about ITS. the county then being part
of Frederick County. At the time Rockville
was called Lawrence Owens Ordinary. The
church referred to became known as the
Capt. Johns Presbyterian Church. counting
among its members the families of Beall,
Bradley. Clagett. Douglass. Cation. Chopper.
Fisher. Dowd. Councilman. Spates. Masru-
der, Offutt. Orme. Lodge. Peter. Scarf,
Washington, Perry and Watkins. The Capt
Johns Church subsequently became the
combined CONGREGATIONS Of the Bethesda
and Rockville Presbyterian churches.