ALABAMA.
Corner-Stone of a Church Laid—The School Work.
REV. WM. H. ASH, FLORENCE.
This week has been a blessed one for us. On Saturday last the corner-stone of the new chapel was laid, and on Sunday appropriate services were held. It was an occasion long to be remembered.
On the walls, at the front of the building, was erected a temporary platform, and on it a table. In the centre of it was a Bible and a large vase of beautiful flowers; back of this were seats for the speakers, and at the right was seated the choir.
The Rev. M. L. Frierson, of the Presbyterian Church, opened the services by reading the second chapter of Nehemiah, and led in prayer. The Choir then sung “What shall the harvest be?” The clerk of the church read the list of articles which were to be placed in the box prepared for the corner-stone, which has this inscription: “First Congregational Church, A.D. 1879. A.M.A.”
Next in order was an address by Hon. W. B. Wood, who said that he was a Methodist and a sectarian, too, but he loved all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not of the same denomination, but Paul said, Be ye brethren. He said that the times were better, that some old fogies would have us believe that we are not as progressive as they were 40 or 50 years ago, but his experience was, that we are moving onward, for he, as a judge, did not have as many cases to decide as he had five or six years ago. Not that the people were afraid of the punishment of the law, but controlled by the power of the Gospel and its morality.
He said that he took pleasure in aiding to build churches, that he had an interest in every church of Florence, and that if a subscription book should be carried around and his house passed he would feel slighted; and he advised all present to aid in behalf of the church.
He said that he believed he could speak for the entire white population, that they, in sympathy, would encourage every good work.
Rev. Mr. Frierson also spoke. After a collection was taken, “Ye Christian heralds, go proclaim salvation in Immanuel’s name,” was sung by the choir, and the benediction pronounced.
On Tuesday the examination of the school took place, and on Wednesday night the exhibition occurred. We had many visitors during the examination, and on the night of the exhibition our building, used for church and school, was filled to overflowing; all around the building, at the windows and doors, there were many who were eager to see and hear the exercises.
It is the first year of school work in connection with the church. At the beginning of the year we had three scholars; at the end we closed with thirty-five.