CHAPTER LV.

FORM OF LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF A CHURCH

+At the time and place of laying the corner stone, let the minister cause a suitable hymn to be sung (e. g. 780, 781, or 782). Then shall the minister say:+

+Let us pray.+

Almighty and everlasting God, thou art infinite in all thy perfections, and marvelous in all thy works. Thou hast made the world and all things therein; and seeing that thou art Lord of heaven and earth, thou dwellest not in temples made with hands; thou art a Spirit, and art worshiped in spirit and in truth, in all places of thy dominion; yet we thank thee that thou dost allow us to build houses for thy services, wherein thy people may attend upon thee without distraction. We bless thy holy name for putting it into the hearts of thy people to build a house, at this place, for thy worship. We beseech thee to inspire us with zeal, that we may both have a mind to the work, and may successfully accomplish the same. May neither adversary nor evil occurent hinder this work; but may the good hand of our God be upon us, that in due time we may bring forth the headstone with joy and praise. May this sanctuary, when completed, long remain a house of prayer for all people, where incense shall be offered unto thy name, and a pure offering, and thy word and ordinances by the influences of the Holy Ghost. Here may multitudes be born again, and be nurtured in knowledge and piety; so that they may be prepared, in the kingdom of thy glory. We are unworthy, O Lord, through our manifold sins, to offer unto thee any sacrifice; yet we beseech thee to accept this our bounden duty and service, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offenses, through Jesus Christ our Lord: by whom and with whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost all honor and glory be unto thee, Father Almighty, world without end.

Amen.

Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings, with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works, begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

+Then, shall the minister read, or cause to be read, the following sentences:+

Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our Father, forever and ever.

Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.

Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Now, therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.

For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers; our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.

O Lord our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee a house for thine holy name cometh of thine hand, and is all thine own.

I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and has pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things; and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and the glory unto their children.

And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

His foundation is in the holy mountains.

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.

This is my rest forever: here will I dwell: for I have desired it.

I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.

I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.

The stone which the builders refused is become the head-stone of the corner.

This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.

For other foundation can no man lay than is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

+Then shall the minister, standing by the stone, announce the articles to be deposited therein. These may be a copy of the Bible, the Hymn Book, the Discipline, Church periodicals, a document setting forth the name of the Church, with the names of the pastor, trustees, and building committee, and such other articles as may be desired. The stone shall be laid by the minister, or some one appointed by him; and placing his hand upon the stone, the minister shall say:+

We lay this corner stone of a house to be built and set apart, from all worldly uses, for divine worship, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

+Then may follow an address, the collection (if any) the Doxology, and Benediction.+