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.+