German Reformed Messenger Chambersburg, PA., Wednesday, September 24, 1856 A CORNER STONE LAID. Mr. Editor: - In accordance with previous announcement, the corner stone of a new Lutheran and German Reformed church, was laid near Linglestown, Dauphin county, Pa., on the 13th inst., under circumstances truly encouraging and delightful.  The day was calm and serene, and more than usually pleasant.  At the appointed hour, a large and interesting audience had assembled to witness the ceremonies of the occasion, a part of which only could be accommodated in the old church, which has stood here for more than sixty years, as a beacon to direct the weary pilgrim towards the portals of eternal rest.  The exercises of the occasion were commenced by the singing of an appropriate hymn, and prayer by the Rev. Charles A. Hay of Harrisburg, Pa.  After the reading of a portion of the sacred Scriptures, and the singing of another hymn, the audience were addressed by the Rev. A. C. Wedekind, of Lebanon, Pa., in the German language, by Rev. Daniel Gans of the German Reformed Church, in the English language, and by the Rev. C. A. Hay in both languages.  The addresses were interesting and impressive, delivered in an easy and engaging manner, and highly appropriate to the occasion.               When the exercises in the church were concluded, the ministers present, and the audience proceeded to the site of the new edifice where the corner stone was laid, and the liturgical services performed by the pastor of the Lutheran congregation, assisted by the Rev. Mr. Gans of Harrisburg, the German Reformed congregation being now without a pastor.                 The pastor of the congregation, having named the books and papers as they were deposited in the cavity of the stone, read the following document, to which were appended, the names of the pastor, the church councils, building committee, and ministers present, which was also deposited with the other papers: “In the Name of Jesus Christ.  Amen                 For the information of those, who, in future ages, may open this stone, the manuscript here deposited showeth, that the corner stone of this sacred edifice was laid in the Name of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, on the thirteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and fifty six, and in the eighty first of American Independence, Franklin Pierce, being President of the United States, and James Pollock, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  The building of which this stone forms a corner, is designed as a temple of praise, dedicated to the service of the Triune God, and a place of worship for the Evangelical Lutheran, and German Reformed congregations, near Linglestown, Dauphin Co., Pa., in which are to be preached the life-giving doctrines of the Gospel, as taught in the Scriptures of divine truth, and set forth substantially correct, in the ‘Heidelberg Catechism,’ and the doctrinal articles of the ‘Augsburg Confession.’                 The name and title by which this house shall be called, is the Mount Zion, Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed church, of Dauphin county, Pa., with the fond hope, that it may become the abode of peace, and the source of innumerable blessings to the surrounding community in ages yet to come.”                 After the singing of a doxology, the Benediction was pronounced by the Rev. D. Gans, and the assembly dismissed, seemingly delighted with the exercises in which they had participated.                 The church, whose erection has been thus auspiciously commenced, will be constructed of brick, fifty feet in length, and forty in width, with an end gallery, cupola, and bill, and will cost when completed, the sum of about three thousand dollar.                                                                                                                  G. I. Mertz. Harrisburg, Pa., Sept. 16, 1856 [Back to Cornerstone Opening]