ST.THOMAS' CHURCH. LAYING OF THE FOUNDATIONSTONE.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 46, 22 August 1895, Page 4

ST. THOMAS' CHURCH. LAYING OF THE FOUNDATIONSTONE.

The foundation-stone of St. Thomas' Church, Eiddiford - street, Newtown, was laid yesterday afternoon by the Governor, in the presence of a large coDOourse of the parishioners of St. Mark'p, St. Paul's, and St. Peter's. About 1000 invitations had been issued by the Rev. Otho FitzGerald, who has been working most energetically for some time past in the direction of scouring more ample accommodation for the Anglican worshippers residing in the Bonthorn end of the City than .was afforded by the present Churohroom, and the majority of the ladies and gentlemen invited attended. Amongst those who took part in the service were the Bishop of Wellington and the Rev. Messrs. Coffey, Jones, Harrison, Dosent, Tnokey, Ballaohy (Carterton), Ronaldson, Tisdall, and FitzGerald. The Bishop was accompanied to the ground by Mrs. Wallis. The Rovb. W. Baumber (Wesleyan) and W. Shirer (Presbyterian) were amongst those present. The servioe was held on the floor ot the building in course of ereotion, and occupied Dearly an honr." His Exoellenoy, accompanied by Lady Alioe Boyle and Captain Clajton, A.D.C., arrived at half past 3 o'clock, and was received at the entrance to the ground by the ohoir, whioh was composed of members of the ohoirs of. St. Paul's, St. Mark'B, St. Peter's, and the Kilbirnio Churchroom. lhe choir then marched from the ohnrchroom on to the platform, singing the processional hymn beginning " In the name of our Salvation." At its termination the versioles were said by the Rev. O. FitzGerald, the responses being Bung by the ohoir, which afterwards rendered the hymn beginning " O, how amiable are Thy dwellings." Mr. J. W. Davis, who has been layreader at the Lhurchroom for some time past, having read a Lesson, the choir and congregation sang the hymns beginning " Oh, Lord of Hosts, whose glory fills " and " All people who on earth do dwell," during wliioh time a collection was taken up in aid of the Building Fund, and .£25 17s lOd was reoeived. After the usual prayers had been offered up by the Bishop the stone was placed in position, and was laid by the Governor. The Bishop then addressed a few words to the congregation. He referred to the importanoe of the occasion, and expressed great pleasure at the fact that the Church had been commenced. He emphasised the necessity for the daily reading of the Scriptures, and said that the life of no family could be Btrong and flourishing in whioh God's Word was unknown. It would be a mark of thanksgiving to God for the mercies He had given them, the firsi-fruits of which they were then celebrating, if those in whose homes the praoiice was unknown would make up their minds that not one day should begin without a few verses of God'ti Holy Word being read, and, best of all, if that practice was carried cut by the father or mother when the children and all the members of the family were gathered together. He prayed God's blessing might reßt on the work begun that day to the honour of His name. "TheChnroh's one Foundation" having been sung, the Bishop pronounced the Benediction, afterwards thanking His Excellency for being present, and presenting him with the silver trowel used in laying the founda-tion-stone. The reoessional hymn "Now Thank we all Our God" having been sang, the proceedings terminated. Mr. G. W. Barltrop, who has taken a prominent part in the musical servioeß in St. Mark's Parish for many years, aooompanied the ohoir on the harmonium. The stone, which was obtained from Mt. Somers district, Canterbury, was presented by Messrs. Carmiohael ft Son, and was oarved by Mr. F. K. Collins, the inscription being " A.D. 1895." The canister placed below it was made of copper, and was the gift of Messrs. J. E. Hayes & Co., end contained copies of the > vining Post of tho 19th and 20th inst., of the New Zealand Times of the 20th and 21st inst., a copy of the invitation card, a list of subscriptions and guarantors to the Building Fund, a paper containing the names of the choir, Sunday School staff, Sewing Bee, Building Committee, Vestry, 4c, copies of St. Mark's Parish report for 1894-95 and St. Mark's Magazine for August, 1895, ohoir notice for Sunday last, photographs of the present Churohroom at Newtown (inside and out) and the Kilbirnie Churohroom, and a list of the officers of St. Mark's Parish. Mr. T. S. Powell, a member of the Building Committee, superintended the laying of the stone. The trowel used by His Excellency, and afterwards presented to him as a memento of the oocOßion, was made by Mr. F. Grady, of Willis-street, and reflected the greatest oredit on his establishment. The metal used was pure Thames silver, the handle being made of ivory, and the trowel was enclosed in a handsome oosket. The inscription was as follows :—" Presented to His Excellency the Hight Honourable the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, on the occasion of his laying' the foundation-stone of St. Thomas' Church, Wellington. 21st August, 1895." '1 he building now in course of erection by Mr. E. Gray will be after the Gothics style of architecture, aud will present an imposing appearance. There will be three aisleß, and seating accommodation will be provided for 350 people. Red pine and matai will be the principal timbers used. The church is to be well lighted, and it is expected that the acoustic properties of the building will be all that could be desired. The population of Newtown is increasing at suoh a rate that it is believed the churoh will have to be enlarged before many years have passed, and the plans of the building whioh Mr. Gray is ereotingat aoostof j6750 have been drawn up by Messrs. Clere, FitzGerald, ft Biohmond, architects, in suoh a way as to render it an easy matter to make a considerable addition when the needs of the parish require it. The response made for snbsoriptions has been very liberal, and the new ohuroh will be opened practically free of debt, a position highly gratifying to the Rev. O. FitzGerald and the others who have laboured so earnestly to bring about the ereotion of the ohuroh. HOW TO KEEP CHEERFUL. Mirthful people are preferable to solemnsided ones, but oheerful people are more pleasant companions and acquaintances than mirthful ones. Cheerfulness is a fixed habit of the mind. All people endowed with cheerfulness smoke Frossard's Cavour Cigars. A good mild fragrant smoke is snffioient to make any ordinary man oheerful, and when they are proonrable in paokets of eight for Is 3d— well, who can complain? We. say emphatically that they are unrivalled as a genuine aromatio smoke.— Advt.