Part 12. Encouraged by the strong support given it by the congregation, the committee pushed its work vigorously, and on the 3d day of February, 1900, contracted with A. T. Rees and J. R. Poindexter, of Cynthiana, for the erection of the building, Mr. Poindexter taking charge of the stonework and Mr. Rees of the remainder. Although this was the largest and most difficult work that either of these gentlemen had ever undertaken, the wisdom of the committee in this selection was soon manifest. Both men had a local pride in their work, and nothing was left undone to produce the best possible results. On the 23d of May, 1900, the work had so far progressed as to be ready for the laying of the corner-stone, which was done with appropriate ceremonies at three o'clock that afternoon. A stand had been erected over the entrance, for the speakers, and another on the Mill Street pavement, for the singers. The first-floor joists, which had by this time been placed in position, were covered with boards to accommodate the audience. Despite a constant rainfall during the whole of the afternoon, some four hundred people assembled. Short addresses were made by the local pastors, Rev. C. F. Oney, of the Methodist Church, and S. A. McElroy, of the Presbyterian Church, A letter was read from Rev. F. L. Norton, pastor of the Baptist (p. 163) Church, who was unavoidably absent from the city. Elder John S. Shouse, of Lexington, Ky., was the principal speaker. The choir sang, " How Firm a Foundation," "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord," and O Savior, of Thy People Here." During the ceremony the stone, which is a cube of Kentucky freestone, measuring about two feet, and having an aperture cut into the top, large enough to receive a box, was suspended above the corner where it was to rest. At the close, Mr. J. E. Welling, of the firm of J. E. Welling & Co., to whom the Church is indebted for its excellent job of plumbing, placed the box in the aperture, covered it with the stone lid, and sealed it with lead. Mr. J. R. Poindexter then spread the mortar, and as the stone was dropped into position, Elder J. J. Haley said: " In the name of God our Father, and of Jesus Christ our Savior, and of the Holy Spirit our Comforter, we lay this corner-stone in the foundation of a house to be erected and dedicated for the worship of God, and for a spiritual refuge and home to all faithful Christians who will labor with us according to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures in extending the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen." The box in the corner-stone, 8 x 8 x 10 inches, made of copper, and hermetically sealed, contains the following articles: A copy of each of the county papers-the Democrat (p. 164), the Times, the Courier, and the Log Cabin, copies of three religious papers-the Christian Century, Christian Evangelist, and Christian Standard; a partial list of the members of the Church; names of the Christian Endeavorers and Gleaners; an old Testament, found behind the wainscoting of the old church; a needle found in the old church; a brief history of the congregation by W. S. Cason; a list of the Church officers; a copy of the building contract; a program of the day's exercises; a brief sketch of the Ladies' Aid, and of the Endeavor Society; copies of the Daily Enquirer and Courier-journal, the two last being for illustrative purposes only; also a copper one-cent piece made in 1817, the congregation having learned by this time that it would be necessary to keep all its Money where it would be accessible. Since the first Sunday in July, 1899, the congregation had met regularly, in the court-house, where for two whole years, notwithstanding many inconveniences, it had maintained at least respectable audiences, and all its organizations had continued their work. But as the new building neared completion, a feeling of homesickness seemed to possess the congregation, and the day fixed for the dedication, June 16, 1901, was looked forward to with eager expectancy. It was not, however, reserved for the congregation to hold the first meeting (p. 165) there on that day. They were anticipated by the Christian Endeavor, which held a business meeting in the Sunday-school auditorium the evening of June 2d, and a prayer-meeting on June 9th; and, by the Sunday-school, which held its first meeting in the new room on June 9th. Also by the celebration of two brilliant weddings; that of Mr. Phelps Sasseen, of Henderson, Ky., to Miss Grace Smith, a member of this congregation, at 9 A. M., Thursday, June 6th; and Mr. Rodney Withers to Miss Anna Victor, both members of this congregation, on Wednesday, June 12th, at 7.30, P. M. On Saturday morning, June 15th, Elder Z. T. Sweeney, of Columbus, O., who had been selected to preach the dedicatory sermon, met the committees and the officers in consultation, and the plans for the work of the following day were rapidly matured. A soliciting committee was appointed, consisting of M. C. Swinford, J. B. Adams, W. T. Lafferty, W. S. Cason, J. W. Boyd, William Addams, B. D. Berry, J. M. Cromwell, Ed. Van Deren, C. T. Eals, W. H. Zilar, and T. J. Robertson. Also the following ushers: Shirley Frisbie, Chas. Allen, J. Q. Jewett, E. R. Hutchings, Frank Northcutt, D. Bradley Shawhan, S. F. Shawhan, John Hutzell, Chas. Robinson, Guy Smiser, Urban Swinford, Robert Reed, Will Maffett, and Stanley Ammerman. -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html