Laying of a Corner Stone, 1857 (revised 1866)
The people being assembled at the place where the church is to be built, the Minister, standing near the corner stone, shall say:
DEARLY BELOVED BRETHREN: It is right and proper, in all our doings, we should beseech Almighty God for His most gracious direction and help; but, especially, as we are now assembled to begin a house, which is to be set apart for His honor and service; for the worship of His holy Name, the preaching of His holy Gospel, and the administration of His holy Sacraments. Let us therefore devoutly look up to Him for assistance, protection and blessing.
Let us pray:
ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who art always more ready to hear than we are to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve; grant us, we beseech Thee, the fulness of Thy mercy. Prosper and bless the work which we have here undertaken, [1] that it may serve to promote Thy praise, and the honor of Thy kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[1857 text: Our Father, &c.]
Congregation: Amen.
Then the Ninety-Sixth Psalm shall be chanted, or said, as follows:
Minister: O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
Congregation: Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; show forth His salvation from day to day.
M: Declare His glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
C: For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
M: For all the gods of the nations are idols; but the Lord made the heavens.
C: Honor and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
M: Give unto the Lord, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
C: Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His Name: bring an offering, and come into His courts.
M: O worship the Lord in beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.
C: Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth; the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: He shall judge the people righteously.
M: Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
C: Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord.
M: For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth:
C: He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with His truth.
Here the inscription of the corner stone being read, the Minister shall proceed to put into it the several articles which it is to contain, naming them as he does so one by one; after which, the stone being laid in its place, the service shall proceed thus:
M: Our help is in the Name of the Lord;
C: Who made heaven and earth.
M: Except the Lord build the house;
C: They labor in vain that build it.
Placing his hand upon the stone, the Minister shall then say: [2]
I here lay the corner stone of a house, to be erected under the name of ______ Church, and to be devoted to the worship of Almighty God. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
C: Amen.
Then shall the Minister say:
Let us now unite in confessing our holy catholic faith.
I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
And in Jesus Christ his only begotten Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hades; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Then the Minister shall say:
Let us pray.
BLESSED be Thy Name, O Lord, that it hath pleased Thee to put it into the hearts of Thy servants to commence the erection of a house, in which Thy Name is to be worshipped, the glad tidings of salvation proclaimed, and Thy holy Sacraments administered. Prosper Thou us, O Lord, in this our undertaking. Keep and preserve by Thy providence unto the end the work, which is now begun in Thy fear. Excite the skill and animate the industry of the workmen. Shield them from all accidents and dangers. And grant unto them, and all of us here present, the influences of Thy divine Spirit, so that we may become in soul and body living temples of the Holy Ghost, and be prepared for that eternal city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. All which we ask through the abundant merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Here an address may be delivered. After which, a collection being made, the service shall be concluded with a Hymn and the Apostolic Benediction.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.
C: Amen.
[1] 1857 text: “that, by Thy favor it may promote Thy glory, and secure the salvation of many souls: through Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
[2] 1857 text:
Placing his hand upon the stone, the Minister shall then say:
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. I lay the corner-stone of an edifice, to be here erected under the name of _____ Church, and devoted to the worship of Almighty God, agreeably to the principles and usages of the German Reformed Church in the United States of America.
Other foundation can no man lay, than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ; who is God over all, blessed forever; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Then shall the Minister say:
Let us now unite in the profession of our holy Christian faith:
I believe, &c.
Then shall he say:
Let us pray.
Blessed be Thy Name, O Lord, that it hath pleased Thee to put it into the hearts of Thy servants to commence the erection of a building, in which Thy Name is to be worshipped, the glad tidings of salvation proclaimed, and Thy holy Sacraments administered. Prosper Thou them, O God, in this their undertaking. Guard by Thy providence everything which may appertain to the building, which is now begun in Thy fear. Excite the skill and animate the industry of the superintendents and workmen. Shield them from all accidents and dangers. And grant unto them, and all of us here present, the influences of Thy Divine Spirit, so that we may become in soul and body living temples of the Holy Ghost, and be prepared for that eternal city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. All which we ask through the abundant merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Here an address may be delivered. After which, a collection being made, the service shall be concluded with a Hymn and the Apostolic Benediction.
Order of Worship for the Reformed Church in the United States (Philadelphia: The Publication and Sunday School Board of the Reformed Church in the United States, 1866) pp. 245-248. Copyright Public Domain.
A Liturgy, or Order of Christian Worship Prepared and Published by the German Reformed Church in the United States of America (Philadelphia: Lindsay & Blakiston, 1857) pp. 268-270. Copyright Public Domain.