A Form of Service at the laying of the Corner Stone of a Church. keep them steadfast in thy faith and fear, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Grant, O Lord, we beseech thee, that the course of this world may be so peaceably ordered by thy governance, that thy church may joyfully serve thee in all godly quietness, through the same, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

4. Then may be read responsively the 84th and 132d Psalms. 5. The following Lesson from Ezra iii. 8, 9, 10, 11, may here be read.

Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren, the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests, in their apparel, with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David, king of Israel. And they sung together, by course, in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord, because he is good, for his mercy endureth forever towards Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

6. Then may be sung the 25th Hymn, 1, 2, 6, 7, 8.

7. The Inscription on the Stone, or Deposites under it, may here be read.

A Form of Service at the laying of the Corner Stone of a Church.

8. The person who officiates, having found that the Stone is rightly laid, may strike it three times with a hammer, saying as follows:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, I lay this corner-stone as the foundation of an edifice to be erected for a house of prayer, and to be dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, according to the canons and liturgy and usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States. Amen.

Other foundation can no man lay, than that on which standeth the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth; even the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner

stone.

Let us pray. O eternal God, mighty in power and of majesty incomprehensible, whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain, much less the walls of temples made with hands, and who yet didst command thy servants of old to build houses to the honor of thy great name, and for the purpose of setting forth thy praise; look down, we beseech thee, with thy favor and blessing upon us, thy unworthy servants, who are here assembled in thy name and presence, to lay the foundation of a house, with thy permission, to be erected to thy name, and sacred to thy worship. Accept, O Lord, we beseech thee, the pious intention of this thy people, and give thy blessing to the work which they have taken in hand. Preserve them, O thou God of mercy, from all untoward accidents and calamitous events. Sanctify their hearts and enlarge their means. May they rejoice to honor the Lord with their substance; may their barns be filled with plenty, and their stores with increase. Unite them in harmony, peace and love. Enable them, with joy and gladness, to bring this work to a happy issue, that this edifice may be

A Form of Service at the laying of the Corner Stone of a Church. completed and adorned in a manner and style decent, and suitable to the honor of thy name, and convenient for the various parts of thy holy worship. Wilt thou, O Lord, watch over them for good, and direct and bless them in all the work. May this consecrated spot which they have chosen, whereon to build their altar and erect a house to thee, the living God, be to them a happy Bethel, where they and their descendants, for many generations, may worship thee, their God and Savior, in spirit and in truth. To this house, when erected, as to thy courts, may their hearts incline: may they be sensible that the Lord is in this place; and may it be to them as the house of God and the gate of heaven. May their thoughts and desires be raised to thy spiritual house not made with hands, of which Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone; to him coming, as unto a living stone, chosen of God and precious, may all who in this place shall call upon thy name, as lively stones, be built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, offering sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Grant, O God, that all those who, through thy merciful goodness, shall be permitted and inclined hereafter to serve thee in this place, may be so joined together in unity of spirit and in the bond of peace, that they may be a holy temple acceptable unto thee. And to all thy people, O God, give thy heavenly grace, and especially to us who are here present, that with one heart we may desire and labor to promote the prosperity of thy holy apostolic church, and with one mouth may profess that true faith which was once, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, delivered to the saints. And keep, O Lord, we beseech thee, thy whole household, the church, in continual godliness; that, through thy protection, it may be free from all adversities, and devoutly given to serve thee in good works, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom,

A Form of Service at the laying of the Corner Stone of a Church.

with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

9. Here may be the Address, if any is to be delivered.

10. Then may be sung a portion from the Psalms or Hymns.

11. Conclude with the Benediction.

May the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen.

PART FOURTH.

OFFICES AND PRAYERS, THAT MAY BE USED IN CHURCHES, OR IN PUBLIC WORSHIP.

A Form of Prayer allowed to be used on days appointed by the Civil Authority as Public Fasts.

The Service is to be as usual, excepting the alterations hereby permitted.

The Venite Exultemus may be omitted.

Proper Psalms. Morning-25th and 51st; Evening-86th, 130th and 143d. The Officiating Minister, at his discretion, instead of the above may select other Psalms, which, in his judgment, are more appropriate to the particular occasion.

Lessons. Morning-First, Isaiah, 58th chapter; Second, Matthew, 6th chapter; Evening-First, Ezekiel, 18th chapter; Second, James, 4th chapter.

The Litany is not to be omitted.

Immediately before the General Thanksgiving, in both the Morning and the Evening Service, a part or all of the following Prayers may be used.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord God and merciful Father, who hast compassion upon mankind, and wouldst not the death