Laying Foundation Stone.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1898, Page 3

Laying Foundation Stone.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND SCHOOL. This afternoon the very interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the new building to be used as a Sunday School in connection with All Saints Church, Foxton, was performed by Mrs Wallis, the wife of His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington. Thp day being a perfect one the assemblage was large, and the service a most impressive and interesting one. The proceedings commenced by the Sunday School children headed by the Vicar and followed by the choir, clergy and Bishop, forming a procession from the church to the school site, and chantiug the 132 nd psalm. The Revs. Hunt and Wilson from Palmerston N., assisted. On taking up the positions the Misses Morton and Rhodes presented Mrs Wallis with a beautitul boquet, and a mallet. The mallet for Mrs Wallis was a neat specimen of turnery, being made out of polished rimu for the head, and rata for the handle. A silver plate records the fact that the instrument was "Presented to Mrs Wallis on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of All Saints Sunday School, Foxton, April 1898, R. Young, Vicar." It is pleasing to know that this is the first function Mrs Wallis has taken a part in since her arrival in the colony, and the members of the congregation feel flattered at her so obligingly consenting to undertake this duty. The whole of the service was undertaken by the Bishop and was full choral, the organ having been removed from Mrs England's residence, and who kindly presided at it. Tho block having been placed in position by tho contractor, Mr T. Easton, and duly levelled, Mra Wallis stepped forward and tapping the stono said "In the faith of Jesus Christ, we place thia Foundation in the Name of the Father, aud of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Before ihe last hymn wus sung the Bishop said he desired to say a few wordslo express how pleased they were to attend there that day in laying the stone of a j school which would be opened without debt. He was thankful that the work begun had owed its origin to the women, and the labour all through was that of women, a woman's work was that of laying the block. In many caseß women's work in the church was more than that of men. He wai more than thankful in lending a hand to assist in building Sunday Schools, as owing to the secular character of the education of the State Schools, these were of very great importance. Fifteen years ago he noticed that a minute was made by the vestry that a building for a Sunday School was needed and now he thanked God they were carrying it to its completion. He was not only looking forward to thi3 building being used for a school, but it was 1 likely before long to be used as a 1 temporary place of worship aa he believed it was no secret that it waß intended to enI large the church at at early date. Though : we were used to seeing persona outside our

places of worship, it was very unfortunate that that should oeour because there was no room inside the churches for them. At tbe end ofthe service hymn No, als was sung and a collection taken lin-