were then holding themselves aloof. When I took up my work the Sunday morning congregations numbered towards sixty persons; the attendance in the evenings was not much more than half that number. Besides, in the Society there were no active sub-organizations as, for instance, for charity, for education or for literary entertainment. The Society had ceased to have an effective organization except as it was a legal institution operative through a "Board of Trustees." But there was, as I have said, a small and devoted group of persons maintaining the Church. And these people were feeling very hopeful of the near future, because of their well grounded expectation that a new building, well located, would be secured for them soon; and that, with a stable, careful ministry, probably the alienations roused in the past would disappear,-by-gones would become by-gones;-and that then, all together, with a rallying of new friends, might realize somewhat worthily the high ideals of a Liberal Christian Church. As it happened, this expectation was met most cheeringly. Already in April, largely increased congregations were gathering weekly; and we had become confident that the share of the building fund required of the Washington Society would be secured. On April 26th, in company with Mr. Henry A. Willard, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and other members of the Board, I was honored with the privilege of turning over the first spadeful of earth in our newly purchased building lot, at Fourteenth and L streets, in preparation for the foundations of the Church to be. Mr. Willard, to whose tireless energy and resourcefulness, the excellent progress made for the new enterprize was in largest part due, together with the other officials present, took part, in this memorable act. A month later, May 21st, we bade good-bye to the D Street Church, and, pending the construction of the new building, held our services in the Hall just back of the old Willard Hotel. Our congregations there were generally upwards of three hundred; often larger than the Hall could seat. b. Corner Stone for All Souls Church laid.—Just a month afterwards, on June 27th, with an elaborate ceremony, in which more than seven hundred persons took part, the corner-stone of our new Church was laid. Here is one of several newspaper accounts of the ceremony. The ceremony laying of the corner stone for the new Unitarian Church, which was to have taken place at 6.30 last evening, was somewhat delayed by the slight thunder shower that came up about that time. This church, the foundation of which has just been laid, is situated at the corner of 14th and L streets. It is to be of the Renaissance style, and the plan much resembles that of the Church of the Ascension. It is to be known as "All Souls Church." The arrangements which had been made for the reception and seating of spectators were admirable. At about 7 o'clock a portion of the Grand Lodge of Masons of the District, who were to perform the ceremony of adjusting the corner stone, arrived on the ground, preceded by a detachment of the Marine Band. The ceremonies were begun with an eloquent invocation from Rev. Mr. Weld, of Baltimore, who asked the blessing of God upon their projected undertaking, alluding to the bow of promise which spanned the heavens as an indication of prosperity. The list of articles put in a box to be deposited in the stone was then read, as follows:-list of contributors to the new church building, roll of church members, constitution and declaration of principles, valedictory sermon in the old church, newspapers of the city, "Christian Register" and "Inquirer," coins of this year, roll of officiat ing Masons, programme of ceremonies, "The Unitarian Year Book," officers of the church, annual report of the American Unitarian Association, list of pew and seat holders of "All Souls Church," proceedings of the Grand Lodge of 1876, Masonic calendar for 1876-7, organization of the Grand Lodge for 1877. The box was then placed in the corner-stone. The ceremony of applying the plumb, the level and the square, was then performed by officers of the Grand Lodge designated by the Grand Master, E. G. Davis; after which, corn, wine, and oil were poured upon the stone as emblematic of plenty, prosperity and peace. The covering stone was then placed. Rev. Clay MacCauley delivered a stirring address, after. which, Prof. Petrola, the renowned cornetist, rendered an exquisite solo, during which a collection was taken up. "The Corner-Stone Hymn," written by Mr. MacCauley, was then sung by the audience; following which was the benediction. Numerous letters had been received, expressing the kindest wishes for the new church. The church when completed will be one of the handsomest in the city." CORNER-STONE HYMN. O Thou all Holy One! Infinite Holiness! Do Thou our offering bless, Take Thou the house we raise, That Thee all souls may know ; That all thy life may show ; That Christ in all may grow; Come then, Thou Holy One! Make, by thy pure decree, c. Organization of All Souls Church.-One of the most noticeable statements in the account of the laying of the corner-stone is the new name under which the old "First Unitarian Church" appears;-"All Souls Church." Soon after I had begun a supply of the Washington pulpit I believed that it would be well, all things considered, for the church to make a new departure, because of the very important new conditions surrounding the revived and rapidly growing Society. I consulted with the Board of Trustees, laying before them details of a proposed reorganization. I had prepared a constitution radically changing the old constitution, yet keeping it still under the provisions of the legal statutes of the District of Columbia; also, I had formulated a "Declaration of Unitarian Principles," associating with it a "Bond of Union" for the Church membership; further, I had proposed a systematized grouping of sub-societies which should have in charge the varied interests that belong to the work of a modern Church. I recommended, finally, to signalize markedly its mission in the city, that the Church should be named "The Church of All Souls," or "All Souls' Church." The Board of Trustees, which at that time was practically in control of the affairs of the Church, accepted the new name unanimously, and gave me carte blanche for the definite working out of the articles of the reorganization. They gave me, also, legal counsel for the exact conformation of the old "Articles of Incorporation' to the needs of the new plan of church administration. On June 4th, at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, the new constitution was accepted, and steps were taken to give it legal authority. The members of the Society, assembled at the time, also cordially accepting the "Declaration of Principles," the "Board of Union," and the detailed articles of organization. In d.-Election to the Pastorate of All Souls Church. that month, the time had come for the choice of a minister, to be installed as the permanent minister of the reorganized Church. I was informed that, in all probability, I would be invited to the office. Naturally, I felt much gratified at the prospect of being asked to become minister in this very important pulpit; but, also, I felt much hesitation about under taking the onerous work which I had learned would await whomever would be chosen. On June 24th the Society met. At that meeting I received just three-fourths of the eighty votes of the ballot held for the choice of a pastor. Why the opposition votes were cast, I was not told; but I was at once assured, that the opposition was not personal; that it was either the effect of the long standing division in the Society, or of a misunderstanding of the new constitution, or of some other impersonal cause. For whatever reason, however, the meeting was adjourned for a week with the announcement that then another vote would be asked for. But the fact of the minority vote against me in that first balloting increased my disinclination to assume the important office. Consequently, I wrote on June 29th to the Board of Trustees, requesting that my name be not |