DECISION IN NEWSPAPER LIBEL CASE AND GRACE CHURCH CORNERSTONE CEREMONY

The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 24, 1887.

Court Proceedings.

   Lewis B. Hayes, agst. S. Ham. Strowbridge. Parties both reside in this place. The plaintiff is interested in the publication of the Monitor and defendant was formerly editor and proprietor of the Cortland News. During the campaign of 1886, the Monitor supported C. B. Hitchcock, the Prohibition candidate for Member of Assembly and the News favored the election of W. D. Tisdale, the republican candidate. It was a pretty lively campaign and considerable feeling was manifested. [The Monitor was edited and printed at the Hitchcock factory--CC editor.]

    During the campaign, the Monitor charged that the News was simply an annex to the Cortland Standard and in fact was nothing but a sort of hand organ. The proprietor of the News could stand being called a hand organ, but when his paper was dubbed an annex to the Cortland Standard he became wroth and straightway charged that the plaintiff committed perjury in a certain action, wherein Sackett L. Wright was plaintiff, and the Sheriff of this county was defendant. Plaintiff sued to recover damages for libel. On the trial the defendant admitted that the record on file in the clerk’s office showed that Mr. Hayes was not even sworn on the trial of the case and therefore could not have committed perjury on the trial. The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff for $900. I. H. Palmer and J. McGuire for plaintiff. A. P. Smith and O. U. Kellogg for defendant.

Laying of the Corner-Stone of Grace Church.

   The ceremonies attending the laying of the Corner-Stone of the Episcopal Church, in this place, on Saturday last, were extremely imposing, and a large assemblage of parishioners and visitors were present to witness the same. Occurring so soon after a bountiful shower, when the air was cool and balmy, and the sky was flecked with clouds, it rendered the occasion all the more pleasant for the spectators.

   The Rev. R G. Quennell, of Binghamton, and the Rev. J. A Robinson and J. Arthur, of this place, dressed in their clerical robes, took positions beside the stone, when Bishop Huntington, of Syracuse, read the CXXXII Psalm, with responsive passages by the audience. Then the Lord's Prayer was said by the Bishop and congregation. Then followed the Collects, by the Bishop. Rev. J. A. Robinson then read from the book of Ezra, the third chapter, the tenth and eleventh verses (with the Apostles' Creed), to which the people said "Amen."

   Notice was then given of deposits made in the corner stone, among which were the Church Manual, copies of the Cortland DEMOCRAT and Cortland Standard, and a photograph of the old church. Then the corner-stone being laid in place, the Bishop said: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

   Ans. Who hath made Heaven and earth.

   Bishop. Except the Lord build the house, their labor is but vain that build it.

   Then the Bishop striking the stone three times with a hammer, continued:

   In the name at the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

   I lay the corner stone of an edifice to be here erected by the name of Grace Church, to be devoted to the service of Almighty God, according to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America.

   Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, even Jesus Christ; who is God over all, blessed for evermore, in whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sin.  Amen.

   Bishop. O Lord, open thou our lips.

   Ans. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise.

   Bishop. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

   Ans. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

   Bishop. Praise ye the Lord.

   Ans. The Lord's name be praised.

   Next in order came the address by the Bishop, who spoke in an earnest, dignified and impressive manner. He did not wonder that the people had left the farm, the shop, and their household cares, to be present upon this important occasion. He was glad they had chosen the site they had for the new structure, in an avenue arched with foliage and amid the busy marts of trade. The edifice would be one not dedicated to any "religious monopoly," but to the service of Almighty God, in which the humblest of "God's children" might worship, and whose influence would bless the homes of the community. He said that some of the parishioners would deny themselves of some things in order to make their temple of worship more beautiful, and dwelt upon the importance of looking not only to its material welfare, but to its spiritual growth and advancement, which would render their church home still more beautiful and glorious. He admonished the rector, Rev J. Arthur, who wields their "Gospel trumpet," to see to it that it gave no "uncertain sound," and sent him among them because he thought he was competent to proclaim the glad tidings.

   After prayer by the Bishop, the following hymn was sung by the choir and congregation, with very pleasing effect:

   O Lord of hosts, whose glory fills

   The bounds of the eternal hills,

   And yet vouchsafes, in Christian lands,

   To dwell in temples made with hands;

   Grant that all we who here to-day

   Rejoicing this foundation lay;

   May be in very deed thine own,

   Built on the precious Corner-Stone.

   Endue the creatures with thy grace

   That shall adorn thy dwelling-place;

   The beauty of the oak and pine,

   The gold and silver, make them thine.

   To thee they all pertain; to thee

   The treasures of the earth and sea;

   And when we bring them to thy throne,

   We but present thee with thine own.

   The heads that guide endue with skill;

   The hands that work preserve from ill;

   That we, who these foundations lay,

   May raise the top-stone in its day.

  The Bishop then pronounced the benediction, which closed the ceremonies of the afternoon, all of which rendered it an occasion long to be remembered by those present.