Laying The Foundation Stone Of The Greyfriars' Church, Dumfries.

the world was young till now when it is old—Freemasonry , the principles of which have never changed and never faltered , has become the handmaid of Christianity . Yes , gentlemen , this is your own verdict . Here , within our own beloved

land , so renowned for its attachment to the purest dispensations of Christianity—here , within this city tnd county , famed for the sacrifices luacTe and the blood shed on behalf of religious truth and freedom , you . have invoked the brethren of the

Craffc to lay the corner sfcone of a church of Christ . We have willingly responded to your call , both because of our principles themselves , and because we deeply feel that compliance with a request like this must assuredly be doubly blessed .

SERMON BY BRO . THE REV . DAVID WADDELL , OP STOW ( SCOTLAND ) , SUBSTITUTE GRAND CHAPLAIN AT THE LAYINS Off THE FOTJNDATION-Sl'ONE OP THE GREY FRIARS CHURCH , DUMFRIES . Psalm 127 , 1 st verse— "Except the Lord bnilcl

the house , they labour in vain that build it . " The preacher commenced by observing that the house to which the psalm referred was the first temple in Jerusalem . David , on account of the bloody Avars in which he had been engaged , was not permitted

to build that temple ; but Solomon , his sou , soon after his succession to the throne , commenced to build the temple . That temple was standing on a rock—on Mount Moriah—and was the most beautiful building upon the earth . And yet how soon its beauty was tarnished , and its glory decayed . Scare had the hear ] of Solomon been laid

m the tomb than his brother-in-law , the Ilmg * of Egypt , desolated the temple , and it was destroyed by the Assyrians . After seventy years it Avas rebuilt by Zerrubabbel and Josiah the High Priest , but in a style far short of its former magnificence .

Seventy years after the death of the Saviour the second temple was destroyed by the Romans ; and in fulfilment of the Saviour ' s prediction , not a stone was left standing * on another . That temple was specially distinguished by the rites and

ceremonies performed within it , and when it had served its purpose was destroyed . The Temple of Soloman was only a type of better things to come : soon as the great antitype had come , it was no longer needed , and passed , away . The temple

was only a type of the Living Temple—the Church in Heaven ; and to this the Psalmist refers . He would briefly consider the Living Temple : —I .

The foundation on which the Living Temple stands .. Every house must have a foundation . If it be weak—on sand or a marsh—the wall will fall . The first ancl most important point in a buildingis ,, therefore , a good foundation ; and this object

is secured when the foundation is on a rock . The temple of Solomon was built on a rock . The spiritual temple is built upon the Rock of Ages : and therefore has a sure foundation . " Behold , I lay in Sion for a foundation , a stone , a tried stone ,,

a precious corner-stone , a sure foundation . " Jesus Christ is the chief corner-stone of the spiritual temple chosen by the great Master Builder . He alone is the foundation as well as the chief cornerstone : on Him must the believer build his hopes

for salvation . Every sinner , however unworthy , may come to Christ , depending on his merits alone for salvation . Other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid—Christ Jesus ; and yet how many around us build their present hopes on

the general mercy of God , and expect to be saved without holiness ; while others depend on two forms—their own good works and the merits of Christ to supply their deficiencies . But not one sinner , from Adam down to the present moment , had been saved but by the merits of Christ alone—¦

and not one sinner who conieth unto Him will he cast out , for He is able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him , seeing * he ever liveth to make intercession . Christ is at once the foundation and chief corner-stone of the spiritual

temple ; and though convulsions may shake the world to its centre , the Church of the living God will continue unshaken , unmoved , and immoveable standing on the rock of ages—Jesus Christthe same yesterday , to-day , and for ever . II . The

materials of which the Living Temple is built . Every house is built of materials , and these stones may be procured fresh from the quarry , or dug- up from the ruins of old buildings . But whether procured from the quarry , or dug out of ruins , each

stone requires to be hewn before it can be built into a new building . Now , the materials for the spiritual temple are old materials—the ruins of the fall , and the ruins of fallen nature . That man was ruined by the fall , the proofs are numerous—one

hacl only to look into their own heart , into their own life , to be convinced that man ' s whole constitution is corrupted , and that man failed to acconi . " plish the great purposes for which he was made . Man is like the ruin of some ancient abbey , once the abode of rich churchmen , ifcs beauty the glory of