What's inside that Methodist cornerstone?

Those interested in obscure anniversaries may wish to note that Wednesday (Sept. 11, 2019) was the 120th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of Chariton's First United Methodist Church, intersection of North Main and Roland.

And if you've ever wondered what was inside that big stone inscribed "1899" at the southwest corner of the church tower, an intrepid reporter for The Chariton Patriot was present to record the list as read during the program for his edition of Sept. 14. Here's his report:

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On last Monday evening the corner stone of the new Methodist Episcopal church was laid, attended by appropriate ceremonies held in the courthouse park. Bishop C.C. McCabe, who was to have been present and laid the corner stone, was sick and could not come, which was a great disappointment. Rev. W.H.W. Rees, of Cincinnati, Ohio, recording secretary of the Freedmen's Aid Society, was sent as a substitute, but as he could not get here until a later train the services were postponed from 2:30 to 4 o'clock p.m., at which time the procession was carried out and Rev. Reese delivered the address.

He is a fluent talker, a deep thinker, and his address was full of brilliant thoughts and helpful ideas. The best of order was maintained throughout, even through many had to stand. The ministers of the different churches of the city assisted in the ceremonies. A liberal subscription and collection was taken. The crowd then repaired to the site of the new church, where the stone was laid while the choir sang "Rock of Ages" and Presiding Elder W.B. Thompson offered a prayer. Rev. Reese read a list of the contents of the corner stone, which are as follows:

Bible, hymn book, discipline, minutes of last Des Moines conference, five copies city papers, copy Northwestern Christian Advocate, copy Century Christian Advocate, copy New York Christian Advocate, copy Creston District Methodist, copy Christian Witness, copy Epworth Herald, copy Gospel in All Lands, copy Woman's Missionary Friend, copy Sunday School Journal, copy Dew Drops --- a Sunday School paper, copy World Wide Missions, photograph of the old M.E. Church, list of church membership with officers, list of Epworth League membership with officers, list of Men's League membership with officers, list of Junior League membership with officers, list of Sunday School membership with officers and teachers. Ladies Aid Society's officers and membership, officers Chariton Auxiliary W.F.M.S., Youth Ladies Sewing Society with officers, two packages by Mrs. W.P. Davis, one addressed to the pastor when the stone is opened and the other to her descendants; handful of corn; names of donors to date; "Newton on the Prophesies," a book donated by Robert Gray and wife that was printed in London, England, in 1758; names of the members of the choir; The Pocahontas Times, The Chicago Record.

The following names are chiseled on the west side of the stone: P.J. Vollmar, pastor; S.A. Bullard, architect; G.J. Stewart, D.A. Enslow, Johnson & Best, contractors; G.W. Ensley, A.E. Dent,  B.F. Bates, M.M. Perry, B.R. Van Dyke, T.P. Stanton, C.L. Andrews, N. Weiford and Mr. Anderson, trustees.

On the south face of the stone in bold relief are the figures, "1899."

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Hopefully, it will be at least another 120 years before the cornerstone is opened (opening a cornerstone generally represents bad news for the building it helps to support), but should it ever be done it looks as if there will be no shortage of reading material.

And I have a couple of questions. Do you supposed "handful of corn" was intended to be "handful of coins" and the writer misread his notes? I've never heard of a handful of corn being tossed into a cornerstone. On the other hand, many contain modest collections of coins dated the year the stone was put into place.

And what do you suppose Mrs. W. P. Davis included in her little packages, one for the pastor and the other for her descendants? I'm sure it would be uplifting as Mrs. Davis, more familiarly known as "Aunt Ellen," was in 1899 the last survivor among eight charter members who had signed the covenant back in 1851.

Ellen was a daughter of Peter and Susannah Waynick who with her sister, Orela, formed half the charter membership. Her husband was Chariton attorney William Penn Davis.

Ellen also generally was recognized as church historian and her lively 1899 history of the congregation had been read from the pulpit on the congregation's final Sunday, earlier in 1899, in the old church building. You can read that history by following this link.