Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
el We adore Thee , 0 God , as the Almighty Creator and Supreme ' Ruler ol ' the Universe . Thou dost according to Thy will in the armies of Heaven , and among the inhabitants ofthe earth ; and none can stay Thy hand , or say unto Thee , What doest Thou ? In Thee we live , aud move , and have our being-. In Thy hand is the soul of every living- thing . Thou killest and Thou makesb alive ; Thou woundest and Thou healest ; a sparrow falls not to the ground without Thee , and the hairs of our head are all numbered . We rejoice that we , the frail and sinful children of men , are permitted to come into Thy presence by
prayer and supplication ; and that He who is exalted at Thy right hand as Head over all things , is our elder Brother , a compassionate and merciful High Priest , who himself was a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief ; who sympathises with his people on earth , and vouchsafes unto them assistance and comfort in all the varied circumstances in which they are placed , — freely bestowing upon them all things needful for the life that now is , and for preparing them for the life to come . We bless Thee , God of salvation , that Thou didst look in compassion upon us in our lost estate , when we were miserable and wretched , poor , blind , and naked ; that Thou hast sent a great Physician to heal our spiritual
diseases ; an Almighty Saviour to deliver us from all evil , —through whom Thou forgivest all our iniquities , and redeemest onr life from destruction , and crownest us with loving-kindness and tender mercies . Father of mercies , we would ascribe glory unto Thy most blessed name , for the manifold consolations and precious hopes presented in the Gospel of Thy Son to those who , in their journey through this vale of tears , are called ou to endure affliction in their mortal bodies from sudden disasters in Providence , or from tlio ravages of disease . And we would , at this present time , offer unto Thee our cordial gratitude , because under the influence of the large-hearted and divine benevolence inspired by the Gospel , institutions designed for the relief and healing of suffering humanity , unknown to the heathen world , have heen established throughout Christendom : and that all — even the poorest ofthe people — have free access
to these 'houses of mercy , ' where , through the divine blessing upon the means employed by the skill and care of the physician , their diseases and infirmities may be removed or mitigated . May such noble monuments to the power of Christian principle be duly valued by the community at large ; and may all who have been intrusted with this world's goods feel the obligation under which they are laid to contribute , and also the blessedness of contributing of their substance to an institution so truly Christian as that , of which we have this day met to lay the foundation and chief corner stone . May the same mind be in them which was also in Him , whom we adore as our Lord and Master ,
who , while He abode personally on this earth , taught in the synagogues , preaching the Gospel ofthe kingdom ; and likewise healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people ; who went about continually doing good , saying that he came not to be ministered unto , but to minister ; and who hath left us an example that we should walk in His steps . Most compassionate God , who knowest our frame , and who piticst them that fear Thee , even as a father pities his children , grant that the patients who , from time to time , shall be admitted to receive the benefits of this institution , may neither despise the chastening of the Lord , nor faint when they are rebuked . May they
remember that affliction cometh not forth out of the dust , nor springeth out of the ground ; and may they , in the time of trouble , seek unto the Lord , because unto Thee belong the issues of life and death . By the sickness of the body , and the sadness of the countenance , may their hearts be made better , and the health of their souls promoted . And now , 0 God , we implore Thy blessing on this great and benevolent undertaking ; may the workmen , and all connected with the construction thereof , be protected by Thy watchful Providence from injury and evil . In health and strength , in plenty , peace , and piety , may they continue their labours , until the last stone of the fabric shall have been laid , and the doors wide opened by the hand of Christian charity ; and may the building remain , through the zealous and prudent management of the patrons and directors , and under the guardian care of Thy good Providence , a 'Bethesda' to generations yet unborn . "
The G RAND M ASTER then called upon the Acting Grand Treasurer , D . Hunter , Esq ., Blackness ; Secretary , W . A . Lawrie , Esq . ; and Clerk , Linning Woodman , Esq ., to place the coins , & e . in the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scotland.
el We adore Thee , 0 God , as the Almighty Creator and Supreme ' Ruler ol ' the Universe . Thou dost according to Thy will in the armies of Heaven , and among the inhabitants ofthe earth ; and none can stay Thy hand , or say unto Thee , What doest Thou ? In Thee we live , aud move , and have our being-. In Thy hand is the soul of every living- thing . Thou killest and Thou makesb alive ; Thou woundest and Thou healest ; a sparrow falls not to the ground without Thee , and the hairs of our head are all numbered . We rejoice that we , the frail and sinful children of men , are permitted to come into Thy presence by
prayer and supplication ; and that He who is exalted at Thy right hand as Head over all things , is our elder Brother , a compassionate and merciful High Priest , who himself was a man of sorrows , and acquainted with grief ; who sympathises with his people on earth , and vouchsafes unto them assistance and comfort in all the varied circumstances in which they are placed , — freely bestowing upon them all things needful for the life that now is , and for preparing them for the life to come . We bless Thee , God of salvation , that Thou didst look in compassion upon us in our lost estate , when we were miserable and wretched , poor , blind , and naked ; that Thou hast sent a great Physician to heal our spiritual
diseases ; an Almighty Saviour to deliver us from all evil , —through whom Thou forgivest all our iniquities , and redeemest onr life from destruction , and crownest us with loving-kindness and tender mercies . Father of mercies , we would ascribe glory unto Thy most blessed name , for the manifold consolations and precious hopes presented in the Gospel of Thy Son to those who , in their journey through this vale of tears , are called ou to endure affliction in their mortal bodies from sudden disasters in Providence , or from tlio ravages of disease . And we would , at this present time , offer unto Thee our cordial gratitude , because under the influence of the large-hearted and divine benevolence inspired by the Gospel , institutions designed for the relief and healing of suffering humanity , unknown to the heathen world , have heen established throughout Christendom : and that all — even the poorest ofthe people — have free access
to these 'houses of mercy , ' where , through the divine blessing upon the means employed by the skill and care of the physician , their diseases and infirmities may be removed or mitigated . May such noble monuments to the power of Christian principle be duly valued by the community at large ; and may all who have been intrusted with this world's goods feel the obligation under which they are laid to contribute , and also the blessedness of contributing of their substance to an institution so truly Christian as that , of which we have this day met to lay the foundation and chief corner stone . May the same mind be in them which was also in Him , whom we adore as our Lord and Master ,
who , while He abode personally on this earth , taught in the synagogues , preaching the Gospel ofthe kingdom ; and likewise healed all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people ; who went about continually doing good , saying that he came not to be ministered unto , but to minister ; and who hath left us an example that we should walk in His steps . Most compassionate God , who knowest our frame , and who piticst them that fear Thee , even as a father pities his children , grant that the patients who , from time to time , shall be admitted to receive the benefits of this institution , may neither despise the chastening of the Lord , nor faint when they are rebuked . May they
remember that affliction cometh not forth out of the dust , nor springeth out of the ground ; and may they , in the time of trouble , seek unto the Lord , because unto Thee belong the issues of life and death . By the sickness of the body , and the sadness of the countenance , may their hearts be made better , and the health of their souls promoted . And now , 0 God , we implore Thy blessing on this great and benevolent undertaking ; may the workmen , and all connected with the construction thereof , be protected by Thy watchful Providence from injury and evil . In health and strength , in plenty , peace , and piety , may they continue their labours , until the last stone of the fabric shall have been laid , and the doors wide opened by the hand of Christian charity ; and may the building remain , through the zealous and prudent management of the patrons and directors , and under the guardian care of Thy good Providence , a 'Bethesda' to generations yet unborn . "
The G RAND M ASTER then called upon the Acting Grand Treasurer , D . Hunter , Esq ., Blackness ; Secretary , W . A . Lawrie , Esq . ; and Clerk , Linning Woodman , Esq ., to place the coins , & e . in the