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CONTINUATION
CHURCHES 22.
2
The Rev. Canon Beach then addressing the Prince, said, "In the name of the trustees of the Cathedral, and of the Churchmen of Hongkong, I beg your Royal Highness to lay the first stone of a choir for St. John's Cathedral."
The Prince took the trowel, and after he had laid some mortar said, "In the faith of Jesus Christ, we place this stone in the name of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost."
The hymn selected for the occasion was sung, and a further short prayer read, after which the Rev. Canon Beach stated that with the permission of his Royal Highness and H.E. the Governor, he would, before pronouncing the Blessing, address a few words to those present. Turning to the Prince, he begged on behalf of the Trustees of the Cathedral and of the Clergy and Laity of this Colony, to tender their sincere thanks to him for having performed the ceremony of laying the first stone in the new choir so skilfully. Those who had set on foot this undertaking relied upon the blessing of God, and upon the cordial sympathy of the whole of the residents in this Colony, for the successful termination of what had been begun under such favourable auspices that morning. The Rev. gentleman could not allow the occasion to pass without expressing the regret which the Colony felt at the departure of his Royal Highness, whose visit, only too short, had given unmixed gratification to all the residents in Hongkong. By his frank and affable bearing, he had won the hearts of all, and would go away carrying with him their esteem and best wishes. As a clergyman, the Rev. gentleman begged to offer the Prince, what the Kings and Princes of this world had at all times, and in all places valued; and what had been by none more valued than by the Royal house to which the Duke of Edinburgh belonged, the blessing of God's Priest, and the prayers of God's Church. Might He, who eighteen hundred years ago stood upon the Sea of Galilee, and commanded the winds and waves to be still, be the Pilot of the good ship Galatea, as she bore the Prince and his gallant crew, on their homeward voyage; might hope, the bright hope of the Christian, be his anchor, and might he so pass the waves of this troublesome world, that finally, without loss or damage, he might come to the land of everlasting life.