Fosdick Cornerstone

Last week Pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick, liberalist extraordinary, saw one of his dearest ambitions approach its fulfillment when the cornerstone of his new Park Avenue Baptist Church, Manhattan, was set in place. Before Dr. Fosdick accepted the call to this pastorate in 1925, he made several express stipulations. Among these were: a) that membership in the congregation be open to all who accept evangelical Christianity, b) that Baptist rites and doctrines not be insisted on, c) that the new church be constructed somewhere near Columbia University. The trustees of the richest Baptist congregation in the world agreed to Dr. Fosdick's stipulations.

The new church, located at Riverside Drive and 122nd St., will cover approximately 22,500 square feet of land. Its nave, 100 feet wide, will run north and south parallel with the Hudson River. Its main entrance will be on Riverside Drive through a bell tower, 300 feet in height. The cost will be about $4,000,000. Its seating capacity will be 2,500.

The bell tower will be of especial comfort to Carillonneur Anton Brees. M. Brees presides over the 53-bell carillon, a gift of Trustee John Davison Rockefeller Jr., which will be installed (TIME, Feb. 22, 1926) in the new edifice. M. Brees complains that the carillon at its present low altitude in the old church is unable to do itself anything even remotely approaching full justice.