Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-06-01

in hand, and others again in 1920. In 1880,
when It's walls gave unmistakable signs Of
dilapidation, some women raised thousand
dollars for their preservation; ana in lS45
woman's bequest of more than six hundred
dollars renewed its interior. The interior is
very simple and grave. There still is the
ancient font, and in the brick floor in front
of the chancela large marble slab memorial
izes the virtues of one OF its early pastors,
Rev. PetIus Tranberg. II is to be hoped
that the church which now has charge of
this venerable building will sec that by no
negligence of its own shall 1t so 10 decay
moment before its time; but long may it
stand in its solemn beauty, to speak TO many
generations yet TO come of the piety of those
whose earliest care il was on landing on these
shores to build an altar to God.
Wilmington has population OF about
thirty thousand. It's churches number but
twenty; and allowing the extravagant csti-
mate of a thousand persons to each, ten
thousand of the population arc unproyided
with church accommodations. Wilmington
stands on the great thoroughlare of our sea-
board travel from the North to the South,
and is the principal city between Boston and
Washington in which Unitariansm has no
lodgment, except in the hearts of few
earnest and devoted disciples. They have
had worship now for two months in the
Scientific Hall Of the Wilmington Institute,
and the congregations have averaged over
sixty persons. The theological tone of the
pulpts of the city is intolcrant and exclusive
towards us and our faith, and the feeling OF
the church.goers in full sympathy with IT,
Time and the diffusion of knowledge can
alone correct either. But what an enormous
proportion of non -church.goers Plainly
the churches extant have little charm Tor the
people. They are admitted in n very large
part to be thinly attended. Nowhere North
of the Old Dominion does the faith we preach
80 need to be presented and pressed on pub.
lie attention. Our little congregation is at
tentive and interested but whether it can be
ripened into permanent church will de,
pend, under God, upon a persistent and
faithful effort on our part. Repelled from
the churches already planted, large numbers
arc in a state evidently of spiritual apathy,
/ and utter Indifference to the whole subject OF
religion and public worship. But the few
friends who started the movement feel great
ly encouraged. Let them be helped by the
Unitarian Association TO sustain preaching
for full year at all hazards, and let an &C.
tive, devoted man be found to give himself
10 the work for that time, and we shall have
permanent and tourishing society estah.
lished here. II is too important place Ia
be overlooked. Its population Is rapidly in.
crossing, and in the improving political con.
diiion OF the country will improve in enter.
prise, culture, and calholicity. Its ship build
ing, ,machine-shops,c carriage factories, cotton
manufactures, leather and flour.mills, arc
| growing surprisingly. Increased attention Ii
| given to its schools, and where the schoolmas
ter Is abroad depend upon it we are wanted
1t is in charming region, rich in beautiful
scenerv, and great agricultural resources
its abundant railroad facilities make it addi
tionally attractive as place OF residence by
bringing it into. easy communication Will
every part of the country. Longing, loving,
devoted hearts, few though they be, are out
spoken and earnest for our pure and libera
faith. Two sons--one the head of a family
of one of our honored and venerable clergy
men in New England, are among them
May God crown the wishes of those hearts
and prompt Others to help them 10 raise an
other altar 10 the sole worship Of the Father
+. a, F.