New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-06-18
The Old seutA Church.

Die ediace erected by the hands Of sages
and heroes. ADRIAN ROUQUETTE.
The Old South Church.
The last audience has gathered beneath
the roof of the Old South, unless by some
now unforeseen happening the edict of
demolition that has gone forth is rescinded.
The announcement of Colonel Samuel
Hatch, the auctioneer of this edifce and also
of the Old Hancock honse-the sale OF
which, by the way, he e.renuously opposed
10 the last-0ccasioRed much regret and
not little printed correspondence, in view
of possible purchase of the relic for pres
ervation. Though the friends Of the pro-
isct appeared earnest, their endeavors were
Ruthless to secure further delay, and
promptly at the hour named, the sale took
place. Throughout this forenoon the stream
Uf humanity in and out of the building was
constant under the little red, ominous flag
that hung over the hali-open floor; and when
the noon hour came, the open Tcor, from
which the seats have long einca been re-
moved, was packed with = dense thrOng vi
men and boys, eager to catch the slightest
whisper from he sslesman's lips. Probably
no more curious hearers ever sat before
preaching in the palmy days of the good
old society. All classes OF our citizens
were represented; merchants, clergymen.
artists, antiquarians, tradesmen, artisans,
clerks, and few ladies, those who vener-
ated tho old structure and would have it
preserved, and the party Of progress, who
accepted the inevitable, and looked tor
ward with satisfaction to the Improvement
of the site. The cross of st. George, the
old Pine Tree flag, and the stars and
stripes have each in their turn hoated
over the old sanctuary, and now the
last banner, the red flag of vendue,
has been displayed, and the Old South has
fallen under the hammer OF the aucti0ne6r.
Colonel Hatch took his position on the
temporary staging unGer tho old sounding
board and remai ked: Il had the honor of
selling the Hatch house, although not much
OF An honor at that time, because l was one
of the committee who tried to save it. l
havn't the same feeling in this case. This
ancient structure has done its work. Time
is no respeo,Or OF persons or buildings. 1t
has passed under the ordeal OF the Law and
soon will DO 10 more. Much sentimental
ism has been expressed as TO this Cid and
time hODored editice remaining undsturbed.
The heart has been willing but the purse
has been weak, 80 it has TO share its fate
with the things of this world. Gentlemen,
what bid will you make for the old mate
rial, Immediately after which will sell You
the outside structure, which belongs to
the United States. / am offered $500. /
understand there is a large amount of
lead on the caves, and that the eteeple
is covered with copper. or that l have no
knot ledge, but / have been go informed"
The bidding then quickly advanced to
5000, 500, $500, $500, 1925, and then
twenty-five bids were made until the sum
OF $3.50 was reached, at which price it
was sold to John N. Roberts, Commodore
of the South Boston Yacht club. The out
side material was also sold to the same
gentlemen, being started at $50 and
knocked down at $50. The terms of sale
provide that "all the materials above the
level of the sidewalks, except the three
corner-stOnes and any thing that shall be in
or under the same, any trunk that may be
on the premises, the clock in the tower, the
sounding board of the church, and the vane
in the steeple to be token down carefully
nv the purchaser tor the sellers use.
Nothing outside of the main wall, of
the church 60 with the sale OF the
old materials. this last belonging 10
the United States. The purchaser to
commence to take down this structure on
Friday morning, June 8, 1876, and he is to
remove all the materials sold from the
premises in sixty days. and the building to
be at the risk OF the purchaser immediately
after the sale, and the purchaser to pay
cash down at the time of SALE" There ap-
peared to be much speculation previous to
the sale as to what the old building would
bring, aud when the name of the purchaser
was annOupced, there appeared to be as
great variance of opinion as to the value
of his bargain. Several wise ones said they
would not take the 'old SHELF ii paid the
amount bid, while others were convinced
that it would bring its purchase money by
the sale of relics. The speculative crowd
slowly withdrew from what has heretofore
been considered sacred spot, and by q
large and respectable part Of the community
as one worth preserving in its olo-time con-
ditiOn.
The purchaser of the ediice states that
he bought the. property simply for the value
of it's material Tor building. He bought on
his own responsibility, though there are
other parties associated with kim who will
probably share in the profits Of the transac-
ton. Mr.. Roberts thinks LIE has made q
great bargain, and ascribes ais good fortune
70 the absence of ready means in the hands
of several would-be purchasers at the sale,
who said, eff they only had tbs money the
old meeting house wouldn't have been
knocked down for anything like $780,
The history Of the old church will no doubt
be eagerly overhauled by these interested
in such matters, and for their benefit We
reproduce few of it's prominent features:
The ground ON which the Old South stands
is part of an original grant to Governor
Winthrop. It afterward became the prop
erty of Mr.. John Norton, pastor Of the First
Church, for consideration of Goo. By .
provision of Mr.. Norton's will in 1917 it be-
Game the property of the Old South Church.
together with the house on it in which his
widow had resided. About 1850 . meeting
house was built on this ground, called, from
it's location in respect to other meeting
houses, the South meeting house; and it
was known by this name until another
house was erected on Summer street in Hl7,
still further south, when it was called the
Old South. In 1929 the first house was
taken down. In the following year the
present edifce was built. "In it discOurses
have been delivered on many great occa'
siOns; in it the fervid eloquence OF Warren
carried all before it," In it were held the
popular meetings of protest and the de-
alterations of struggling freedom. The first
election sermon was preached in 1.-THE old
house-in 1919 Tbs interior of the Old
South was entirely DESTROYED by the British
dragons in October, l775, who took pOsses.
sion OF it for riding school. In July, 1882
the church voted to repair their meeting
house. 1t was completed in the following
spring.-BOSt0n Globe.
Loquacity Ind Reserve.
The ideas Of great talker differ very
much from those OF the reserved mantle
former being superficial and comparatively
VaIuelcbs, WHllo uub IAUtci ARC tTuIuIul lul'
plessive and profound. The language OF
The former skips along as easily and grace
fully as the grey hound. while on the con-
trary, that of the latter, slowly, clumsily and
heavily onward, like the ponderous, I'M
wieldy elephant. He finds it ditfiult to give
utterauce to his thoughts, which rush for
ward to the portals of his mouth in
such crowds that they, in fact, block
it up. Whenever you meet with man Of
Esrl <,,xv Il tir,o nd do