Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-07-29
THE EPISCOPALIANS
The Coming Centennial Convention at
Philadelphia-Christ Church the
Place of Meeting.
The Restoration OF this Old Ediice 10
Its Original Charaeter-Its His
tory Recalled.

Nv OOEtOh 1otLd 10 o OH tAG ~ $500
the Centennial Convention OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States will convene for its opening services
10 Christ church, Philadelpbis, the place
where the first Convention met 100 years ago.
A great interest is being felt concerning this
Convention, not only among churcnmen oil
this country, but by those Of the mother
Church. Ii Is expected That prominent eccle.
siastlc- from England and Scotland, and
other foreign countries, will be present. This
interest il natural, for the large increase in
the Episcopal dioceses OF the country, the
large increase of clergy, and the magnificent
endowments Of church hospitals, colleges and
seminaries all over the land warrant this
unusual feeling to make the one hundreth
anniversary of the American branch of fhe
church worthy of this important event. As
soon a. the general Convention of 1880
decided to hold the next session 10 Philadel-
phia, steps were immedi aseiy taken bv the
clergy add laity of that city to restore Christ
church az near as possible to it's appearance
when the fret Convention sssembled within
its walls. 1t is said that nearly $4,000 have
been ex expended 10 this work Of restoration.
The old building is now ready TO receive
"Ihe tribes" as they assemble 10 take q re-
Prospective view of the past, and 10 shape
their legisl alton for the future. the Rev.
DIR. Foggs, rector Of Christ church, has been
busy in gathering facts concerning the his
tory oil this parish church, and in bringing
to light many facts Of historical interest,
which / am sure will be of value to all who
feel interested in our early history.
CHRIST CHURCH PARISH
Was organized in 1895, twelve years after the
laying out of the CITY by Willism Penn and
during the reign OF William Ill. The first
5aiIding erected for religious purposes was
kasIf <.~f. - - a-s -..- - LsL T.
lIz7 The present edidce was bailt, and il was
nine years in process OF erection. 1t is now
OF imposing appearance, and ia considered
QUE OF the many interesting spots that are
visited in the Quaker City. 1t is copied alter
the old English type of church architecture,
bull. OF brick that was brought from EGG
land. In 1854 the tower and steeple were
built, and a chime of eight bells, cast in Lon
| don, wss provided. A portion of toe money
10 deiray the expenses was raised by a lot
terry, OF which Benjamin Ffaaklin was one
of the msnsgers. When the British took
poss .ssion of Philadelphia the bells we're re-
moved, and one report hiss it that they were
sunk in the Delaware river, while another lie
that they Were removed to Allentown, Pa.
But after the evacuation the chime was re-
| placed 10 the same old tower, and from that
time until now 1t has rendered active ser.
vice IN calling the many worshipers to.
gether for prayer and praise. The length OF
the building is 1l8 feet, hight of tower and
steeple 200 feet. o. the top of the latter is
a vane and balls and = miter. The largest
ball measures seven feet nine inches in cir
cumference, and the four smaller balls (iu-
d~icating the cardinal points of the compsss)
are three feet ten inches apart. Upon the
inter are thirteen stars, representing the
number of original States, and the date OF
the consecratiou 10 the %episcopste OF tn r.
Rev. Wm. White, DID,, February A, 1887.
No alteration has been made TO the 0ullding
itself, but on three different occasions changes
have been made to the interior arrangement
namely, 1886, 1854, aud now 1t has beer
restored as AR ss possible TO it's
ORIGINAL FORM AND APPEARANCE.
In 1886 (the year in which Plshop White
died) a floor was put down over the old ave,
ment snd burial slabs that were in the aisles
while new furniture took The place OF the Old
in the to iy Of the church. 10 the work C.
restoration the wooden floor has been re
moved, and thing has been used 10 ,heil
places when the old brick was found unfit fal
use. In doing this many of The old buris
slabs have been restored and W iuscrip
tons have been brough. to light o. OF ioee,
is that OF the Rev. Alexander Cummings, win
was rector of Christ church for fifteen years
"bN 'AO NACA @hPhAA 49, AsfA oLN otCo thd
OF "John Hartman Of s.. C~hristopher'r," WIN,
was buried October &c, 1925. This latte
alone must, OF course, have been il
the original church bulldog. The origi
nal doofwsys haze been reopened, AM
even the old staples have been ono
again brought INTO use. There is one doc
known as the "Washinglon doorway" an,
this has, in the work of restoration, been re
opened. Ii was through this entrance, it i
said, that Gen. Washington was accuslome'
to pass, az he frequently entered the churcI
for service. The vestry of the church as
signed him a pew in the middle sisle, an,
during The time that the seat of government
remained 10 Philadelphia, Washington wa
very regular in his attendance. In 1885,
when alterations were made, the pew 20 lon
coupled BY him was presented by the vestr'
TO Independence Hail The old pulpii
made in 1770 by Johu Folwell, still remains
minus the sounding board. The presen
prayer desks are made from the origina
high desk, and the cid communion table i
the foundation or step on which rests tn
present altar. The font, in which Bishol
White, Francis Hopkinsou, and many othe
distinguished men and women were baptized
stands In a conspicuous part of the church
aud the beautiful silver bowl, weighing owe
eixty-lhres ounces, presented in 1712 by Co
Robert Quarry, of tine British army, is still
used in AZ Three Of the communion vessel
were presented in 170s by Queen Anne, an
ARE THUS INSCRIBED:
"Anna Regina IN usun Ecelesie Anglicone apsl
Philadelphiam." There are seven other piece
some with no date, but probably in use i
1895. One Is very beautiful, and engrave
with the figures OF six of the apostles, VII
ST. Petrus,S ST. Paulus, 81. Joannes, ST. Jacobu
Isl. Matthaeus AND st. Thomas, and marke