Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1885-06-11

William White was elected President.
At special convention in 1856 DIR.
White was elected Bishop OF the Com.
mOnwealth Of Pennsylvania. He dled
in 1886, and his remains now rest with
in the chancel.' His hand it was that
changed the petition in the litany 0f the
Common Prayer Book, offered for the
welfare of the King, when the Congress
of bells had proclaimed liberty to the
land, and che very book with Its changes
made in lax can now be seen In the
church library. This was not the emily
suggestive change which Independence
brought. bust of one OF England's
Kings Dean Stanley on visiting the
church pronounced it that Of George Ill.,
was torn from its place over the east
end of the church On the occasion OF the
first Fourth of July Grafton being deliv-
cred, and in l777 the steeple was struck
by lightning and the crown mounted
thereon was melted to the ground. Mr..
Whitfield preached here in 1879, but the
capacity of the building was inadequate
and resort was had to the open street.
Robert Morris, fnancler of the revolu-
iOnary period; benjamin. Franklin,
Francis HOpkinsOn and George Wash
ingtOn all wOrshipped in Christ Church.
The large pew Nos. 81 and 56 is the IL
lustriOus Washington pew" The act.
ual seat which the President occupied
has been removed to Independence Hall.
but the present pew which occupies the
site is its fac simile. While the seat OF
government remained at Philadelphia
the President was regular attendant
at this church, entering by the side door
near the chaneel, which from this fact
takes its name of the" Washington Door,"
The interior of Christ Church has under
gone some radical changes.
In 1885 desire for improvement
swept through the Congregation. 1t
fOHnd expression in the laying OF q
wooden floor over the ancient brick pave
ment, thus entirely c0ncealing the in
scriptions thereon. Many of these lat
ter were regarded as illegible. The old
square high pews were taken down ana
replaced with low cushioned ones. The
Washington pew went to add its dignity
to the relics of Independece Hall and the
interior of the church was generally re-
modelled. In 1854 some slight addition
al changes along the same line were
made. Thus changed the interior re-
manned until q reaction of feeling set
in. La 1870 the growing deisre for res
floor, bringing once more TO light the
commemorative stones that had lain so
long beneath Two of these stones re-
corded in 1886 illegible, were, after a
careful examination deciphered, and
one bore evidence of burial in 1926
| Just before the present edifice was begun.
The Washington door which had been
closed was reOpened. The pulpit was
restored TO its original position and its
ancient decorations replaced. The full
restoration was not completed, however,
until 1882, and many who may have Wis
tied the building during the Centennial
year would find marked change should
they enter it to day.
Among the many interesting historic
objects in and about the building there
stands in the vestry or "tOwer room" an
an old hatchment. There are but two
of these in the United States. The other
| is preserved in the Goose Greek
Church" of South Carolina. This hatch
meat was borne before the body Of Chief
Justice Smythe, of New Jersey in 1903,
and was again used at tho funeral of
his wife. Since then it has rested I'M
disturbed in the church.
Sitting of a morning aad listening to
one of DR.. FOggO's earnest sermons from
the ancient pulpit, one may DO forgiven
il his mind wanders from the text and
its exposition to faces and scenes sug-
gested by the historic appointments of
the church. Indeed, feels like taking a
slight liberty with Mr.. Longfellow, and
remembering that
''Once, ali! once within these walls
One whom memory Oft recalls,
The Father OF his Country, knelt."