Smyrna times., 1888-10-10
For the Smyrna Times
A Visit to an Old Church.

1t was my pleasure last Sunday
morning to attend divine services IN
the oldest church in the city. The Old
Swedes Church was erected in the year
100, since which time it has been in
constant use. The style of architec-
ture, while not as handsome as that
after which our modern buildings are
constructed, possesses many points OF
beauty. Evidently there have been
no changes made in its external appear
ance. Inside, however, we notice
many things that belong to this period
and not to a dim and misty past.
1t is not a large church, nor appar-
emily is the congregation made up OF
those proud individuals who are to be
seen in the more fashionable places OF
worship. Perhaps it would comfort
ably seat three hundred people, and
we suppose there were at least two
thirds of this number present on the
occasion of our visit. Like the Episco-
palans and other denominations their
exercises consist mainly of singing and
responsive readings. Through the
kindness of the gentleman next to
where I sat, had the opportunity OF
/ following them in their ceremonies,
although | must confess it was an eX-
/ tremely unsuccessful venture. L gem
erally discovered where they were
reading or singing about the time the
/ end was reached.
The sermon was an excellent one. 1t
was not the bright dramatic effort that
one sees in a Talmage or MessarOes,
4 but a plain earnest interesting dis
] Dat 90
as anything was q strOie amongst the
graves. There is something peculiarly
fascinating to me in an old grave yard
like to wander around reading the
curious epitaphs and endeavoring tC
form some ideas of the now lifeles:
dust below me. 1t gives us elegant
opportunities to exercise our imagina
tion, faculty that one has many occa
siOns to use nowadays.
There were many inscriptions tina
were not decipherable, the action 0
the elements so nearly Obliteratini
them as to make it impossible to rea'
them. l found one that was writer
in the Swedish language. l did no
readlit either. Had the letters bee
ever so plain l should not. Here ar
two I copied, and with these 1 vii
close this somewhat hasty letter, fO
fear of encroaching upon your valuabl
space, Mr.. Editor, or testing tn
patience of your many readers.
think the following are rather unique
"In
l memory of
MRS. SUSAN +. NEGUS
who departed this life
on the 23rd of August 1881.
S Aged 25 years and months
Here lies a woman good without pretence
BleSt with plain reason and with sober sense,
No conquest she but DER herself desired,
e Passion and pride were to her soul unknown,
I Convinced that virtue is our own,
So unaffected so composed mind,
: So firm, so strong, so soft, yet so refined:
e HeaVea has its puTest gold in tOrtureS tried
n The saint sustained her but the woman died.
In memory of
y CAPTAIN JOSEPH BLEWER,
o who departed this life
August 7th, 1882
; Aged 55 years."
i Farewell vain world I've had enough of th
a And now am careless what thou sayest of me
% Thy smiles court not, nor thy troWns fear
My days are past, and my head lies quiet he
;, What faults in me you've seen, take care to SHIT
n And look at home, enough there's to be done
le WILL.
e Philadelphia, Pa, Oct. 1st, 1888.