Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-01-02
THE OLDEST CHURCH TOWER.
70 In the Trunk or Giant Fir TFeo on
Puget Sound.

The Puget sound steamer was near
Ing Tacoma, the new CITY leaping into
life on Commencement bay, saws tho
Youths Companion. The long twilight
Of the north was fading; the Puget
sea was qTivering with light; and over
it hung Mount Tacoma or Rainier
more than II, 900 feet high, like tent
Of cloth of gold. its glaciers mingled
with sunset fire.
"Yonder. in Oh Tacoma" said a
young man on the deck of the steamer.
lis the oldest church tower in the
United States. 1t is the trunk of an
ancient pine"
Following the direction pointed out
by the young mans hand, discerned
cross, bell. and a dark. leaning
tower, to which curious ladder led
from the roof of small church.
The boat slowed in the clear, green
waters amid tha cool shadows of tho
long points of fir and pine. The sound
of church bell broke upon the still
air. The great dome of Mount Ia
coma was changing from gold into
: pink and violet; the shadows in the
water were deepening. and the new
city of Tacoma was close ut hand.
The oldest church tower in the
! United States" The story haunted
me even amid the confusion of land
ing, and rs soon rs | had taken supper
/ made inquiries about the means of
conveyance to Old Tacoma.
The way was simple and easy-a
tcn-minutes' ride on a street-car. l
was soon there. and it was yet light.
for the twilight fades very slowly in
these northern regions. l have seen
the Salvation army at Seattle singing
from their hymn-book on the open
plateau at 8 o'clock in the evening by
daylight, and there is still light in the
summer evenings at Tacoma until
much later.
1t was easy to find the little church
with tho Pine-tree tower. and | was
soon admiring its beautiful ivies.
1t is simple Episcopal chapel. with
the trunk OF giant fir tree or pine"
for bell-tower. Tho sexton was just
closing the little door.
How old do you suppose tho tower
to be?" | asked, appearing upon tho
rude step.
"OldPh Some say 500 years; some
say more. 1t was probably great
tree before America was discovered.
Ask Mr.. A, the lumber dealer; he
and the bishop built the church. The
church WAS built in week. Would
you like to see the ivies inside?'
The ivies inside?" Ny curiosity
was again excited. l accepted his in.
vitation. We entered the little church,
whose lamps he quickly lighted.
The chapel was rude. but l never
saw more beautiful altar. except Mt
Christmas. The chancel WAS filed
with living ivy, which had grown into
il through the seams OF the rough
boards. The church was always
trimmed with ivy. How simple and
beautiful il was
l met friends in Tacoma and ex.
pressed my delight at the poetic beauty
of the old Tacoma church. was in.
troduced to Mr.. A. n wealthy lum.
Der dealer. who may be said to have
built the church.
Il caused the great pine to DO
sawed Of" he said, land the bell
and cross were placed upon it. 1t was
the year when the surveys of the North
ern Pacific railroad were completed.
As soon as it was known that Tacoms
was to be the torminus people came
hurrying here. and pitched their tents,
and built their cabins among the great
trees on the hills. With them came the
bishop aud we agreed that these peo-
pie should ut once have place in
which TO worship. We began the
church on Tuesday and held service 10
il on the next Sunday"
The region about the city of Tacoma
is full of giant pines, some of them
200 feet high. This tree was evidently
the monarch of the prim0val forest. 1t
rose over the inland sen and was fanred
By the soft winds of the Kuro Siwo. or
japanese current, before Columbus
sailed into the west.
Thousands of Americans vii! wish
10 say TO the bishop of the state of
Washington. Spare forever that
pine-tr. tower" This tree stands
for national sentiment. for primitive
religious principle. 1t is sacred tree.
Long may its slender cross be lighted
by the sunset rejection of Mount Ia
coma. and its bell be heard in the
respleRdsnt twilight of that placid
Mediterranean of the western world.