Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-06-16
ON smrnEs onnRcn


The Anniversary of Its Dedicntion--An
Interesting Historical Sermon.
Old Swedes Church appropriately cele-
brated Sunday the l03d anniversary of
its dedication. The attendance was large
and included many members of Trinity
Church, which omitted its morning sea-
vice on account of the celebration. At the
entrance to the chnncel there were three
large arches, the middle one surmounted
by a cross and all covered with field
daisies, gathered by the children of the
parish. The altar was decorated with
palms and cut flowers. The effect of the
decorations was decidedly pleasing.
The services began at 6 O'clock with the
celebration of the holy communion.
Morning prayer was said at $50 o'clock.
AT the 1890 O'Clock service there was
preaching by the Rev. j. Y. Burk, rector
At Clarksboro, n. j., and secretary of the
University of Pennsylvania. Ills theme
was THE Reunion of the English and
Swedish Churches" and stext Lcclesiastcs
ri, L: Cast thy bread upon the waters, for
thou shalt find il after many days" The
discourse was purely historical and was
listened TO with the deepest interest
In his Introductory the speaker referred
to the spread OF the gospel in the great
| northern peninsula of Europe 500 years
ago and said he made the allusion because
it tells of England's church casting her
| bread upon the waters and becoming the
mother of the swedish church. After
| mentioning the yielding of the church in
| Sweden to the domination and doctrine of
| Popcry he spoke of the reformation. Next
he gave brief account of the early years
OF this country and particularly of the
| shores OF the Delaware which he connected
| with the history of $50 and 100 years ago
lie alluded to the Swedish government
sending two ships here in 1888 and to the
establishment by the emigrants Of their
now stands. Here the Swedes remained
| ilourishing aud peacably until 1850, when
the Dutch disputed their rights and estab-
| lshed dominion over them not, however,
breaking up their settlements in this
| vicinity nor interfering with their religious
organization. Up to the year 100 they
maintained their character as "a steady,
Woodworking and thrifty people, holding
fast their possessions and endeavoring to
live in all things MS they would have done
in Sweden. They were served BY minis
tiers sent ont to them from Sweden except
once, when they were served by Dutch
minister, and William Penn described
them IN terms of hearty communication as
an orderly and religious people
soon colonization on u far more vigorous
scale than ever before took place and
| almost any other people than the swedes
| would have been absorbed or expelled by
80 large an influx of 80 different people.
| Penns idea was to establish here Quaker
commonwealth. With q Quaker English
man an Episcopal Swede could have
| scarcely more than one common interest.
| aud that was OF gllders and stivcrs, but by
| the year 100, in which Old Swedes Church
was built, another English element began
to appear. In 1887 the Rev. Messrs. Rud-
| man, liiork and Amen were sent here BY
She King of Sweden and the Swedish
church received new impulse of life from
| xvft il
ministers and the royal gifts OF books and
kindly words. The Rev. Mr. Rudman
became rector of Old Swedes, the old block
house WAS torn down and the present
building completed in 100. The Swedes
were encouraged by the promise of u con
slant supply of ministers and the mission
aries themselves by good prospects of pro-
motion At home after a few years of
colonial life
After speaking of the Rev. DR.. Thomas
Bray, to whose zeal, he said, the old Amer
lean churches owe, under God, almost
their existence and certainly their pros.
perlty, he dwelt upon the history of the
church in Pennsylvania. The first dawn
ing Of the reunion of the English and
swedish churches was in the services held
i'll oxford by MIR. Rudman. The Swedish
mission ended Oh the death of the Rev
Nicholas Collin, 40 years rector of Old
Swcdos, in 1881. During his rectorship he
constantly used the present prayer book
and he bishop of Pennsylvania confirmed
in the swedish churches. When all con
llectiun with the Diocese of Upsa had
ended and their missionary rector died thu
independent Swedish churches sought new
re,;tOrs and a corporate union They
naturally elected presbyiers of the Protest
ant Episcopal church and one BY one cam,
into union with the Protestant Episcopal
convention. so came to her again The
bread which the mother east tnon tht
. northern sea these centuries ago So Tho
, parted streams that murmurcd ON il
lonely and rugged ways 50 far apart blcnt
, INTO one placid current rs the rocks ur,
, passed and quiet meadows gained SoGot
I gives TO His church that unity which II,
/; human wit can plan, but which come
/, when each is dutiful and faithful, and un
3 wagering in the right.
lie SAID in conclusion ''Let no calls o
2 cNPctlency, no prelenses of Improvement
r nor any tightening Of burdens tempt yo
ever 10 neglect, nor desecratc, nor chang
: tins building which is not so much your
us il is your States S, your chlrchis AN
t your Gods. So faithfully keeping you
Z trust pray that you may keep many sue
/. a day rs this within these walls. and tha
!; all whose worship here has witnessed t
d the unity of Gods church below may shar
i'll that perfect and blissful unity whic
:. the Rclcemcr shall have in Heaven"
Second celebration of the holy commuI
!. ion followed the sermon. The Rev. |
i Ashton Henry, rector Of Trinity Churcl
:, was celcbrant and the Rev. Martin |
% Dunlap, rector Of Old Swedes, assisted
The plate brought from Sweden in III
:, used only ON Trinity Sunday, was used q
/ this OCCASION. The choir, John Brow
organist, furnished good music NJ
:, Dunlap preached at night. The oilerin,
Il for the SupDurt of the church vprp iihnra