The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1895-12-06
OLD CHRIST CHURCH.

testant Episcopal hierarchy of the whole
State, If not indeed of the entire country
to join in the celebration of the two hun
dredth anniversary of Old Christ Church
which was inaugurated in that historic ed.
ifice on North Second street Yesterday
One of the first of the established churches
to be founded in this country, its history
is part and parcel of that of the Protes-
tant Episcopal faith in America; and
Bishop William White, for fifty-seven
years its rector, who shortly after the war
of Independence became the first Bishop
of Pennsylvania took such prominent
part in securing the amicable separation
from the mother Church of England, that
the title of Father of the American
Church was long ago awarded to him
among the other honors deservedly show
cred on this noble minded patriot and pre-
late. 1t was a at meeting of Christ Church
vestry in November, 1888, that the move
ment was inaugurated which eliminated
in general convention of representatives
from seven States, convened at Christ
Church, where the title Protestant Episco-
pal Church in the United States of Amer
lea was formally adopted as the name Of
the Ecclesiastical organization. And the
correspondence Immediately afterward en-
tered into with the English Church res
pecting the consecration of American
bishops resulted in the conservation of
DR.. White as Bishop of New York, in the
chapel of the Archiepiscopal Palace at
London, on February 4, 1887.
But though Christ Church embodies so
much that is dear to those who embrace
the Protestant Episcopal faith, yet it is an
object of reverence to the people..of every
faith. AS Independence Hall is properly
called the cradle of religious liberty, as
from it sprung that movement which to-
day finds the Roman Catholic Church
alone in its allegienee to foreign head.
And not only in. this are It's efforts in be-
half of freedom shown, for throughout
the Revolution its rectors and its congre-
CATION were stalwart in their support of
the American cause, and it's teachings in
behalf of liberty may properly be said to
have had naked influence on the thought
of the colonies during that trying period.
Christ Church vestry was the first to re-
quest its rectors and assistant ministers to
"omit those petitions in the liturgy where
in the King of England is prayed for;
and DR.. White gladly aequiesced in their
action.
1t is profitable to speculate on the in
tluence of Christ Church among the peo-
pie during this time. The war greatly
weakened the strength of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the colonies, owing
to the fact that most of the ministers felt
in conscience bound not to oppose the
royal authority, owing to their connection
with the State Church. In Consequence,
many of the churches were closed, their
rectors, through excess of fear, preferring
to resign their charges and seek refuge in
England. But Christ Chuch remained
opeu, DR., White. from stern conviction,
continuing to preach the gospel as his
conscience dictated and to labor in behalf
of liberty and peace. His church, there
fore, became the centre of religious influ-
ence in this city; the foremost patriots of
the day.-Wa ashington, Franklin, Morris,
Miffin-were found worshiping at its al
tar; Congress often attended service there
in a body, but the funeral services of the
distinguished dead were conducted within
its walls, and in fact, it was on Sunday,
the meeting place of the mainstay of the
cause in Pennsylvania as Independence
Hall was on the remaining days of the
week. The veneration in which the
church came to be held during the Revo-
lutionary days can be no better illustrated
than it the relation of an incident chron-
icled by Wescott, which occurred in 1908,
long after independence had been secured.
One Naglee, an American, was swindled
by Frenchman at San Domingo. Tow
ering with rage, the helpless Naglee ex-
claimed: Il am in your power now; but if
1 ever catch you in any part of the United
States, except Christ Church, I'll have my
revengew Such reverence for the church
at that late day argues greater reverence
at an earlier period, and ascribes to Christ
Church great influence during the days
that the spirits of the colonists were at the
low ebb.
The historic edifice is to- day one of the
oldest buildings Ill the city. 1t was in
1893 that Rev. Thomas Clayton arrived in
Philadelphia with a commission from DIR.
Bray, the Bishop of London's commission
er in Maryland and Virginia, to found a
church here. 1t is related that he did not
find above fifty of the communion of the
Church of England when he arrived. yet
in two years the congregation was in
creased to almost seven hundred, and in
1875 house of worship was erected on
the site of the present church.
This building, which accommodated 500
people, was built of brick and had gal
lery. In 1909 bell was secured, and in
170S brick belfry was erected. In I'LL
the church building was enlarged ,and Gov.
Sir William Keith became a member of the
vestry, building a permanent "Governor's
pew" in the edifice. In September, 1927,
the church building was again enlarged, a
steeple built and an organ procured from
London. These alterations practically
amounted to a rebuilding, the cornerstone
being laid April p, 1927, and the church
to-day stands as it was then shaped. In
1854 the tower was completed and the
chimes imported from London, were