Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-16

The 198th anniversary Of the dedica-
tion of Old Swedes Church will be cole
brated on TRINITY Sunday, May 3lst,
and now that spring is here the men,
bers are already talking of the birth.
day of the dear old house of worship.
The Rev. Martin b. Dunlap, pastor of
the church, stated to reporter of Every
Evening yesterday afternoon that
there will be special services on that
day, and it is altogether likely that a
visiting clergyman will officiat1 but as
vet the invitation has not been sent.
The demonstration this year will be
about the same as in recent years, but
which is not such a great way off,
will be marked by grand celebration
in which the citizens of Wilmington
generally will participate. The old
church is undoubtedly the pride of
Wilmington, and, in fact, the name
"Old Swedes Church OF Wilmington, :"
is known far and wide. A Chicago
lady, who was recently on visit to
Wilmington, informed Pastor Dunlap
that if Chicago had such a church
they would prize it very highly.
DIR. Horace Burr senior warden of
the church, recently translated tho old
records, which were all in the Swedish
language, ard from his translation a
very complete history was published
in the State Sentinel last Saturday.
Holy Trinity tOld Swedes), the Sem
tinel says, is one Of the most histori-
cally interesting, and most picturesque
of the ancient churches of the United
States. With one exception, James
town, Va, it is perhaps the oldest
church building in the Atlantic States,
and is now within three years of the
200th anniversary of its dedication on
Trinity Sunday, l69a,
sold Swedes' Church connects the
State of Delaware With the Old World
in one of its most intensely interest
ing historical periods When it was
erected what is now Delaware and
Pennsylvania and New Jersey was
known as Now Sweden. There were
Swedish settlements on the Delaware
from above Philadelphia to about Port
Penn on the west side of the river and
for almost an equal distance on the
east side. The centre of these settle
ments, however, was at Christianahamn,
as the settlement at Wilmington was
called. The Swedes were pious God
fearing people and to provide place Of
worship-a temple in which to set up
an altar of worship, and to raise the
cross as symbol of their faith and
trust in Almighty God, was one Of the
first duties they attended to. In this
case the planting of the flag of Sweden
and the raising of the Christian altar
was accomplished at one and the same
time. The flag was planted as a token
OF possession by right of discovery
but Immediately treaty Of peace was
made with the Indians, and site pur-
chased for the settlement. Their fort
and their church were eracted on
ground peacefully and rightfuly in
their possession. Thus was iuaugurated
by the Swedes on the Delaware and
not William Penn, the peace policy
with the Indians for which the settle
ment of Pennsylvania has become 10
famous in history. This treaty made
by the Swedes and faithfully observed
by both parties, had been made, and
its peaceful policy established lO wears
Lefore the arrival of Penn on tho Della
ware. This old church, which is at
least the third house of worship erected
by the SWedes at or near Christians
hamn, is a venerable and precious
monument of remarkable historic
incident in tho early history of this
country In regular succession it reure.
sents the planting of the Christian reli.
gion and the principles of civil liberty
on tho Delaware. The first church
eulhce erected by the Swedes was in
side the fort erected, for storage anC
defensive purposes, ON the top of
rocky promontory iutting out into tht
Christlana and bay formed by th
waters OF the creek flowing to the eas
and north toward tho Brandywine
The top OF this promontory was a fla
and rock paved plateau. The hill eX
tended west and its top formed one o
several terraces ascending to til
Brandywlne highlands on which tn
city Of Wilmington has been built. On
the top OF this hill-the first terrae
llfted above the water level the for
and the church were built. The graunt
Immediately tc the west and adioinin
the Tort was made a cemetery Her
were buried the early dead OF tn
colony and here, ever since, their chill
uren and successors have been burvin
their dead. The second church bull
by the eolonists at Christianuhamn wa
AT Crane Hook. The Swedca had set
tied on both sides Of the Delaware an
OF the Christiana. Those WHO lived 4
the east side OF the Delaware belo,
the Chrlstlana complained of tho dis
lance they were compelled 10 travel i
thalr boats TO attend the church q
the north sldo Of tine Chrjst!ana. an
were Joined in this by those who i've
on the Delaware side Of the river
between their homes ana tho churp
was great waste Of waters averhownl
the marsh at every tide making il IN
possible 70 got TO the iorry over ii.
creek except with boat The ii
church was too small. In a Quart.
OF "a century several expeditions had Il,
rived IRON oweden and The ingreaan ,
population demanded larger churcl
IL was built at Crane Hook.
Inc pastors Of these churches wcI
appointed with the royal approval /
the bishops of the State Church
Sweden. They were Lutharan4. fl
church service boing similar TO dian
the Church OF England. In 1851 Er
Blork was sent 10 ChristiaaaAamD.
pastor OF the Swedish Lutheran CAurrl
In the records Of Old awadgs. tran
lated BY JE Hurace Burr Tor The DeI
ware Hisloricg! society, the new pric
begins the raeord Of his ministry thu
julg @Jtn, iGJI Aftar /, t1rptb,
wlth my colleagues Mugi5tcr Andre;
Eu'man, and ,au Iiuuorwarthj Ele
Jonas Aur'en, had given nJtico Of i.
arriSal a itGiladclpe'a ii vice Gil
erhuf #ililgl Aiag.a.anl, showing bin
ooHr passport with rm king Cl.ir
MIllAahi own hand and aeal, ei3u
llhorty of las9a-g tfur England ~,
% t4t7 u'are, dated kna5iuetun, No
22d h', and Dh r.a4 governor ha
hsaAf2a ana prnlu WI all poasili
LL"fof and a7sls'arnn were assenrhtt
lur in- l.LHt tlm. NLIn Oh. nun..rn.lntil