Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-06
DELAWARE HISTORICAL
: SOCIETY'S BUILDING.

Colonial Danes OF America, to com
meinorate the l93d anniversary OF the
Withdrawal OF the three lower counties
upon Delaware from Pennsylvania, an
account OF which was given by Mrs.
John Rodney in an interesting paper,
the president, Mrs. Henry 6. Banning,
read the following paper on 1.-The House
In which We Meet"
The house 10 which we meet is
quaint. old-fashioned church. with
what is called a, hip-roof, and is in .
teresting as marking the early struggles
Of our Hncestors 70 obtain houses in
which to worship God.
II is not the earliest building dedi-
GATED to His service in the State of
Delaware-the Old Swedes was the first
one planted here, in l69S. But besides
the Swedes. there were among the early
settlersa considerable number of Scotch
and Irish ancestry who bad been edu-
Gated in the Presbyterian faith and
practice. Taken from sermon
preached by the Rev. Charles d. KEEL
logg in 1865 No doubt he was in a
measure correct, but l found recently
In history another definition of the
term Scotch, Irish, which frequently
OF tbOse French refugees who left
France when the Edict of Nantes was
revoked b. Louis XIV, in 1855. Merely
to show what good cause they had to
fee the country of their birth, it will
be necessary to 60 back almost hun
bred years and see what the Edict of
Nantes meant that they should flee the
land, as from a pestilence. In April,
1888, Henry, ~. of France-or Henry
OF Nsvarre-who was the wisest, the
most far-seeing, the strongest, and the
best ruler that France has ever had
and he was tolerant--issued the famous
Edict OF Nantes. This edict secured to
the Huguenots, or Pedestrians, in
France liberation for their opinions,
and they were allowed to worship
openly, in all places, with the exception
Of few towns; they never qualified to
hold office in financial posts and in the
law; they had Protestant chamber in
the Parliament; before the edict they
had no voice in the making of their
own laws, and they could only assemble
for worship in some castle whose baron
or owner agreed with them IN religious
belief. This was the protection and
these the benefits that Louis XIV.
robbed them OF when he revoked this
celebrated edict in 1856.
The number of Huguenots is said to
have been at this time over a million
in all. During these years was the time
OF their most material prosperity and of
their important contribution to the
welfare of France. OF course there
were many refined and educated peonle
among the Pedestrians of France, but
the bulk of the thousands and thou
sands that Louis XIV. rudely cast off
were composed of the very bone and
Binew of the land-law- abiding and
most industrious citizens-Makers of
all exquisite and tasteful articles that
como from France-fine glass and china
ware, cloth weaving, fine carpet weav.
ing, makers OF gold and silver work,
and all the various arts that impover-
ished France when they left and en-
riched the countries to which they fled.
But fearing the tbumb-screw and rack,
and the fearful death by fire, they fed
and reached for the nearest shore where
federation was pracriced. Holland re-
ceiyed her quota of this living stream
also England, Scotland and Ireland,
and finally they arrived in America,
where freedom of conscience was, and
! hope always will be permi tted-that
is, permitted whiting the law, for
can't consider Mormunism either moral
or properly called religion.
To return to the house in which We
meet. These refugees of Scotch Irish
descent had been educated in the
Presbyterian faith, and there being nc
place OF worship nearer than New
Castle, measures were taken, as early
as 1857 for selection of a suitable loca.
tion for hurying ground, and subse
quently for the erection of q sanctuary,
On the first of December, 1887, one
acre OF ground was purchased by the
chosen trustees, for that purpose, u
Timothy Stidham, ESQ. The lot wa,
situated on the ''Road TO Rocks'' anc
extended to Chestnut, now Tenth
street, and lying between Market ant
King streets. Three years after tb,
purchase of this Gods Acre. rht
house in which we meet was erected
On the north side may still be fount
inscribed on the wall the date, 174O
As the congregation increased it led t,
the erection of larger building, anC
they placed il at the opposite corner o
this acre. The corner stoue of this las
building was laid in May, 1889. q
course. it still stands and is etill uset
as place of worship. In 1913 this oil,
structure was remodelled and used a
parochial school, the lower part TO
girls, of which Miss Mary Mahaffy wa
teacher, and the upper part for boys
under the care of Mr.. Thomas. An oil
and handsome chandelier once a1urue,
this old editice and gave it touch O
elegance. 1t was taken down probabl
in ls4s, and hung in tine cellar; n
doubt IT hangs there yet. But YER
different was the appearance of this oil
church at the time of its erection I
what it is now, surrounded by street
and houses. An old lady born in l777
who lived to be so years of age, VIII
sometimes worshipped here, told m
she remembered when this church wa
surrounded by forest trees-the gran
OLD oaks and chestnuts that the whit
man found here, and under their shad
the Indians still hunted and roame ed
AT that remote day ministers OF th
gospel were few; one clergyman wouI
have several scattered congregations t
attend to; she could not visit thi
church oftener than once month an
1t was privilege then to hear the wor
of God expounded, and they woul
come from distance of many miles. i
wagons or carriages, or ON horse. back
many in the latter fashion would brin
their wives or daughters. seated on
pillion behind them. As soon as tb
morning service was concluded th
whole congregation scattered in grour
under the trees, hampers and busket
of various Kinds were unpacked an