The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-09-23
PILGRIMAGE TO GLORIA DEL.
4 Sunday visit to the Oldest Church
In phiIadelphta.


1t was an ideal day yesterday for n
pilgrimage to Gloria Del church, which
as we all know. stands where the Wee
caco block house was built in 1917, five
years before PENIS colony came. 1t
was of logs, and had loop-holes instead
of windows. which served for firearms
in case of need. Indeed the congrega-
ton then came armed, though 1t was
whispered that they did so as much to
be ready for wild game as to he prepar-
ed in case of being surprised. The pres
ent brick church building was dedicated
the first Sunday after Trinity. 100. No
wonder it was deemed n great edifice.
there was not Il public building in the
city equal to 1t. 1t is below Christian
and Front streets and stands on ground
originally possessed by the Swedish fam
lily of Sven; the only thing still bearing
their name is the street at the rear OF
this Old Swedes' churchc. Swanson
street. This church was built mostly
by subscription, some paying In money,
some in work and materials, even the
parson carried the hod.
1t is hardly conceivable that amid all
the surrounding squalor, the Changing
bells of the trolleys. the hubbub of the
wharves aud the double tracks which
occupy Swanson street mo trains run
Sunday morning, however,, one could:
such sabbath Stiffness" The arched
top of each gate is inscribed Gloria Del
Church." and well back stands this his
toric place of worship. with headstones
both quaint and modern to the south and
front of 1t. towering ailantus trees whose
graceful branches sway like incense
burners, while the sweet deep strains
of the organ draw one onward. SO
peaceful is 1t al that one seems to have
Fac, "a, Ensx hA &c
beyond strengthen the feeling.
On entering one notes the tiled floor,
terra Gotta as to color, only to learn
later that it was laid only n year ago,
the board floor which 1t replaced having
been laid fifty years ago. Up to that
time the original brick floor had served.
The present is probably much the same
in effect. After the beautiful service
one learned from Sexton Pearson that
the galleries were only put mp about
fifty years ago and that to accommodate
the enlarged audience. 1t changed u
while before that from Swedish Luth-
eran to Episcopalian, and has so remain
ed.
Green Stat shades are at the six large
windows, while the one behind the pull
pit Is of stained glass; both 1t and the
pulpit are a bit less than n half cen
tpry old. The baptismal font of the
itself, while the two cherubs and open
book just in front of the organ loft rail
are older than the church.
In the estry, at the north side, among
other pictures, is one of a bird's-eye
view of Philadelphia in 1902. The state
~ little church stands in the lower left
hand corner.
The primitive Swedes located their
houses us well as their churches "near
e nfa, ,t, o.,
use canoes rather than open roads. Thus
such church was attended by people
from some distance, making. on Lords
day little squadron of boats along the
river side. A granddaughter of Sven
Schultz. who died in 1705, at the age of
JOB years, tells of the women taking
scalding hot soft soap to this old Swedes'
church when it was still block house
and actually repulsing the Indians. of
whose attack they had been warned.
Outside were some of "the rude fore
grave noted was that of child of two
years. buried in 1908 Mary. the wife
of Andrew Robson. died In 1716. aged
30 years. John Stille, of the family of
the original Swedish colonists. died in
1922. These gray, crumbling stones are
not easy to discipher In many instances
Rev. Nicholas Collin placed an appreci-
ative inscription over his wife's sisters
grave and monumental record tablet
in the churchc to his wife. who died in
1907, which was of her "early piety,
kindness. economy, neatness; her faith
full affection to him in many trying
scenes of his grief which shall not
cease until they meet in the land Of the
living" Alexander Wilson, the ornithol-
ogists. lies here by his own wish, the re-
tired place where he used to come to
hear the birds sing. His gravestone Is
the only one telling the cause Of death.
The church is thirty feet wide and
siXty-one long. The sexton lives in
what was parsonage: a later one. also
Mt the north. faces on Swanson street.
Philadelphia Record.