The sun., 1898-05-29

anniversary
CELEBRATED
Interesting Exercises Held At
Old Swedes Church YeSter-
day Afternoon.
THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED
Prominent People Who Attended
the Impressive Ceremonies.
Two Hundred Years Since the Corner
Stone of the Ancient and Sacred
Edifice Was Laid.--Brief
History of the Church
and People at That

attended the ceremonies III COmlnemOra-
ton of the two hundredth anniversary
Of the laying OF the cornerstone of Old
Swedes Church, at Seventh and Church
streets, held in that building yesterday
afternoon at 4.30 o'clock.
The prescribed prayers and lessons for
The day were read by the curate, Rev.
II. Ashton Henry, D. d., who then an
uounced the object of the ceremonies
and the fact that Bishop Curtis expressed
his regret at his inability to attend, ow-
ing to his unavoidable and unexpected
absence from this city.
Senior Warden DR.. Horace Burr was
unable to deliver. his expected address,
having been unavoidably detained.
DR.. Henry then introduced Rev. 5ny-
der L. Simms, pastor of Old Swedes
Church of Philadelphia.
He delivered an interesting address,
consuming about half hour. During
his remarks he stated that he had been
rector Of ''Old Swedes' in Philadelphia
ior over thirty years and that this was
the first time he had ever been within
the walls of the church here, but that on
many occasions he had passed the edi-
fee on the cars while travelling to and
fro down the State and always felt that
at some time he must visit it.
He further said that he considered it a
great honor to have been invited to be
present on this occasion. He spoke of
the connection DR.. Burr had with OBJ
tanning the early history OF the church
and expressed his regret that he was un-
able to be present and relate some inter-
esslng facts regarding the records.
He related some interesting reminis-
eences of the early ministers of the par
ish and concluded by stating that lie
hoped the church would be put in repair
aRring the next year.
Henry G. Conrad, ESD, was the next
speaker, and read the following very in
teresting paper concerning the early his
tory OF the church from facts obtained
from the records OF the Historical So
cety:
"We live in world that changes like
cloud. We are the actors on the stage
OF life where all is activity and commO-
ton. We are here today and gone to-
morrow and the great mass OF the Amer
scan people are constantly on the move
and i'll action. How refreshing to gather
almost in the twilight OF this last day of
she week half spring with its showers
and half summer with it's bright sun
shine-and listen to the story of the pa
tient men and gentle women who two
centuries ago gathered here and in their
simple unpretentious way laid the foun-
dation stones of this venerable building.
Two hundred years-Six generations
OF men have been born and been buried.
Little of all are value here
Wake on the morn Of its hundredth year.
"But here are stairs that were laid,
and mortar that was tempered two hun
dred years ago, and they have stood the
stress and storms OF time aud st9nd
todaya a lasting monument OF the faith
fnlness of the work. The worker dies
but the work goes on.
The thirty people WHO built this
church were comfortable, as far as the
tenn 0 al affa rs of life are concerned
The men plowed the fields, and the
county being rich and fruitful they were
able to supply their own wants, and send
out yearly to their neighbors in theil
little word, bread and grain and houl
spun the flax and wove and added to the
thrift oi the household. As Charles
Christopher Springer put it: we live
also in peace and friendship with on,
another; and the Indians have II,
muIcsted US for many years
They were happy and contentcl
people. But like the rich man OF old
one thing they lacked. They wanteC
the Bread OF Life" The food and raj
ment which WAS abundant did not sat
isfy. They were a little colony OF people
not over 200 III Numbers, with a broao
ocean between them and the old hOnt
lies, and they thirsled for the livin.
waters which Christ had promised
any man drink Of the waters which
shall give him lie shall thirst no more
Il know ol nothing more pathetic O
more beautiful than the entreaty Of thes,
people that they should be supp i, d will
Bibles and with ministers. Pain ,pous
b, nest Char,es Christopher Springer, il
writing to the Swedish authorize
says sod grant that We may also hav
good shepherds to feed us with His lloI,
word and sacrimcnts' And in obedienc
to that heartfelt supplication the Bible
came and with them the minister, Erlcl
Biourk, thr ugh whose exertions chiefly
this church was built.
For t cr foundation can 30 man la,
than that Is laid which is Jesus churcl
and on the rocks this church was built
and the storms have descended, and tE
winds have beat, and the floods hav
come, but through the perils of two hun
drcd years it has stood, and stands toda,
aa a testimonial of the enduring strengt
Of the Christ al life. the life that IS hic
with Christ in God.
''lf God b" for US, who can Ee agains
Ms? '--tjn the outer walls in letters o
iron ties words We're placed so that al
men could sre to whom their faith wa
tied. No bali hearted religion, no sub
terfnge, n pret"nsc. We are marchin;
under the Lords banner, we go wher
ever His banner Is uniur'ed, our faithful
allegiance is to Him. III He be for us
who can be against us The years Law
gone by. The words remain. The COZ
roding rust Of inc has made its impress
but the truth of Gods word-the love O
God remains the same.