The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-23
- plspateh 10 ID IntellIgenoer.

social Dispatch to the Intelligencer.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 21.-Among
the many historic landmarks that
point backward to the early settlement
Of the city Of Brotherly Love" NOT
the least in interest is that known as
the "old swedes Church." located near
the william Penn house" almost or
the very banks of the Delaware. While
william fenn's old residence has been
perverted from Its original use as a
home maker, TO that Of a home de-
s,royer, a beer saloon being establish.
ed in it. the site Of the first Christian
church in this colony has been sacred
" preserved, and held to Its original
use throughout the generations that
have succeeded the early swedes who
settled in the locality Of Swanston, on
the Delaware. where they erected n
building for the worship of God stimuli
,aneously with the rude shelters in
which they made homes for themselves
in this strange land. Entering the
grounds through a high iron gateway
over which is the inscription Gloria
Der A. D. 1900" the visitor realizes thar
he is in a community composed Of the
dead who lie in the well-kept, green
and ivy covered graves. and the living
who dwell In the homes that. together
with the old brick church, form an en-
closure in whose midst is the old grave.
yard, still sacredly reverenCed and
most carefully preserved.
It is a matter OF great surprise that
little OF the inside history of this
early church and the body OF men and
women who comprise its membership
has been preserved or written. And
still more surprising that among the
Oldest citizens and the most Intelligent.
We found few who could give any in
formation, except that "old swedes,"
as II is Familiarity called, is still stand
ing. Indeed, we made repeated efforts
before we could obtain directions as to
the best car line TO take TO reach the
spot. The afternoon that we visited
ihls hallowed enclosure was bright and
warm almost as summers day, and
after leaving the car and turning Into
the quiet little side street that led on
to the graveyard, through which we
reached :hc church, we felt as though
We had been suddenly transposed to a
simple rural settlement. where shelter
from the hurly-burly of a noisy, bust
ling city life might be found in the In
wiling rest and serene peace that per-
vadad the surrounding atmosphere.
And where above the echo OF the dis
turblng hum Of the outside world might
be heard the still small voice, saying,
My peace give unto you"
The church, the rectory. the school
buildings; the sections lodge-the tombs
Of the silent ones who have left their
footprints upon the shores of time. all
reemed to say Here peace hath made
her abiding place"
In 1924 A. D., December 2lst, Gustavus
Adophus, the champion of Protestant
Europe. gave power to COLOMBO in the
new world. And in April. 1888. the first
Swedish colony arrived on the western
banks Of the Delaware. The exact
date Of the first edifce for religious
worship does not appear, but It is known
that very soon after the colonists reach =.
ed the banks OF the Delaware, a struc-
ture was erecetd for the double pur-
pose Of a house Of worship and fort
The "old Brock house" was superseded
in 1916 A. n. when the wooden church
a. Tenakong CTinicum) was consc-
Grated by MagIster CampanIus, and
used until 1900. when the church now
standing was built and dedicated on the
first Sunday after Trinity.
The present edifce is built of brick
brought from Sweden, and although
the building has been renovated and
kept in a perfect state of preservation.
the original plan has been preserved
in every detail. We entered the church
alone and so were enabled to enjoy the
deathlike stiffness and solemnity OF tn.
atmosphere. The church is small but
neat and attractive in its every ap-
DoIntment. The straight backed, wood
en- seated pews. though OF recent date,
are modelled exactiy after the old. The
pulpit, the charceI railing and the pipe
organ are perhaps the most modern
feature of the whole interior. Within
the chancel stands the original bnp-
tsmal font, sent TO the old Block
church, by the queen OF Sweden. Tha
bowl. carved from solid block Of grey
marble. rests upon tall pedestal, also
Of marble. Directly in front Of the al
tar. and rnder the organ gallery. two
cherIbIms stretch their wings. These,
We learned, are as old As the foundation
Of the frs: edihce built upon the pres
ent site. The venltlan blinds that shade
the wlndows were brought from the old
world with the bricks in the building.
Under tho pulpit, and under the alsles,
repose the remains OF the frat ministers
and Missionaries sert over by Gus
nvus Adolphus to ChrlstIanIze the new
world.
In the neat little study-the vestry OF
the present church-are a number Of
Interesting historic relics. a portrait
NJ Gustayus Adolphus with an auto
EraUh letter written In Swedish, hangs
unoa the wall; also a naturalization
Paper written by William Penn, to-
81 har with the large scals-thut va