The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-05-03

OF vines ana INSIDE OF tneu1 large treeS
had grown. To get through the main
entrance one had TO pull back a thick
underground and push away q por-
uere OF vines that hung down from
above The grounds surrounding the
church were then n thicket, for few peo-
pie then went down TO see the sacred
reiic or the colonial worsh.ppers. The
.enditions are now changed. thanks to
the noble Colonial Danes. They have
had the thicket cleared away. the
grounds cleared OF brush. and the walls
OF the church cleared OF the vines
They also had the big trees cut from the
inside. and this We thought a pity tin
the Danes explained that had they not
cut out the trees the big roots would
have torn down the walls There are
now within the walls. however num-
bers OF cedar trees that are OF good
size. and also number OF holly and
persimmon trees.
The ancient church was built of
brick that were imported from Eng
land, and such massive walls. They
are nearly three feet thick. and are
yet solid. though SCARED and pitted
by the shots fired in two wars The
dimensions of the church were seven
ty-six feet. six inches in length and
nfty-four feet. three inches In width
There are.three wide-arched doors, and
eleven windows seven by fifteen feet
in size. The chanceI windows were
evidently quite grand, and with its
lofty pitch the old church in its day
must have been an imposing structure.
Its appearance now indicates that
there must have been wealth there
abouts in the early days OF the colony.
Ihe walls at present. without rafters
or roof,stand TO a height OF twenty
four feet. four inches The erection OF
the church was probably begun about
1885 and IL was twenty years before IL
was completed. Ii must have been in
use several years prior to 1861. because
the rector. the Rev. John Mcdowell.
wrote a letter complaining that the
roof or the church had fallen in. that
that IT was struck by lightning In July
and that afterwards "a prodigious and
immoderate quantity OF rain falling
| on 1t had made it tumble down" The
grounds still belong to the Diocese of
North Carolina. There are four acres
| OF ground. and a year or so ago Mr..
Joseph ii. McRee. the well-know civil
| engineer. gratuitousiy surveyed IL and
put up marking posts as favor for tho
Colonial Danes
The EXERCISES YESTERDAY
AT 12:15 p. m, after the old church.
mad been reached yesterday. the Col
onlal Danes and the people assembled
In the old ruins with Mrs. Meares.
the president. presiding An organ had
peen placed under the trees inside the
walls and Mrs. A. NJ. waddelI acted
as organist.
Bishop Cheshire opened the services
| by reading the Sth Psalm, following
with the creed. the Lords Praye-. and
| a collect
| Then Mrs. Waddell played and the
hrst verse of America" was su- by
| the assemblage.
The Hon. A. NJ. Waddell then intro
duced Mr.. James Sprunt. who read an
elegantly prepared sketch on "Spen-
Ger compton. Earl of Wilmington" in
honor OF whom our city is named.
l. After the song, Carolina had been
sung. Bishop Cheshire introduced Col.
Walden. who read deeply interesting
historical sketch OF THE Early sett-
lers Of the Cape Fear"
Col. WaddeiI finished at 1:so u. la .
| ana then a very pleasing incident oc =
CURED. Mr.. George w. Kidder in an
eloquent and exceedingly chaste little
speech. presented Mrs. Meares q large
basket of white and pink carnati tions
complimenting and commencing tn
work OF the Colonial Danes and wish
ing them god-speed In their efforts.
| Ihe assemblage then repaired to the
| church yard and lunch was eaten un-
der the trees. After lunch. by request
Col. Waddell read a beautiful romance.
OF which he is author. He was intro
4 W n
Currie. who alluded Interestingly IN
many historic incidents at Old Bruins
wick.
Col. Waddells romance was eptitlad
Inc Bride Of st. Philips" and he
$1,000 by the grave Of the bride as he
read 1t 1t was beautiful thing. hay-
ing oeen written about Rebecca Dry
and her marriage to Mr. Mcclure. The
marriage was aaid TO have been the onIy
i t.,
church. The marble slab shows that
the bride was born in 174s. that she
was married at the age OF II in 1853
and died at the age of II I'm 1866.
The sketches OF Mr.. Sprunt and Col.
WaodeIl were elegant in diction. fuIl
OF historical interest. and were highly
| appreciated. We are not permitted IN
copy either. az the Colonial DANES pro-
pose 10 publish them in book form to ne
sold Tor the purpose OF aiding them in
further memorial work
me steamer left Fort Anderson AT
as p. m. and landed the excursionists
In the city at y. m. All agreed thar
the occasion was one Of the most de-
hghtful and interesting that tbey haa
ever attended.
NOTES OF THE DAY.
Among the pilgrims Yesterday us,s
TWO Old Confederate soldiers who saa
service at Fort Anderson during the
war for the independence OF the Con
Iederate states. They were Mr.. ID r
Ialdweli. Of Sampson county, and Mr..
% Hoogers, formerly OF Sampson,
now Of this city. Mr.. CaIdweII vas
captured by the Federals In two hum
ored yards OF the old church I'm fhe
al.ack on the fort there February ne.
1900. After getting on the scene Of his
war service, he found the remains 0f
the r1ne Pit In which he was Captured.
When the enemy took him to th. resr
tney carried him right by the ola
cnurcn and they had the walls crowded
with beef cattle that they had Handed
rom one OF their transports. These
TWO old soldiers were probably the most
interested visitors on the cronnds as
1t was their first trip there since that
memorable 18th Of February. thirty
SIX years ago. They were then both
young men but their frosty pows now
teii tne tale OF the passing years.
4 Next time IN ho