The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-12

40 that visitors at Valley Forge would be
reminded OF the religious as we'll as the
martial phases Of Washington's character.
The suggestion met prompt approval
among Episcopalians. All Saints Sunday
school at once started to raise a fund for
the purpose. and the movement received
the official sanction Of the Bishop OF Penn
sylvania. Many gifts were sent TO Mr..
Burk without solicitation. several checks
being forwarded from distant parts OF the
country.
1t was found necessary to change the
original plan somewhat. because the little
grove which IL pointed out as the spot where
Washington prayed Is embraced in the
land now owned by the State OF Pennsyl-
vania. This is eventually to be converted
into a public park Several sites on the
campground near by we're rendered to Mr..
Burk and one Of these, on the Port Kennedy
road, about mile from the village Of Valley
Forge. was accepted.
1t is opposite the monument erected sew
eral years ago by the Daughters of the
Revolution at the grave Of Major John
Waterman, the only marked grave at Valley
Forge. Near at hand, in the woods, faint
u
under the soldiers huts, and in a field across
the road was the site of the armys hospital
Funds being provided, 1t was decided to
begin work at once on the chapel and to
Law the cornerstone on June 10, In connection
with the celebration planned to mark the
l25th anniversary OF the departure Of the
army from Valley Forge,
Thus far the prof has met with success.
A -
appeared.
congregation in Valley Forge and it's vicin-
ity. There Is but one hall in the village,
which is meeting place Of the camp OF
patriotic order Sons Of America This hall
was rented for the mission, and the inten-
ton was to conduct services there every Sun
day until the chapel could be completed.
Accordingly, Mr. Burk held the first ser-
vice in the hall on Sunday afternoon, May
10. The following Saturday Mr.. Burk re-
ceived letter from the officers Of the lodge
notifying him that no further services could
be held in the hall. but giving no reasons for
his decision. The Episcopallans finally Sc
cured another hall in the neighboring vii
lage OF Port Kennedy and there the services
are now being held.
For several weeks the lodge officials re-
fused to explain their action, Finally.
it was made known that the lodge refused
TO sanction the missions work because the
cornerstone Of the new chapel il to be laid
on June 10. in connection with the general
anniversary exercises In which Archbishop
Ryan Of the Roman Catholic Chucrch is to
participate. The Sons of America are
avowed foes Of the Church OF Rome, and
because prelate OF that church is to take
part in a programme only remotely as
ISOLATED with the chapel's services, it was
deemed best not to give further encourage
ment to the Episcopalians.
In addition to this the members of the
lodge, many OF whom are Baptists, declared,
that the Episcopal Church was not war
ranted in appropriating Warrington to it.
self. The story Of Washington's baptism
at Valley Forge is declared by some to be
we'll authenticated
1t rests principally on evidence now
said to be in the possession OF the Rev.
r. M. Cans, a preacher OF the Christian
denomination at Dallas. Tex, who served
as a Brigader-General in the Confederate
Army. According to Mr.. Ganss account
his great grandfather, John Cans, Baptist
preacher, who was born in New Jersey
and served as a Chaplain in tho Revolu-
,ionary Army. baptized Washington at
Valley Forge.
The General, as told in the story pre-
served in the Cans family, had come to the
conclusion that immersion was the only
baptism authorized by the Bible. and he
therefore desired the rite performed in
this manner. although he did not publicly
become a member OF the Baptist Church,
The immersion took place, II ia said, in
tho presence Of fortytwo persons. one OF
whom was Capt. Daniel Cans, an artillery
officer. The Rev Mr.. Cans. who tells the
story, saws that when he was 10 years old
he lee rned the facts from Capt. Cans.
II forty-two persons Witnessed so i'm
portant on event. the EpiscopG lians wonder
why better authenticated records are not
extant. They point out that only one man
saw Washington praying. and vet the
incident IL fxed in the lore OF the people.
while only a chosen few. apparently, ever
hes I'd the account Of tho immersion
Arain, attention is called to the fact that
Martha Washington WAS at Valley Forge
during almost the entire winter, and II her
husband had allowed himself to come into
intimate relat ionship with any other faith
than the Episcopalian, to which she was
attached, it Ia likely that she would have
taken notice of the matter in a way that
historians could hardly overlook.
The Baptists themselves. as rule, admit
! that the tradition cannot be accepted ,ln'
ounlifietsly. but they 'nsist that WsshnRt or
was. AT all events. a strong admirer Of theil
denomination. and on the cornerst one Of TIN
little church which they recently built If
Valley Forge they placed this extract from
n letter write, nv Washington
The Baptists throughout America lav'
| been uniformly and almost unanin: ousl,
| the Arm iriends Of civil liberty and the per
| ,everins promoters ofthe glorious Revolution
Ihis co-moversy will IN no wiee mar thu
| success Of the anniversary celebration ~
June TO- II In expected that Thousand