The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-15

and they have many panes. The church has
a clock tower and a cupalo. and in rs day
IT must have been one of the best of it:
kind.
The sexton lives in a little house next
door. She is a kind old Dutch lady. who
would be good looking If it were not that
she has lost her trent teeth.
She has the whitest of caps. the roSiest OF
cheeks and a most pleasant smile. She took
me through the church and showed me its
curious features, including the pulpit Bible,
which dates back 10 1923. or 10 eight years
after the Pilgrims left Holland.
STONE SENT TO
CHICAGO FROM HOLLAND.
She pointed out q stone in the wall which
was sent to the church by some of the poo
pie OF Chicago. and said that the Chica-
goans had also taken away Il stone from
the floor.
! She said that two of the graves.ones had
been taken by a Philadelphia man for the
New England Society OF Pennsylvania. and
that this society also had the old aims box.
This old church has been used since the
Pilgrims left and it is in use to-day. 1t has
seats for about 200 people-quaint oak
benches. with reading desks in front OF
them, upon which lie many Bibles. The
Bibles are IN Dutch and they look as old
as the church itself.
They are somewhat like the 81 kind sold
by our ftinerant book agents. each con-
tanning the hymns as well as the full text
OF the Scriptures.
Underneath each bench is a little square
boxlike footstood with anger holes in the
top. These stools are .he only heating ar
rangement of the church.
Before service the sexton puts a little
pot of glowing charcoal or peat. in each
stood and the women nut their feet on the
top of the stools and thus keep them warm
during the long service.
The peat must be well lighted and glow
ing or it will smoke. making one think that
the church is on fire.
When l went up into the pulpit. l noticed
there were holes in its floor, and was :old
that boxes of burning charcoal or peat were
placed below it to keep the dominic hot.
The collections are taken UP in little
black bags fastened to long poles. which
the elders carry about during each service.
There are always two collections. one for
the poor and the other for the church and
the elders.
The elders have seats of honor. not far
from which is the pew OF the parson. The
poor are given the poorest seats, being
showed away on benches behind the
preacher.
some of which chronicle the leaving of the
Pilgrims on the 22d of July. 1920. and then
wrote my name in the signature book, as
all Americans who honor the Pilgrim
Fathers and appreciate the hospitality of
the Hollanders are requested to do-with a
donation. ] also gave the donation.
VILLAGE CHURCHES CROWDED
AT MORNING SERVICES.
The Dutch are very much like other ma
tons as regards church going. They attend
more regularly in the country than in the
city.
The village churches are full in the morn.
ing. and Notwithstanding the long sermon:
the people usually sit out the service.
The first chapter Is read by the school
master. and in some churches a part of thu
collection is given to the schoolmaster. TIL
> offerings are more often copper than silver
and in the poorer villages a cent is a com.
mon donation.
The preachers are not well paid. especially