Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-21
"OLD ST. PA U IS y
LINK BETWEEN PAST AND PRES
ENT-ToMBS IN CHURCHYARD.


From the Funr-Itack News.
St. Paurs Chapel-aIways tenderly re-
ferred to as "Old st. Paul's"-is the Oldest
public building, and the only colonial church
building. in New York city.
1t has required much earnest effort on the
part of public-spirited citizens to stay the
hand of demolition. so prevalent in the me
tropolis from razing this personal---very.
relic Thus far it has been spared. There
is no telling what the great need of land in
the immediate neighborhood may bring
about. but it is safe to say that it will re-
quire very strong argument TO accomplish
the destruction of the church and its grave
yard.
Perish the thought that odd ST. Pauls'
should give up the ghost" to modern prog
ress!
Ever since the building OF this chapel in
1866. as an offspring Of Trinity. it has been
closely associated with the history of the
city and the nation. II stands. with its
quaint and dim old walls and crumbling
gravestones as a hallowcd monument to
stirring scenes in the early life Of New
York Ola, almost sacredly old, each part
IS a memorial to the past and to those VINO
sleep the long sleep within It's precincts.
Historical events that nave occurred with
in that vicinity would fill a volume. In
fact il was on Golden Hill about a two
minutes walk eastward from the church,
that the first blood was spilled in the war
of the revolution.
The chapers exterior is plain; the interior
bears an Cld-fashiOned dignity. 1t is To-
Gated whore business only obtains during
the week. but Of a Sabbath some of the old
est and weaIthest families of the city travel
way downtown, regardless of distance or
conditions, that they may worship in the
pews Of their fCrefathcrS.
1t was on September Il. 1776. that Admiral
Lord Howe. with Sir Henry Clinton, took
possession of the city. On September Is
oue-clghth Of the city was destroyed by fire.
Trinity the parish church, was among the
ruins and 81 PauTs narrowly escaped.
IL seemed destined that the young church
should emerge from the trying days OF the
revolution with the young republic. 1t
wclthercd the stormy scenes of the lower
part of Manhattan Island, and figured con-
spicuously in the change from English to
colonial government.
II was to St Pauls Chapel that George
Washington. Immediately after his inaugu-
ration as first President of the United
States. on April 30, 1888, repaired with both
houses of Congress. when an appropriate
service was held by Bishop Provost chap
lain of the Senate and a solemn Tie Deum
was sung The entire body came from old
Federal Hail, on Wall street, about half
mile to the southwark.
In this church Washington worshiped dur
ing his sojourn in New York city. fact
attested by this frequent entry in his diary:
Went TO St. Pauls Chapel in the fore
noon
The Washingtons usually walked to
church from their home over on Cherry HILL
or Broadway; for they lived in two places
while residents of the first capital city.
The Washington pew is still preserved. 1t
Is large and severely plain in Its appoint
ments, it's location being indicated by an
oil painting OF the seal OF the United States
Not far from the Washington pew is the
one occupied by Lord Howe. while he was
I'm command when New York was In pos
session of the British in 1II6.
On the opposite side OF the church is the
pew of George Clinton, the first governor Of