The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-25
CHURCHES OF SNOW AND FOSSILS.
Other Odd Materials Used to Build House,
OF Worship.

Tho Few. F. J.. Peck, who after thirty
years missionary work amid the ice and
sLO" oil The aIctic regions, has just re-
turned home, relates some curious ex-
periences in church building among the
Esaulmaux. One place Of worship he O n
str1lcted out Of snow blocks, from which
material he likewise made both the seats
for the congregation and the altar. This
church, although but a rude and temporary
structure, says London Tit. Bits, answered
its PURPOSE in protecting the worshippers
from the bitter cold and winds.
Even more singular was the church
the desolate shore of Elaoklead Island,
Cumberland Sound. Forty s6alskins sewn
together and stretched over a framework
OF whales ribs constituted the walls and
roof, while the interior was provided with
provision boxes and boarus that did duty
for Stats.
The first place Of worship ever erected
at Perth. in western Australia, is worthy
Of note. not only by reason of the unusual
material emf loyed in its construction,
but because of the varied uses to which
G z nas put of tS Mhe sixtv IN ig9T' Re eGf setU aTl
rived in the colony the men proceeded to
collect a quantity of PUSHES, from which
they, with considerable skill and ingenuity,
constructed a small building, where every
Suntay divine service was held. For
more secular purposes, however, did it
serve, for not only was IL employed as a
barracks, but at intervals II did duty as a
theatre, on the boards Of which its builders
~disnlayed their histrionic ability,
Vitrifed clay is the material Of which
eve the window frames being Of that
material. The decorative features are
white terra Gotta, the affairs, communion
rail and organ loft being of that substance.
The ceiling Is Of brick and tile waiting,
the keystones of terra Gotta, and the ribs
Another pecrliarty attaches to this church.
for, like Solomon's Temple, it was built
without sound Of hammer, not a sin gle
nail having been used in its construction.
Near the Niagara Falls, in the little vii
lage Of Mumford, stands a church which
may be said to be literally built Of fossils,
At first glance the edifce would appear to
be constructed Of rough sandstone, COW
cred with a coating OF coarse plaster, which,
on nearer approach, resolves itself into a
twigs, preserved forall time by being meta
m~orphosed into indurated masses Of fiinted
limestone-permanent mementos OF some
primeval forest.
Though wooden churches are not I'M
common one made from a single tree must
be almost, If not quite, unique. Such
a one is the BAPTIST Church in Santa Rosa
which is built entirely from the wood OF a
single redwood tree. the size Of which can
be roughly computed from the fact that
after the o~hurch-one Of the largest, by the
way, in the c~ountry-had been erected
enough material remained from which to
cut &C, 900 shingles. In a somewhat different
sense a church in Grippsland, the eastern
province of Victoria, may be said to have
required but a single tree trunk for it's
construction, inasmuch as a giant eucalyp-
tus was followed out until a room stuff Gent
to contain a congregation Of FIFTY was
formed. ~ "