Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1914-03-04
OLD INDEPENDENCE
| WASHINGTON CO.
Interesting "Reminiscences Of the His
toric Old Town by the Brennan
Banner.Press Editor.

Editor Fuller of the Brennan
Banner-Press recently visited the his
toric old town of Independence In
Washington County, and in the write
up of the trip in his paper were some
highly interesting historic reminis-
cences. Editor Fuller said in part:
Accompanied by F. w. Moore, the
Ford auto man, and Rev. w. r..
Brown, the new pastor Of the First
Baptist Church Of Brennan, the edi-
tor spent Sunday afternoon at lnde'
pendence-that old and interesting
historic shrine of Washington County
and of Christendom.
"The party arrived at Independence
at 3 o'clock and went at once to the
old time stone church at the foot OF
the hill, nesting among the eternal
rocks and lovely live oak trees. Here
the writer felt that he was treading
on sacred ground to be sure. The
church is about one hundred feet long,
and fifty or sixty feet wide-built on
large, liberal plans just like the great
hearts and lovable natures of the peo'
: pie who live in that community and
worship at this the Oldest church In
all the great State of Texas.
THE eternal years that roll away
in silent grandeur will have little ef
feet on this eloquent old monument to
the higher and better Christian ideals
of this life. 1t was established In the
year 1888. 1t has been the abiding
place of some and many of the ables'
ministers that ever walked the earth
William Carey Crane, of blessed ano
devout memory was the pastor fol
years.
CDR. B. H. Carroll of Waco has
preached there many times; Graves
the famous Baptist preacher of all thu
Southland, has preached there. Grea
men have worshiped there and lifted
their voices in song. Sam Houston
was converted there, and from tina
old place afterwards led a devout life
Just outside the old building mounted
high on four cedar posts, is large
bell. presented to the church in 1851
by Mrs. Nancy Lea. mother of TIN
wife of President Sam Houston, ant
Just few steps away is the humble
brick vault surrounded by weeds II
which the ashes of Nancy Lea and he
daughter, Margaret Lea Houston, wifi
of General Houston, sleep in tn
dreamless dust. This old bell wa
made in West Troy, n. Y. 1t Is o
pure copper and brass and can b
heard seven miles away. In ever
tone that it sends forth over the hill
and far away history unfolds itse
and repeats and rolls in one eve
green and grand song.
at is a pity that the grave OF Name
Lea bless her dear and patriot
heart and of her daughter, Margare
Lea Houston, is not marked by
granite shaft whose top shall pierc
1.-THE clouds. One day their true stor
and sublime Christian character wi
be written as 1t so. richly deserve
to be.
"Just across the old time worn roa
on the other side, or rather in fror
of the church, stands building @
which the hand of time has heape
deeply the dust OF years and sacre
memory. It was in this house thu
McArdle, the artist, painted the orisi
al of the famous picture of the bait
of San Jacinto and which now adorr
the halls of State in the Capitol
the Lone Star, and which is seen ais
in every history of the State. This
famous structure. and on enterir
1t one feels almost like pulling off h
shoes and tipping lightly lest Il
-. no t.tn