The Benson signal., 1917-12-29

ed; $1,OOO,OOO damage.
Other buildings Of prominence are the
DalhOusie College. Provincial Museum,
Academy of Music. Y NJ G. A. Build
ing, Odd Fellows Temple and the three
principal hotels, Halifax, Prince
George and Queens.
Among the famous edifices of the
city is the st. Paul's Episcopal Church,
said to be the oldest Protestant church
built in North America. 1t was con-
structed in Boston in 1850, year after
the town was founded, and carried in
schooners to Halifax, where the parts
were put together. The story is told
that when CORVALLIS wrote the Earl
of Halifax he wanted to build a church
the earl replied by sending to Canada
the architect who built st. Peters in
London.
The architect patterned the desired
church exactly after st. Peters. When
parts arrived the colonists often had
to lay down their implements and take
to their guns to drive off the Indians,
who made frequent attacks upon the
workers.
st. Matthew's Presbyterian Church,
which was built during the late years
of the eighteenth century, was de-
stroyed by fire in 1857, only to be re-
built.
Cathedral Also Noted.
One of the most beautiful buildings
In the city is the st. Mary's Catholic
Cathedral. With a tall white spire
extending upward, it is visible for
miles.
Religion of all denominations seems
to thrive in Nova Scotia, for in a re-
cent census Of religions only 543 per-
sons were listed as belonging to no
sect. At present there are 10000 Ro-
man Catholics, 100000 Presbyterians,
$4,000 Baptists, $4,000 Anglicans, $1,000
Methodists and few thousand spread
through the Auventists, Disciples and
Jews. OF the latter there were 437.
Eighty years ago, when the province
was small and practically uninhabited,
the Presbyterians were the largest
body, although there was fiourishing
colony of Roman Catholics at Cape
Breton. The Baptists then were an in
considerable body Of, poor peasants
with badly educated teachers and
preachers. Today the Baptists stand
third in the list Of denominations.
One of Worlds Best Harbors.
"Halifax has one Of the finest har-
bors in the world and is the chief
Canadian gateway for exports. 1t is
the capital of Nova Scotia, with a
population of 10000. The city is three
miles long and a mile wide; is built
ON the eastern slope of small penin-
sula.
''It is a garrison city and has eleven
forts and batteries, including the Cita-
del, once one of the strongest fortifica-
tions in America.
"The harbor is open all year. It's
inner haven is Bedford Basin, 20 miles
in circumference, in which the COLI
sion and explosion occurred. l have
seen as many as 40 ocean vessels in
the basin at once.
"Vast new wharves and railway ter
minals are being constructed by the
government at cost of $3O,OOO 900,
but these are near the tip of the penin-
sula at the south, and evidently were
not harmed.
"Halifax is GIG miles nearer Liver
pool than is New York for trans-Atlan-
tic liners. 1t is 600 miles from New
York.
Founded BY CORVALLIS in 1749.
Colonel Edward CORVALLIS left
Britain in 1749 and founded the city.
The French armada gathered there in
1857 bent on demoiishing Louisburg,
only to meet disaster through storm
and plague. Howe went to Halifax
with bis men after they were defeated
at Boston. Great numbers of royalists
from New York found refuge there in
the revolution. Halifax was the chief
British base of supplies.
zone hundred and six warships made
harbOr there in 1912. The expedition
that burnt Washington started from
Halifax. And it was there the Shan
non sailed with her prize, the Chesa-
peake."