Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-09-22
FRIENDS Meeting
100 YEARS OLD
Historic Past of House of
Worship is Reviewed at
Anniversary Service
MANY RELICS ARE
DISPLAYED TODAY

One hundred years old today Is the
Friends Meeting House, Corner Fourth
and West streets. Friends not only
from this city and State, but from
philadelphia and elsewhere, gathered
under the historic roof this afternoon
and Will gather there again this even
Ing, to celebrate the event IN a fitting
manner.
Mentally turning back the hands OF
the clock OF time a century, the history
Of the quaint meeting house and Of the
group OF equally quaint and picturesque
people. was reviewed by various
Friends. whose ancestors figured promi-
nently In the building of the historic
structure, and who likewise welded a
far reaching and lasting influence on the
spiritual and material growth Of what
is now leading Eastern city.
In connection with the celebration to-
day, there Is also being held In the
Friends School an exhibition OF relics,
including various historic documents,
deeds, wills, letters, antique furniture,
Colonial clothing and other articles OF
equal historic interest. among the ar
ticles exhibited Is a memorandum book
once kept personally By william Ship
ley, one of the first settlers or this
community. and for wnom ShiplGy
street is named. The book, which is 1872
years old, is remarkably preserved, and
now belongs TO Miss Matilda Ferris,
who Is one Of the direct descendants
Of the noted Friend. The hook contains
the entry Of many interesting accounts,
including one which reads, "Pade 10
Oliver Candy for one ton or Tour 20
put aboard the new brig, "a lbs. IS,
and "Pade to Thos. fanny, Tor 1 ton
OF bread, IA lbs" Among other relics
which were loaned by Miss Ferris Is
the original drawing Of tae ground
floor Of the FIRST meeting house, which
was built before the one now stand
ing. and the minutes Of a committee
which was appointed during the French
and Indian War to relieve suffering and
which was reappOinted during the
Revolutionary War. There is also o
hat once worn by Governor Mckinley
and a deed and old chair once tho
property Of William Penn.
Today DR. Josfeph Swain. president oil
Swarthmore College, delivered the adj
dress and two interesting papers were
read by Miss Matilda Ferris and Miss
Emma Worrell whose subjects were re-
spectively, "Sidelights on the Times 100
Years ago" and "The Meeting House
and the People Who Built It." Follow.
ing the afternoon meeting supper vii
be served to out-of-town guests In the
gymnasium Of the Friends School, after
which the Friends will recOnvene in the
meeting house for the evening meeting
which will be featured by an address
by RUFUS NJ. Jones and the reading Of
his own poems by Prof. Russell Hayes
whose book, "Old Meeting Houses" II
possessed by many Wilmingtoniann
Professor Hayes has written a specia
poem concentrating today's event
which he win read this evening.
In her attractive paper, on "Sidelightl
on the Times 100 Years Ago" Mis-
Ferris hos most interestingly developed
the character of William Shipley, az
original settler ~ this community. an'
many phases of the practical and bust
ness life side Of this historic figure ar
delightfully."- pictured.
Miss Ferris said in part:
"All the first settlers had passed
away before this house was bull. but
their influence and their defendants
remain, and the names Of william
Shlp'ey's grandchildren are proml-
nent among contributors 10 the new
house Benjamin Ferris, I'm his book
"Original Set lements on the Della
ware" speaks OF Griffith Minsnall
VINO signed the petition OF Governor
Thomas Penn for the first char er FOR
Willingtown, in 1876. as being per
haps the last survivor OF all WHOSE
names appear on any document ol
that year. He died IN 1901, agef
81. He was one OF the very usefu
men who was induced to settle mere
by the example and influence of WI
liam Shipley. BY trade he was
brick layer. and in 1886 built fol
William Sh'pley that large house a
the corner OF Fourth and Shipley
streets. (now occupied by TIT
EVENING JOURNAL and other Of
flcosl and also the house in 1877 fol
David. at the northerly corner OF The
same streets.
William and Elizabeth Shipley were
among those whose biographies arr
closely connected with the history
making Of this city. Elizabeth SIMPLE,
is spoken OF as a woman OF Srea
vision and ideals. while William Ship
ley was a strong. practical business
man. He built the first market place
Nh A.tAA al aAARNAl HNNWNNAA AAeAANNN $3.50
Shipley streets. One Of the quaintes
things in the memorandum book o
William Shipley are TWO written &C
knOwledgements as to their blame
which we're written by Shipley an'
Joshue Way. who, it seems. had dis
agreement which waxed so strong al
TO necessitate its being taken up b,
the meeting with the result that bot
culprits' wrote public acknowledge
ments as TO their blame in the quar-
rel so that with divine assistance
they could live in unity with eacl
other"
The first legacies to the city wer
the use OF schools, the Friend
school having beer begua in l74'
The first charter for the city read
in part:
Whereas, by the industry of thes
petitioners We are now become a
new adventurers, the said place b.
gins TO give a pleasing prospect {
thriving and increasing, and wherea
the said river Christiana. near whic
these improvements are mad
hath a convenient landing place. an