Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-15
SENTIMENT MUST GIVE WAY
IF WE ARE TO HAVE A BRIDGE
II Is More Important That the Living Be
Served Than That Historic Land
marks Be Left Unmoved

marks Be Left unmoved
THE interest Of the Methodists in the
L preservation Of st. Georges Church In
North Fourth street does them credit. The
reasons for its protection are of greater
validity than those for the preservation OF
any OF the other church buildings which must
be removed to make way for the proposed
bridge in the event Of the adoption Of the
engineers plans.
The first Methodist society organized in
this city worshped in st. Georges, but this
society had been in existence several years
before it got church building It's meet
inss were held in a sail loft on the site OF
the present buildings at 24s and $50 South
Water street. That loft was torn down long
ago, so that the first homo Of Methodlsm here
has not been In existence for many years.
The building now occupied by st. Georges
Methodist Church was built for a German
Reformed Church, but before II was com
pleted It was discovered that the people who
started could not paw for It. A citizen
bought it at public sale and gave It to the
Methodsts in 1850. They completed It and
have occupied it ever since. II Is the oldest
Methodist church building in the United
States.
When they have considered tho matter in
oil its bearings it is likely that the Meth
odists will find themselves on the side of
progress and will make such concessions as
are necessary TO facilitate the completion of
80 great public work as the proposed bridge
across the Delaware.
1t is not necessary TO destroy the building.
Its location Is such that II can readily be
preserved by moving it across the street to
the next corner. Much larger buildings have
been moved greater distances with no injury
to their structure.
The which tbn rifp OF to ko
church for the site should be much more
than enough to cover all the expense Of
moving the building. II the ordinary rule
in such cases is followed the condemnation
award will be large enough not only to cover
the cost Of moving the building, but to pro-
vide a considerable endowment for the main
tenance Of religious services in it.
The original site can readily be marked
by tablet which can contain the announce
ment that the church was moved in order to
make way for the bridge, and was consented
TO by the Methodists in order to show their
sympathy with all those movements under
taken 70 increase the comfort and convent
ence Of the people.
What must happen If we are to have the
bridge. no matter what site is selected. is
what has happened in every other large city
in the world when it has had to rebuild itself
or replan itself in order to provide accom-
modntions for the increasing population.
When Baron Haussmann laid out the new
Paris for Napoleon III his plans involved the
destruction of scores Of famous buildings
closely linked with the history of France.
They involved the wiping out of streets made
memorable by centuries of use and bv the
residence in them of some of the most dis
tingushed Frenchmen.
But what might have been suitable for a
Paris Of 300 900 population was not suitable
for a city which had outgrown the plans of
a century or two earlier.
Paris today. with its broad boulevards and
spacious squares. is admittedly one Of the
most beautiful cities in the world. and there
Is not n Parisinn who regrets the heroic
methods employed by Haussmann in opening
up the narrow streets and destroying the |
alleyways
The same methods were recently employed |
in London when the new Kingsway was |
opened through a huddle Of ancient and his
toric buildings and streets. The comfort and |
of the living were regarded as of |
much greater Importance than the preserva-
ton OF historic sites unchanged, no matter |
how great the sentimental interest in those |
sites might be.
The same practice has prevailed in Rome |
a city more ancient than either London or |
Paris and fuller Of historical monuments.
And Prague, the capital Of Czecho- Slovalxia, |
was torn down and rebuilt on a modern plan |
when it outgrew the narrow alleys of |
medieval town. and in spite Of the regret |
felt for the demolition Of ancient and historic |
structures it is generally felt that it was a |
price that must be paid for the convenience |
Of the living.
This is the law of growth. A child gets |
too big for its first garments and new ones |
have to be made for it. The fond mother |
regrets that the babe must grow out of her |
arms, but she knows that il is best for the |
child and she adjusts herself to the situa- !
ton.
The lovers Of expanding cities must take
the philosophical attitude Of the mother and |
learn the content Of the creature of the sea |
of whom it has been said that
still as the spiral grew
He left the past years dwelling for the new. |
Stole with soft step its shining archway |
through,
Built up its idle door,
Stretched in his last-found home. and knew |
the old no more.
All that is necessary to remember just !
now is that the bridge can be built nowhere
without the destruction of some of the monu-
ments of old Philadelphia around which |
cluster many sentimental memories.
II we can adjust our thinking to this con.
dition, then we can give our attention to the
selection Of the site which will best serve
those who are now living and those who |
will come after them.