The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-08-31
SPIRE IS BEACON
Phi|adeIpha's Unique Memorial
to Young Woman.
Will Carry Message Of Hope That Can
Be Read for Miles From
Center Of City.

AS memorial to a young woman
whose personality frightened the lives
Of all about her, the huge glass spire
of the tower of Mutchmore Memorial
Presbyterian church, Eighteenth street
and Montgomery avenue, will be lit up
every night, dispelling the night shad-
ows and carrying message Of Chris
tan love and peace to all the district
for mile around, says the Philadel-
phia Public Ledger.
Charles w. Bolton, president Of the
board Of trustees Of Mutchmore Me
mortal, has installed electricity in the
glass spire, which is the only one of
its kind in the world. Mr.. Bolton, who
Is an architect, designed the spire. He
IL electrifying 1t as a memorial to bis
daughter, Elizabeth Funston Bolton,
who died some time since.
The architect believes that the illu-
minated spire, with it, message, II am
the light Of the world" is the best
kind Of church publicity. At the same
time. he considers it IL the most beau
titul and appropriate memorial that
could be devised to perpetuate the
memory Of his beloved daughter.
The great glass spire will be lighted
On every night for two or three hours
n calm weather and storm, and the
huge glass spire. like q lighthouse. will
shine Ike beacon Of hope and refuge.
DR.. Samuel Alexander Mutchmore, q
noted Presbyterian pastor Of this city
In the latter part Of the Nineteenth
century, built the church about 1870.
When pastor Of the old Cohocksink
Presbyterian church, he was present
at the deathbed Of Fanny Smith, a
delicate child who insisted upon be-
Ing admitted. to church membership
On her deathbed she handed Doctor
Mutchmore her bank, containing about
So, and told him to take this and
build a church for poor people, like
u.s."
Doctor Mutchmore carried that bank
with the Sc all over this country and
Canada, and the mere telling Of Fanny
Smiths story brought contributions
amounting In the aggregate to 100000.
The new church was built in 1880, and
in its spire Doctor Mutchmore placed
mirrors Flashing in the sunlight,
they could be seen from all parts Of
North Philadelphia.
That tower and spire were burned |
in 1887, and Mr.. Bolton, an elder Of
the church, was commissioned by Doc
tor Mutchmore to rebuild it. Mr. Boil
ton designed the present tower and |
spire. The tower Is nearly 140 feet |
high, on the Bowler street side Of the |
ediflce. Atop of 1t, the spire rises an
other sixty feet. 1t is constructed |
OF iron, copper and glass.
The spire was never Illuminated in
Doctor Mutchmore's lifetime because
the electrical devices needed did not
exist. Recently, however, the feat has
been accomplished. Two large 800
watt projectors have been placed in
side the spire, one at the base, and
another half way to the top. The
greatest difficulty was experienced in
lighting up the big Maltese cross which
surmounts the glass spire. That was
accomplished by placing two spotlight
projectors outside the spire, near the
top, and they battle the cross in their
rays.
The Illuminated spire will be land
mark, since there is nothing like 1t in
all Philadelphia, or in any other city
the world.