Evening star., 1939-01-22
Churches of America
Enrich Our History
BY Frederic J. Hnskin.

rich and historic past. Tangible evi-
dence of this lies in its many historic
buildings, notably churches, which are
mute reminders that this Is q Christian
Nation, and one founded upon the prin-
ciple OF religious tolerance.
The colonization Of North America
was coincident with period of great
religious activity in Europe. Hence It Is
not surprising that in almost every in
stance one OF the first acts Of the colo
nists, upon landing, was to establish q
place OF worship. Shortly after disem-
barking at jamestown, they spread q
canvas between some trees, and beneath
this rude shelter held their RELIGIOUS
services. This was our church" wrote
Capt. Smith, "till we built . homely
thing like barne"
In New England the meeting houses
were the mainsprings of community
life. The original log structures were
soon replaced with more permanent
ones, and OF these few are preserved
today, almost exactly as when dedicated
TO the worship of God and the public
uses OF the town. Plain and unadorned
yet distinctive, these old churches retain
many OF their original furnishings. The
hour-glass pulpit, placed high above the.
square peWs, is overhung with a massive
sounding board, introduced less per-
maps, Tor acoustic purposes than to
increase the dignity of the preacher
The hour glass itself is reminder that
sermons were lengthy and that not
m1reQuently second and third glasses"
were inflicted upon the defenseless
congregations. Nathaniel Greene wrote
at me time. I'VE have a strong weak
nesse in New England that when We
are speaking we know not how to con-
clude; we make many ends before We
make an end"
The preacher was truly leader Of his
hock IN those days. He comforted and
sternly reproved, and was revered bv
oio and young alike. 1t is related that
when stranger asked Parson Phillips
OF south Church at Andover, Mass. If
he were the parson who serves here"
he received the reply: II am, sir, the
parson who rules here"
Colonial meetings houses were neither
lighted nor heated consequently no eve
ming services could be held. Cold wealth
er made church attendance somewhat
OF an endurance test, yet the introduc-
ton OF stoves was not accomplished
without dissent. When the first fire was
lighted in Old Sandown, N. H., it is said
that one of the ancient worthless who
had no patience with new-fangled no..
tlons in the Lords house, had to 20
home, because the heat made him dizzy
and about to faint.
In the Southern Colonies the Church
of England predominated and many of
the church buildings were patterned
after those of the mother country.
Their interiors were more elaborate, the
altar often richly adorned. A canoped
pew bearing the British arms was re-;
served for the Governor Such a one
may still be seen in Bruton Parish
Church in Williamsburg. The royal
arms, retained to this day, are said to
have saved old st. James Goose Creek.
near Charleston. S. c., from destruction
during the Revolution.
AS the churches were often the largest
and most important buildings in the
community, they were inevitably the
scenes OF many stirring events. Pre-
quently the patriots used them for
meeting places during the crucial period
of their struggle for independence. 1t
was in old st. Johns, Richmond, that
Patrick Henry electrified his hearers by
concluding his speech with the words.
Give me liberty or give me death!' No
applause followed; his hearers were, for
the moment, struck dumb.
The story of Paul Revere clings i'm
perishably to Christ Church (Old
North) in Boston. On that memorable
day. April 1S, ITS, the sexton hung the
lanterns in the upper window to signal
that the enemy was coming.
Throughout the Revolution and again.
during the war between the States the
They were used as hospitals and their
bells were melted into bullets. The
enemy quartered soldiers or stabbed
horses in them Battles ragged around
them and many emerged as dismal
wrecks Happily, a sufficient number
have been restored and preserved for
posterity.
Ancient bells are still source OF pride
to many of our churches. The historic
bells of St. Michaels. in Charleston,
made no less than five trips across
the Atlantic after having been carried
away by the British as spoils of war.
The famous chimes of Christ Church,
in Philadelphia, installed as early as
1854, were special source of gratifica-
ton to the citizens. They added their
jubilant tones to that of the Liberty
Bell in 1776. In former days church
bells marked all the important events
in the routine of daily life.
The building Of churches kept pace
with the gradual conquest of the wilder
ness and some of the rude log structures
are still to be seen. Old Rehoboth
Methodist Church, near Union, w. Va,
built of large hewn logs, was completed
in 1786, and is the oldest Protestant
church west Of the Alleghenies. The
present Old Cathedral, in Vincennes,
Ind, replaced such primitive little
church within whose walls Father