Early clergy of Pennsylvania and Delaware

Front matter

• O > » fe

EARLY CLKRGY

OF

Appendix

Rev. Dr. John Andrews, - - - - 259

Rev. Dr. Frederick Beasley, - - - 262

Rev. Dr. George BOyd, - - - - 266

Rev. Dr. Gregory T. Bedell, - - 268

Rev. Dr. James Montgomery, - - - 276

PRKFACE.

The writer of this volume thought it desirable to perpetuate the memories of the Philadelphia clergy of early times, and as no one else undertook the pleasant task he has performed it. The search led into the history of the Swedish clergy, and, as Pennsylvania and Delaware were united in Provincial days, the book naturally widened out to include both. It is hoped that these devoted men may by their example inspire others to continue similar labors in the Church of Christ.

Most of the articles here collected appeared in TJie Standard of The Cross and The CJinrch, edited by the Rev. Messrs. French, and published in Philadelphia by W. E. Hering. The publisher has kindly allowed the use of a number of plates.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

1. Acrelius.

2. The Swedes' Church and House of Sven Seiier.

3. Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church, Philadelphia.

4. N. Collin, D. D.

5. Holy Trinity (Old Swedes') Church, Wilmington, Delaware.

6. St. Gabriel's Church, Morlatton, Pa.

7. Trinity Church, Wilmington, Delaware.

8. St. John's Church, Wilmington, Delaware."

9. Bishop Stevens.

10. Christ Church, Philadelphia.

11. Christ Church, Philadelphia.

12. St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia.

13. Bishop Davies.

14. St. James's Church, Philadelphia.

15. St. James's Church, Philadelphia.

16. Rev. Dr. H. J. Morton.

17. Bishop Nichols.

18. St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia.

19. Rev. Dr. Joseph Pilmore.

21. Rev. Dr. Richard Newton.

22. Bishop Lee.

23. Bishop Coleman.

24. "Bishopstead."

ERRATUM.

The matter on page 86, etc. should have followed page 201,

^'SWEDISH CLERGY."

Chapter I

"He's Christ's ambassador, that man of God, Steward of God's own mysteries." — Bishop Mant.

The First Settlement at Tinicum.

THE secular press delights to publish war reminiscences. The religious press should perpetuate the memory of the soldiers of Christ, who, in this new land, wilder than our distant West to-day, proclaimed the Gospel, leaving posts of learning and home parishes for mission work. The early Swedish clergy were founders of the Episcopal Church, for every one of their parishes on and near the Delaware River fell into our hands, and Bishops Whitaker, Coleman and Scarborough are to-day reaping the fruit of the Swedish missions. As Dr. Clay remarks, the James River Colony and the New England Puritans are commemorated and the Swedes deserve like notice. Some excellent families in Philadelphia trace descent from worthy Swedish ancestry, and may be proud of their origin ; for while the Swedes were not a money-making people, they were God-fearing and honorable, and maintained church service under great discouragement, while faithful lay-readers served vacant parishes that the flame of devotion might be kept burning.

Let us, then, follow the faith of these Swedish teachers, ''considering the end of their conversation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day and forever," (Heb. 13:7, 8), whether in Sweden or America.

TINICUM.

On a pleasant May morning, accompanied by Rev. Dr. Chas. A. Maison, rector of St. James's Church, Kingsessing, I visited Big Tinicum Island to investigate Swedish relics. The tazaretto buildings (whose superintendent aided our search) now adorn the island with their shady piazzas and well-kept yards, but little remains to mark the Swedish rule. We saw on a bluff what is supposed to be the graveyard of Governor Printz's time, as an old resident descended from Swedes, Charles D. Johnson, told us that he once found a grave-stone there. A double-house adjoining is said to contain a part of Printz Hall, erected by the Governor. A man working in some alterations on it had been a soldier in the Zulu war in Africa, so cosmopolitanism yet characterizes this country. The first burial in the yard was that of Catharine, daughter of Andrew Hanson.

The Delaware River still winds along as when Swedes paddled on it, but the main current is beyond Little Tinicum Island, and the tops of vessels are seen gliding along above that island. Bow Creek is narrowed by embankments. Tinicum is in Delaware County, as Bow Creek is the city line of Philadelphia.

Occasionally a Swedish brick is ploughed up among Indian darts. Mr. J. W. Jordan, at the Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, showed me a brick from Governor Printz's house, and another from Tinicum Church, and another from Fort Casimer, New Castle, Delaware. That from the fort may be sun-dried, but the others are heavier and may have been burned. They are of a cream color like Milwaukee and Buffalo brick.

The church site is doubtful, though an old resident, George Home, would place it where high water now covers the shore. It was of wood, and in the fort, so that the brick spoken of may have been a part of the foundation. Governor Printz built the church in 1646.

The gardens on the river bank are pleasant under the spring sun; and the -blossoming trees and green box and growing vegetables adorn the spot vrhere Printz had his orchard and gardens and built his '' very handsome" and large house over 2co years ago. It stood over i6o years, and was burned accidentally in the beginning of this century. Here was his "pleasurehouse," though not equal to Kubla Khan's. Here v»-as the emporium of New Sweden, and as Virgil would have said, " her arms and chariot," though the chariot was probably a boat. Here " the principal inhabitants had their dwellings and plantations." i\ccording to Acrelius, Printz built a fort called New Gottenberg.

Tinicum was called Tenacongh b}' the Indians. The Swedes from Racoon Kihl (Creek) and above on the Delaware went to Tinicum and Wicacoa to church ; below this point, down the river, they attended at Tranhook.

Rev. Dr. Henry ^vlelchior ^luhlenberg, in his Journal in 1761, states that he went with the Rev. Provost Dr. Wrangel in a visitation to "Tenakum," noteworthy as the site of the first Swedish colony. They lodged wi;:h ^Ir. John Taylor, an Englishman, who owned part of the island. He had been baptized by the Provost. His wife's mother was a Swede. Christian conversation and prayer improved the evening hours. The first graveyard was visited and the remains " of the first Christian church in this western wilderness." The church was used till 17C0. In some way the bell was once alienated and the Swedes did two days' reaping in harvest to regain it.

lO THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AT TINICUM.

Governor Printz's residence was named by him Printz Hall. A handsome wooden church was also built at the same place, which Magister Campanius consecrated on the last great prayer-day which was celebrated in New Sweden, on the 4th of September, 1646. Printz was born in a parsonage, so that it was natural that he should care for church matters. The daughter of Printz married Vice-Governor John Papegoija. She lived for many years at Tinicum. The Holland government gave her a pension in provisions, perhaps for her household. Israel Helmes, an Indian interpreter, was her second husband.

Aubrey H. Smith, Esq., WTites me : *' As to the site of the old church, I have no exact knowledge. I have always supposed it to have been on the bluff where the old graveyard certainly was, and the Printz mansion probably was. I have heard my father say that in his childhood he was playing, with his elder sister Margaret, afterward Mrs. Daniel King, below the bluff, and seeing an old board projecting from the bank of sand he pulled it out. On so doing a human skull rolled down the bank after him. He and she were so terrified that they ran in haste and fright homewards. There was a tradition extant among the country people that a boat's crew from the British fleet, then in the river, landed at the beach and proceeded inland to plunder the inhabitants. Before their return some of the country people came down and shot the boat keeper. In my early day the story was current that the ghost of the dead sentry could often by seen at midnight walking up and down the sandy beach between the big trees. Children avoided going there after dark. I have heard my father say that when the British frigate 'Augusta' was burnt in the river about three miles

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AT TINICUM. II

above, word came down to the family, then living in the stone mansion house, now mine, called Printz Hall, that the frigate was burning. His sister Margaret took him and ran up the river bank a mile or two, when the ship exploded with a mighty roar. It may be of interest to state that several of the large guns of this ship have been recovered by the dredgers engaged in deepening the channel. One of them now forms a part of the soldiers' monument at Germantown. The early Swedish inhabitants appear to have lived without exception in log houses. Many of these have been standing until recent years. A few of them remain. One of them, the first house on the river above the Lazaretto, the dwelling of my grandfather in 1765 or thereaboutSj before the building of the present large stone house, was about to share the fate of the others, when I was induced some years ago to repair it. It will probably, with these repairs, stand another hundred years. Many of these log houses, perhaps the most of them, were built of white cedar logs cut in the low grounds adjacent, where their undecaying stumps may, in some instances, still be seen in the pastures. What may seem curious is the fact that the white swamp cedar is no longer a tree of Pennsylvania, though common enough .in the cedar swamps of New Jersey and further southward. The house which I repaired is built of white cedar logs.

"Many years ago I received from a resident on the bluff two or three small yellow bricks found in the sand underneath the bluff, exactly similar in size and color to those so abundant in the old towns of Holland. They were said to have been imported from that country and to have been used in the building of the church. When the church foundations fell in they were of course left on the beach."

SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

Thomas Campanius Holm's Description of New Sweden was written in Swedish. New Sweden comprised parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, on the Delaware River. This book was translated by Peter S. Du Ponceau, LL.D., and published for the Historical Society of Pennsylvania in 1 834. It was printed in Stockholm in 1702, and dedicated to Charles XH. The author was a grandson of Rev. John Campanius Holm, who came to America with Governor Printz, as his chaplain, in 1642. He was here six years as a pastor, and translated Luther's Catechism into the Delaware language.

The book of Holm's is generally styled Campanius's. The word Holm is said to have been added to Campanius by reason of a residence in Stockholm of the person who assumed it. The work contains a list of Swedish clergy from a dessertation in Latin ** De Colonia Nov^a Suecia," published at Upsal, in 1825, by Chas. David Arfwedson, of Stockholm, a member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

The Swedish engineer Lindstrom's MS. assisted Campanius Holm in the description of the country.

Rev. Israel Acrelius's New Swedjsn, translated by Rev. Dr. Wm. Reynolds, and published by the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, has given the bulk of the matter in these notes. This large volume is deeply interesting. It is dedicated to Queen Louisa Ulrica.

Benjam.in Ferris's Original Settlements of Swedes on the Delaware and Miss E. Montgomery's Wilmington, and Rev. Dr. Jehu Curtis Clay's ''Annals of the Swedes" add their quota of information. Dr. Clay succeeded Dr. Collin, and assisted him, and had Swedish blood in

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AT TINICUM. I 5

his veins from his maternal ancestry and was qualified to treat the subject. As to general history, Christianity had some hold in Sweden from Archbishop St. Anschar's day in the 9th century. King Olaf Skaut-Konung was baptized about 1008, and afterward the kings were Christians. In 10.75, King Inge forbade idol worship, and Christianity was victorious. The viking Olaf and Bishop Sigfrid, who, in A. D., 1000, planted the *' Cross of the White Christ" in Sweden and Norway, must not be forgotten.

GOVERNMENT AND KINGLY AID.

When Rudman and his companions came hither, William of Orange gave a passport. It was feared that none could be procured, but he respected their Christian work. King Charles XL, of Sweden, charged these clergy to comxmunicate with him if they needed anything, and presented books to the mission. He said to the missionaries : '' Go, now, in the name of the Lord, to the place to which I send you, God be with you and make your undertaking successful."

, King Charles XIL in his hard campaigns in Poland and Russia, and his troubled '' sojourn in Turkey," attended to the mission, dating his orders from his camps.

The amiable Queen Ulrica Eleanora, ruling over the Swedes, Goths and Wends after the death of her brother Charles XII. in 1 718, wrote kindly to the American mission, and presented it with books of devotion.

When it is considered that the Crown of Sweden did not obtain worldly advantage from these missions, but acted through pity and love toward her Swedish children and their clergy and the Indians, we may see a fulfillment of the prophet's prediction that kings and queens should be nursing fathers and mothers to the

Church of Christ. The relations of Sweden to her American missions was like that of England to our missions.

The English also largely aided their own churches in Pennsylvania, and Holland helped the German Reformed, and various parts of Germany assisted the German Evangelical Churches, while Scotland lent her aid to the Free Schools. A country thus fostered should do good mission work abroad as a grateful return of benefits. Penn commended the Swedes and strove to aid in getting clergy for them, and gave them catechisms and other books and an English Bible for use in church service.

The need of Swedish aid was apparent when the sailor, Anders Printz, said to have been Governor Printz's nephew, visited this country, and returned to Stockholm and told good John Thelin, postmaster at Gotheborg, that clergy were sadly wanted. He presented the case to 'King Charles XL, who i^eceived the matter favorably. Thelin then wrote to America a kindly Christian epistle, and Charles Springer replied in an earnest letter, and after some delay Rudman, Biork and Auren came. The English Governor, Wm. INIarkham, showed a deep interest in these negotiations.

After Biork returned, a Communion Service was presented to the Church at Christina at his suggestion, by the P'ahlun Mining Company ; so the pleasant connection continued.

THE COUNTRY.

The orchards, and gardens, and trees, and food, and ores are described in detail by Acrelius. The luscious peaches and the agriculture are noticed. The heat of the country seems to strike this Swede who mentions

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT AT TINICUM. I 7

the button-tree (knapptra) saying, *'Its greatest use is for shading houses from the great heat of the sun." This paragraph reads strangely now : "The streets in New York are planted with locusts."

Springer praises God for the fertile grain country which blessed the Swedish farmer, so that from the Delaware River ''the adjacent islands " could receive food. Animals, birds and fish abounded. The wives and daughters spun wool and flax and wove cloth In this worldly prosperity they sought faithful shepherds to give spiritual food from God's Word and the Holy Sacrament.

THE INDIANS.

While Penn deserves all credit for his noble treatment of the Indians, the Swedes had preceded him in such Christian conduct. In Queen Christina's instructions to Governor Printz who led the second Swedish colony, it was ordered that ''the wild nations" should be treated "with all humanity and respect, that no violence or wrong be done to them, that they may gradually be instructed in the truths and worship of the Christian religion, and in other ways brought to civilization and good government, and in this manner properly guided." The land was bought of the natives. Springer's letter, signed by many persons, says, " We live in great amity with the Indians, who have not done us any harm for many years." There were Indian traditions of a religious character. They were well disposed to the Christian religion, as Rev. John Campanius declares in his preface to the catechism ; and Rev. Messrs. Rudman, and Biork, and also Pastorius testify to the same effect. The Indians were fond of learning the catechism and "engaged Charles Springer to teach their children to read it." The natives aided the Swedes, and tried to keep them from harm.

SETTLEMENT.

Dr. Collin's Narrative, given by Dr. Clay, states that the first Swedish colony reached here in 1634. Three or four reinforcements followed on in 1654. The Swedish mission began by the appointment of Rev. Messrs. Rudman, Biork and Auren. It continued over 130 years.

WICACOA AND WILMINGTON.

CHAPTER 11.

WicACOA AND Wilmington.

BISHOPS.

BISHOP SWEDBERG, father of Emanuel Swedenborg, was the earnest counsellor of King Charles XL in plans for the mission and for Indian work. In William White's '' Life of Swedenborg," I find it noted that Bishop Swedberg said that he thought that ten carts could hardly carry what he had printed of his own writings, and there was nearly as much more unprinted. The son's university dissertation on ''Seneca and Latin Writers," was dedicated to his father with love and veneration. The Bishop died in 1735. Rev. Nicholas Collin had an interview with Swedenborg in 1766. The narration speaks of a younger clerical brother of Collin who had lately died, *' esteemed for his devotion, erudition and virtue." Bishop Swedberg was interested in the Swedish mission for forty years, until his death, acting as its superintendent. He gave the American churches hundreds " of his excellent hymn books," and sent his son, Jasper, as schoolmaster in New Jersey and a number of relations as clergy. He wrote a work called "America lUuminata," on American missions, a part of which was published. The English ''Society for the Propagation of the Gospel," thanked 'the Swedish King and elected Bishop Swedberg an honorary member. The Bishop instructed the Swedish clergy to keep up intimate association with the Episcopal clergy and the Society.

Archbishop Dr. John Steuchius, after Bishop Swedberg's death, had the care of the American churches.

Archbishop Samuel Troilius's influence in the coming of Von Wrangel is noticed in the sketch of that clergyman.

Archbishop Olaus Suebilius received the King's letter authorizing the sending of Rudman and his fellovvworkers.

Archbishop Henry Benzelius had oversight of the Swedish missions. His father, Erik, was Archbishop, and his brothers, Erik and Henry, held the same post.

The Swedish Provost, or Superintendent, or Commissary, appears to have been a sort of Assistant Bishop, and it seems a pity that he was not really a Bishop, and that England and Sweden should have made the same mistake in withholding the Episcopate from America.

Biork reports, from Christina, to the Right Rev. Superintendent, Dr. Israel Kolmodin, and styles Philadelphia "a clever little town." It was about fourteen years old.

GLEBES.

The Wicacoa glebe was at Passayungh, now Point Breeze. The parsonage was burned in 1 717. A moderate house was erected afterward. Provost Sandel had his own dwelling at Schuylkill Ferry. Gloria Dei Church still has a very small ground-rent at Point Breeze, If this parish and Trinity Church, Wilmington, still owned the land once in their hands they Avould be very rich, as cities now cover their property. The Rev. Mr. Lidman had his own house at Moyamensing. In Mr. Dylander's day the parsonage was neat, ''with a fine vegetable garden and an orchard on two sides of w"

H

B m w

O

M m m

Ui e n ffi w d

5« o

VJ

C ffi o

O ri g

U5

O

OJ

OQ

S c w c« e

W c

:;2 the house." There were glebes at Wilmington, Swedesboro' and Pennsneck.

HARDSHIPS.

The Christina ministers were sometimes short of food. The wolves once killed a number of sheep which belonged to a person in the Christina congregation. It was in the summer and the flesh could not be salted, and some was taken to the rectory and was like the raven's food to Elijah. Dr. Collin refers to the ''long and perilous voyages " of the missionaries in coming here. It took months to make the passage. The surroundings in this new country were often very objectionable.

WICACOA.

Wicacoa is said to be from an Indian word meaning dwelling and fir-tree, perhaps signifying a collection of fir-trees where Indians dwelt. The first church was a block-house built in 1669, and fitted up as a church in 1677. It had ''loop-holes for defence." The church and parsonage had a beautiful river view, being on the banks of the Delaware. The old parsonage stood close to the site of the present rectory. The new church was built near the site of the old block-house. "The family of Swan Swanson gave the ground and increased the same by an acre on the 19th of September, 1697." This is now indeed God's acre in which sleep many of the early colonists. Longfellow sings :

'' I like that ancient Saxon phrase, which calls The burial-ground God's Acre ! It is just ; It consecrates each grave within its walls, And breathes a benison o'er the sleeping dust."

In Longfellow's translation of Bishop Tegner's " Children of the 'Lord's Supper," is a striking picture of Swedish church life. The poem commences :

" Pentecost, day of rejoicing had come. The church of the village Gleaming stood in the morning's sheen."

The "spring-sun " which the poet describes as touching the belfry like the tongues of fire on the Apostles has for generations flamed on the river Delaware and its ancient Christian temple. Longfellow's preface to the poem referred to notes the patriarchal rural life of Sweden among the wild ''forests of fir." The silver streams with their bridges touched the poet's eye. The children and polite peasants, and the " God bless you," after sneezing, and the wayside churches with their gardens of Gethsemane, where perhaps kings were baptized or buried, and the dead laid with their heads to the west, all tell of ancient times. The poet represents the revered pastor in ''his broad-brimmed hat," and delineates the customs of a Swedish wedding, and the skaters and the Northern Lights in their burning glory, introducing a merry Christmas, and the midsummer with its leaves and flowers and St. John's Day, and the May-pole, and the long twilight and the church bells musically chiming the night hours, and the watchman's horn in the belfry. The Swedes in New Sweden prided themselves in keeping up old customs, and so far as they could Wicacoa, Tinicum, Christina and Racoon doubtless imitated these motherland institutions. The Gloria Dei (God's glory) Church stood on the shore where Swedish vessels might ever behold this heavenly beacon.

In entering from a city street the quiet churchyard of Gloria Dei one is carried back for generations. The green grass on the well-kept graves, the dignified old church, lovingly preserved, and the cherubs still guarding the representation of the Holy Bible on the gallery within the sacred edifice, and the safe built into the

GLORIA DEI (old SWEDES') CHURCH, PHH.ADELrHIA porch to guard the ancient records, show a worthy care of antiquity. Rev. Dr. CoUin's tablet, with an inscription composed by Rev. Dr. H. J. Morton, is on the wall, and we read : " He was the last of a long line of missionaries sent by the ]\Iother Church in Sweden to give the Bread of Life to her children on this distant shore."

Dr. Collin's wife, Hannah, is commemorated by an inscription written by himself, noting *' her piety, neatness and economy," and gentle affection ''with which she sustained him through many trying years, and his grief for her which shall not cease until he shall meet her in the land of the living."

Dr. Ducachet wrote Dr. Clay's inscription thus : " He was a man of lofty virtues — a Christian of exemplary holiness, a priest of unsurpassed fidelity — a pastor of rare diligence, tenderness and discretion. His congregation have here placed this stone to tell of their admiration, their reverence and their sorrowing love." " He was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith. — Acts xi : 24."

The body of IMargaret, daughter of Rev, Andrew Rudman, and wife of Andrew Robeson, is buried here. Two children of Rev. ]\Ir. Sandel have one double headstone. Wertmuller, the artist, was buried here by Dr. Collin. His mother died at Claymont, Delaware, and was brought here for burial. Her mother was a daughter of the artist Hesselius, and her sister married Rev. Eric Unander.

Rev. Snyder B. Simes has long been the faithful rector of Old Swedes' Church, and he kindly guided me to its relics. A vestryman. Park ]\IcFarland, Jr., also gave valuable information.

Rev. James W. Ashton, of Olean, New York, writes me that his maternal ancestors, named Marsh, lived on ground adjoining the Wicacoa Church. In the Revolution the inmatesof the house yet standing in Christian Street were forced to leave by the British. Colonel Marsh, of this family, was in the American army. Mr. Ashton has a French clock which was then buried.

There were Swedes on the Elk River in Maryland, and at other places on the eastern shore and Apoquimeny (Middletown), Delaware. The faithful missionaries strove to care for them, but eventually their language was lost in the English tide and they connected themselves with English churches.

At first, in Christina, matins were '* celebrated on Christmas with lights burning in crowns and arms made of wood for the purpose." "The bell hung, in a walnut tree near the church, but as the squirrels continually resorted there for the nuts, and built their nests upon the arches of the church, by which the roof was injured, a neat little wooden tower was erected upon one of these outbuildings of the church, and the walnut tree was cut down." In Christina there was a demand for English service, and so that language was used in the afternoon when convenient to the pastor, Mr. Tranberg.

Queen Christina's instructions to Governor Printz read: ''Above all things, shall the Governor consider and see to it that a true and due worship, becoming honor, laud and praise be paid to the Most High God in all things." The instruction of the young in Christianity is enjoined.

At Christina, after a year's vacancy, Acrelius was surprised "that the people came quite unitedly to church, listened to the preaching with much attention, sang their Swedish hymns without a leader, and some of them astonishingly well. Besides, they brought to the church children for baptism, and mothers to be churched." However, certain disorders needed correction. The church was cleaned and altar-linen procured.

CHURCH UNITY.

In 1 7 10, Christ Church, Philadelphia, was enlarged and its rector and people asked permission to hold service at Gloria Dei. The Swedish service ended at eleven. Then the English service began and '' a Swedish hymn was sung as a stronger token of unity " during the English service. This continued for three successive Sundays. In 1715 the English held service here some time, and '' in recognition of this kindness the English made a present of altar-linen to the Wicacoa Church. When an English church was opened the Swedish clergy were invited. The English had no Bishops to consecrate their churches. In 17 13 Biork and Sandel were at the opening service of Trinity Church, Oxford, Philadelphia. On May 19th, 1715, Pastor Sandel assisted at the laying of the foundation of St. David's Church, Radnor. After a sermon at a private house, a procession went to the church site and after prayer '' each one of the clergymen laid a stone." The Swedish Church was called ''a sister of the English Church." When the English clergy sent letters to Queen or Parliament, or the Bishop of London, or to thp Society, the Swedish clergy signed them, and when the Swedish clergy went home the English clergy signed testimonials for them. They received the Holy Communion from each other and administered the Sacrament to each other's communicants. Ought we not to learn a lesson in this and not go backward in relations with Sweden ? In parish vacancies English ministers were called to assist. Dr. Clay says of the Swedish Church, ''They retained it (the Episcopate) not merely in name, but as seems to be well established, in the possession of the true Apostolical succession." The Swedish clergy signed a petition of the English clergy asking for a Bishop, in 1705.

THE CLERGY.

From 1696 to 1786 the Swedish Government sent 24 clergymen to New Sweden, generally providing an outfit and meeting the expenses of the voyage out, and the return voyage when after faithful years of labor they were welcomed to pastorates in their native land. Dr. Reynolds thinks that the Swedish Government spent at least ;^ 100,000 on the churches here, and perhaps twice that amount. He refers to the historical sermon of the late Rev. O. Perinchief, rector of the Swedes' Church, Upper Merion, 1873. Money was then scarce and Sweden was suffering frequently from financial embarrassment. The Thirty Years' War had brought the country almost to bankruptcy.