The Beatrice Daily Express

OLD ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
Historically It Is Among the Most Interesting Churches In the Country.

Historically and in the relics of the past which it contains few if any churches in America are more interesting than old St. John's at Portsmouth, N. H. The founding of the parish dates from 1638, but the present edifice is modern. It was built in 1806, and the good man who preached the dedication sermon described it as a work of stupendous magnitude. It is not, however, the building which attracts us, but its belongings. Here we see the old prayer book, with the prayer for the president pasted over that for the king; the "Vinegar" Bible, of which only 40 copies were printed, and but five of which are in the United States. The bell which calls the parish to prayers is a capture from Louisburg, and, although twice recast, once by Paul Revere, since its voice was heard in its foreign home, it is yet the same old bell. An armchair, which stands behind the altar rail was a gift from Queen Caroline, but is now known as the Washington chair, having been occupied by the first president of the United States when he attended service in the old church. Admiral Farragut was buried from St. John's, and the reading table is made of wood from his flagship. A strange bit of treasure trove is the heavy porphyry font taken from an old church in Portsmouth and captured by the English from the French off the coast of Africa. Every Sunday 12 loaves of bread are placed upon this font and distributed to 12 old women, in accordance with the terms of one Theodore Eccleston's last will and testament, and because of a gift by will the church is still heated by wood fires.—Nashua (N. H.) Telegraph.